Managing Family Meltdown: The Low Arousal Approach and Autism

Product Description Children and adults on the autism spectrum may often behave in ways that cause difficulties for themselves and those who care for them. This book offers effective, long-term strategies to help resolve common challenging behaviours such as physical aggression and self-injury. Managing Family Meltdown provides possible explanations for these behaviours, and offers a wealth of practical tips on how families can tackle different kinds of challenging behaviour. The authors explore the difference between managing and changing behaviour; how our own behaviour can influence the situation; and the principles of Low Arousal and its application in a family situation. Tried-and-tested ideas for intervention are provided and illustrated by case examples, and the pros and cons of medication are also discussed. This hands-on, practical manual will be indispensable for families, carers and anyone involved with children and adults with autism who need help with behavioral or emotional challenges. Review As a therapist working with children with autism and their families, you often have conversations with parents about "how things are at home". Discussing challenging behaviour can make you feel useless as a professional if you aren't able to offer any help. If the family are into reading self-help books, this is one you could definitely suggest. Author: Speech & Language Therapy in Practice, Gillian Welsher, speech therapiust, Newcastle upon Tyne ...books such as this are long overdue in the marketplace. It is my hope that many family members will not only read this material but hopefully support others in the process... If this book empowers only a handful of families to manage these situations more positively then it will have achieved a great deal Author: From the Foreword by Andrew McDonnell, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Director of Studio III Training Systems A fine survey of the challenging behaviors and outbursts that can strain the entire family of a child diagnosed with autism. It offers a guide to many different strategies to diffuse and resolve common challenging behaviors, using a low arousal approach to behavior modification based on avoiding confrontation and reducing stress. Any family handling an autistic kid needs this. Author: The Midwest Book Review It starts with a clear and accessible description of autism spectrum disorders, and moves on to a handy assembly of tips and techniques on various aspects of living with a child with autism. Co-author Linda Woodcock is the parent of an adult with autism who speaks from experience on matters both trivial and terrifying... It's nice to hear that adivce from a parent with experience dealing with the aggressive behavior of an older child, and the low-arousal point of view is also an interesting alternative to books that paint a hellish picture of autism, or focus hard on cures. Even families of children with disabilities outside the autism spectrum may find valuable advice and insight here -- about both your kids' meltdowns and your own. Author: Terri Mauro - About.com Book Description Long-term, effective strategies to manage challenging behaviour and meltdowns About the Author Linda Woodcock is the National Lead on Parent and Family Training for The Studio III Group, an organization specializing in non-aversive behaviour management. Linda also has a son on the autism spectrum with challenging behaviours. Andrea Page is Senior Lecturer in the clinical skills division at Birmingham City University teaching student nurses. She also supports community nurses in assessing, devising care plans and teaching parents, other family carers and siblings practical techniques to manage challenging behaviour.