Creative Expressive Activities and Asperger's Syndrome: Social and Emotional Skills and Positive Life Goals for Adolescents and Young Adults [Paperback]

Judith Martinovich (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1843108127 | ISBN-13: 978-1843108122 | Publication Date: September 15, 2005 | Edition: 1

Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) benefit from a positive, affirming support of their individuality. This forward-looking book focuses on building individual strengths and resilience, rather than modifying perceived weaknesses, through individualized therapy within a group context. Integrating psychological and educational theory with a variety of creative therapies, Judith Martinovich combines activities such as art making, drama, music, puppetry, yoga and photography with conventional cognitive-behavioural interventions to support individuals with AS. The different activities complement and reinforce each other and are designed to address specific traits of the autism spectrum to aid skills development. Although created primarily for use with adolescents and young adults, the practical and versatile activities can be adapted for different age and skill levels, objectives and settings. Informed by contemporary research, they meet the objectives of a framework of principles drawn from Positive Psychology and Social and Emotional Learning. Creative Expressive Activities and Asperger's Syndrome is a comprehensive resource for parents as well as teachers, social workers, psychologists and arts therapists who wish to link therapeutic goals with creative activities for people with or without Asperger's Syndrome.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Judith Martinovich has a working background in art and textile design, personal experience with Asperger's Syndrome, and a Masters of Literature in Psychology (Australia) and Master of Arts in Counseling (USA). She has worked with individuals and groups with Asperger's Syndrome in Australia and the United States. Judith has integrated her qualifications and experience with an ongoing desire to build sound bridges between academia and creative therapies. She has two children, Chris and Anna, lives with her husband in Dover, New Jersey, and works in private practice with creative therapies with people of all ages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (September 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843108127
• ISBN-13: 978-1843108122
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #661,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An illuminating work and a great handbook, March 28, 2007

By 

Teresa Moran (Morris County, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Creative Expressive Activities and Asperger's Syndrome: Social and Emotional Skills and Positive Life Goals for Adolescents and Young Adults (Paperback)

This a a refreshing, true hands on gathering of information, just chuck full of great exercises for bringing out the best in those affected by Asperger's Syndrome. Martinovich shares her in depth knowledge very freely, with a keen understanding of what makes these individuals tick, and then follows with terrific activities that are well thought out, truly creative, and actually fun! Therapists, counselors, parents and individuals with Aspergers traits are fortunate to benefit from the brilliance that has brought this comprehensive enlightenment of very workable tools together in such an intelligent and pleasurable way. The book will become an indispensible handbook referred to and used time and time again. Judy's creative spirit is quite remarkable, and her point is that creative effort is the cornerstone for working with this remarkable population. I am a parent of a child with Asperger's, and I wish every teacher and therapist can be sparked with the enthusiasm and energy that Judy has to share. I am grateful for this wonderful work, and the processes in this book will greatly enhance therapist's or counselors experience in working with those who present Asperger's traits.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Resource, February 11, 2006

By 

Suz "treadingwater" (Freeland, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Expressive Activities and Asperger's Syndrome: Social and Emotional Skills and Positive Life Goals for Adolescents and Young Adults (Paperback)

As a person with Asperger syndrome, this book won brownie points with me straight off when it says in the intro. "The Asperger perspective is just as valid as the non-Asperger perspective". I found the approach described here refreshing and interesting and I wish that I could have gone somewhere to take part in these sorts of activities when I was an adolescent... they actually sound like they would have been quite fun as well as helpful. I'm not a teacher, or a social worker, or a psychologist, and I don't know what you would be looking for in a book like this, but it seems to me like it has got loads of well thought out and explained activities, so I would be surprised if it were to disappoint.

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent resource, April 22, 2010

By 

shopuntilidrop (PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Expressive Activities and Asperger's Syndrome: Social and Emotional Skills and Positive Life Goals for Adolescents and Young Adults (Paperback)

This is an excellent resource for those who will be facilitating group work with individuals who have Asperger's Syndrome. I find it to be a nice blend of information and activities that promotes communication and social skill development for the group members. The activities are interesting and engaging thus allowing the group process to flow and for individual's to work on specific personal skills.