COUNSELING ADULTS WITH ASPERGER‟S - School of Health ...

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Counseling Asperger‟s 22 what the characters are doing, saying, and thinking. Colors can be used to identify the characters emotions and intensity (Gray, 1998). When discussing the client‟s own emotions, especially negative emotions, a visual activity designed to help learn about and moderate emotions is the “emotional thermometer.” This is a diagram that demonstrates different levels of emotions. Physiological, behavioral, and cognitive cues to the level of emotion can be marked on the thermometer, and when the “temperature gets too high,” action steps, such as relaxation techniques, can be taken (Sofronoff & Attwood, 2003). Attwood (2004) developed a strategy he has found useful for treating anxiety and anger in children with Asperger‟s, but which he postulates will also be useful for adults. This strategy involves creating a personal toolbox full of actions or thoughts that can be used to fix problems associated with negative emotions. (Perhaps when someone‟s emotional thermometer gets too hot, they are prompted to choose a strategy from their emotional toolbox.) There are five main types of tools that go into the toolbox: (1) physical tools, (2) relaxation tools, (3) social tools, (4) thinking tools, and (5) special interest tools. Physical tools, represented by a hammer, are tools or actions that physically release energy. These may include walking, running, riding a bike, shooting hoops, playing a sport, or dancing. Relaxation tools, represented by a paintbrush, are tools that help calm a person down and lower the heart rate. Examples of these types of tools are drawing, reading, listening to music, taking a nap, or routine household chores. Social tools, represented by a two-handle saw, are tools that use other people as a way of managing emotions. These social situations must be enjoyable without the stress that can accompany social interaction. The interaction should be limited to with one other person, a family member or friend who truly appreciates and enjoys the
Counseling Asperger‟s 23 person. Social tools can also involve on-line communication, perhaps in an Asperger‟s support chat room. Spending time with a favorite pet can also be considered a social tool. Thinking tools, represented by a screwdriver or wrench, are tools that are used to change thinking or knowledge. These are the most cognitively based tools. Examples of thinking tools include self- talk such as “I can do it,” “I can control my emotions,” or “The smart thing to do is ask for help.” Other thinking tools include putting the event into perspective or making an intellectual project out of the source of stress (e.g. researching why sounds are so loud in a gymnasium). A therapist might recommend keeping a picture on hand that reminds the person with Asperger‟s of solitude and tranquility, that they can look at in times to stress to promote relaxation. The last category of tools in the emotional toolbox is special interest tools. These tools focus on the restricted and repetitive interests that individuals with Asperger‟s derive pleasure from. Some other, miscellaneous tools that may be helpful to individuals with Asperger‟s are medication (if the individual has a co-morbid diagnosis of depressive or anxiety disorder), enjoyable activities (such as watching a favorite movie), reading the autobiographies of individuals with Asperger‟s, and managing the sensory environment. The emotional toolbox is something that can be incorporated into group therapy or a social skills group. Individuals can share their own strategies and “borrow” tools from others‟ toolboxes (Attwood, 1994). It is also important to recognize and discuss inappropriate tools. These are tools such as violence, engaging in retaliation, taking out stress on an innocent bystander, destruction of their own or other‟s belongings, thoughts of suicide, self-injury, retreating into a fantasy world, and drugs and alcohol. Family, friends, professors, coworkers, and bosses might also use inappropriate tools. Gestures that are designed to be comforting (e.g. a hug or pat on the back) may serve only to increase the anxiety of an individual with Asperger‟s. Once these
Page 1 and 2: Running Head: COUNSELING ADULTS WIT
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS Counseling Asperg
Page 5 and 6: LIST OF FIGURES Counseling Asperger
Page 7 and 8: METHODOLOGY Electronic Search Couns
Page 9 and 10: LITERATURE REVIEW Psychological and
Page 11 and 12: Counseling Asperger‟s 11 When com
Page 13 and 14: Counseling Asperger‟s 13 Of parti
Page 15 and 16: Co-Morbid Diagnoses Counseling Aspe
Page 17 and 18: DAMP Counseling Asperger‟s 17 DAM
Page 19 and 20: Counseling Asperger‟s 19 with Asp
Page 21: Counseling Asperger‟s 21 when ple
Page 25 and 26: Counseling Asperger‟s 25 ability,
Page 27 and 28: 4: Interpersonal problem-solving Di
Page 29 and 30: Counseling Asperger‟s 29 Informat
Page 31 and 32: Counseling Asperger‟s 31 characte
Page 33 and 34: Counseling Asperger‟s 33 Sims, in
Page 35 and 36: Counseling Asperger‟s 35 2. Worki
Page 37 and 38: Counseling Asperger‟s 37 working
Page 39 and 40: Counseling Asperger‟s 39 Results
Page 41 and 42: Counseling Asperger‟s 41 often at
Page 43 and 44: Counseling Asperger‟s 43 An effec
Page 45 and 46: Counseling Asperger‟s 45 The use
Page 47 and 48: Counseling Asperger‟s 47 American
Page 49 and 50: Counseling Asperger‟s 49 are held
Page 51 and 52: Counseling Asperger‟s 51 being re
Page 53 and 54: Counseling Asperger‟s 53 Before r
Page 55 and 56: Counseling Asperger‟s 55 expresse
Page 57 and 58: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Counseling
Page 59 and 60: REFERENCES Counseling Asperger‟s
Page 61 and 62: Counseling Asperger‟s 61 Dunn, W.
Page 63 and 64: Counseling Asperger‟s 63 Hillier,
Page 65 and 66: Counseling Asperger‟s 65 Mesibov,
Page 67 and 68: Counseling Asperger‟s 67 Stoddart

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