Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, qigong, tui na massage and diet therapy have been used by the Chinese for over 2000 years, and they are still the treatments of choice for millions of people throughout the East. Now, Westerners are becoming aware of the many benefits of these potent therapies and the popularity of Chinese medicine is spreading rapidly. Covering everything from the basic theory of Chinese medicine to how to find a practitioner, the book provides a definitive introductory guide to this ancient system. It includes explanations of each of the five therapies and their unique benefits as well as patients' first-hand experiences. With advice on choosing the right treatment, and comprehensive sections on useful addresses and further reading, the book provides everything readers need to know about Chinese medicine at an introductory level. A practical handbook that provides all of the essential information, this book is the perfect introduction for anyone who wants to find out more about Chinese medicine, whether as a treatment option or for general interest.
The complex effects of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Type 3, Hypermobility), or EDSIII, on a patient's physical and mental wellbeing are extremely challenging for everyone involved, requiring a multidisciplinary care team and enormous dedication from the patient. This book presents an overview of what it means to be a chronic complex patient, examining the wide range of physiological and psychological implications associated with EDSIII and other conditions such as endometriosis and fibromyalgia. It explores the exercise and rehabilitation work involved in managing the condition effectively, considering a diverse range of medical treatments and complementary approaches including physiotherapy, Bowen Technique and Feldenkrais Method(R). There are contributions and insights throughout from experts in the fields of physiotherapy, rheumatology and health psychology, all of whom have extensive experience of working with complex chronic patients. The author links her own symptoms and experiences to those of other EDSIII patients and discusses how she has been able to reach a point where she can successfully manage the condition. This book will be essential reading for professionals working with EDSIII and other complex conditions including medical professionals, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, counsellors and complementary therapists, and will be of interest to patients with EDSIII wanting to learn more about effective management of the condition.
Due to the complicated nature of using art and art materials in clinical practice, art therapists are often confronted with ethical considerations that are unique to their field. This book explores challenging topics in the ethical practice of art therapy. Professional guidelines do not always address the gray areas of important ethical issues in art therapy practice. Art therapists must therefore have a strong sense of personal standards by which to navigate morally ambiguous situations. Using case examples and current ethical theory, the book provides much-needed guidance for how to handle dilemmas such as receiving client art as gifts, displaying client art, religious and sexual issues, and the documentation and digital dissemination of confidential material and artwork. This book will be a valuable resource for art therapy students, graduate supervisors, new practitioners, and more experienced clinicians looking to increase their awareness of complex ethical issues.
For Asperkids, home is both their protected lair and their launch pad into success in a neurotypical world. Jennifer O'Toole provides parents with all the help they need in planning their home environment to encourage their Asperkid superheroes to soar. The Asperkid's Launch Pad is a visually-led guide to preparing a home environment that supports the development of children with Asperger syndrome. From a bedroom light switch that the child can easily reach, to a tucked-away safe place that he or she can retreat to when feeling overwhelmed or anxious, small changes in the home can boost the child's self-confidence, independence, comfort and life skills. Award-winning author Jennifer O'Toole gives readers a walk-through tour of the home, showing, room by room, how physical surroundings affect Asperkids and highlighting the learning opportunities in every space and object. Beautifully presented with color photographs throughout, this functional and fun book will win a place in the homes and hearts of all parents of children with Asperger syndrome.
Bringing up a child with developmental disabilities, especially autism, presents many challenges for parents, and the focus of attention is almost invariably on the child. This practical and compassionate book looks at a range of issues from the parents' point of view – from whether their child really loves them, to challenging received wisdom on matters such as sensory integration and boarding school. The author's many decades of experience of working with families provide the basis for this practical support and help in thinking about and approaching some of the most difficult and intractable issues. One, often unvoiced, concern for parents is whether their children love or care about them. The first section of the book consists of three letters from young people to their parents, showing clearly that though they may never have been able to say so directly, they do love and appreciate their parents, and what they have done for them – a strong message for all parents in a similar situation. Clements goes on to look at how the parenting agenda changes over time, how to see beyond the diagnoses and the constant need to deal with immediate problems, to see the real people who make up the family, the impact on siblings, how to manage the system and the multiple professional agencies over long periods of time, and how to think about the offer of medication to control behaviour. An important section addresses some of the most distressing behavioural challenges: physical aggression, verbal abuse, long-term severe self-injury, property damage, and obsessions. Finally, Clements offers objective and open-minded reflections on received wisdom about two other unchallenged topics – sensory integration, and the usefulness or otherwise of boarding schools. The book is practical, compassionate, and above all, useful. It will be of ongoing use to parents, and equally useful to professionals working with families encountering the issues covered.
There is a rapidly emerging and developing area of music therapy practice that uses electronic music technologies in a range of therapeutic and clinical settings to help clients with complex needs. This edited volume explains cutting edge technologies and how to apply these tools in practice. With contributions from leading experts in the field, the book takes the reader through the equipment that is available including computer-based software; electronic devices which produce musical sounds with minimal movement or skill; assistive devices such as switches and sensors; and recording and listening equipment. Clinical case studies are then offered that show these technologies being used successfully with a broad range of child and adult populations, including those with visual impairments, autism spectrum disorders, medical needs, physical challenges, and mental health issues, and within a variety of settings, including a neonatal intensive care unit, schools, hospital environments, and palliative care settings. The final section looks toward the future and examines philosophical and theoretical perspectives on the use of technology and its relationship to aesthetics, gender and identity. This book will be a key resource for all music therapists, special needs educators, and professionals from the field of assistive technology, as well as allied health professionals such as occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.
In Group Filial Therapy (GFT), therapists train parents to conduct play sessions with their own children to help meet children's therapeutic needs, and to transfer appropriate skills to family life. Based on parents' application of Child-Centred Play Therapy, taught and supervised by filial therapists, this evidence-based method is highly effective for working with families from diverse backgrounds and locations. This book provides an accessible guide to the theory and practice of GFT, and for the first time offers step-by-step guidelines for implementing the GFT program developed by Dr Guerney, the co-creator of Filial Therapy. Important practical considerations are addressed by Dr Guerney and Dr Ryan, such as how to determine the composition of groups and the duration of programs, and how to conduct Filial Therapy intakes. The facilitative attitudes and skills needed to be an effective Filial Therapy group leader are also described, and comprehensive instructions for implementing Dr Guerney's 20-week model of GFT are provided. The book closes with examples of how the program may be adapted to meet the needs of special groups. Replete with examples and dialogues bringing to life the group process, this definitive guide will enable therapists already familiar with the method, as well as those wishing to learn it, to maximise the fulfilment of therapeutic goals for participating families. Practitioners in mental health, social services and counselling, as well as parenting experts, play and filial therapists and therapists in training will find that this book expands and enriches the services they can offer their clients.
Myths and fairytales are our rich heritage; a veritable feast of ancient wisdom passed down through the ages in the memorable form of stories. While almost any story will have deep meaning to some individuals, some of the time, this book presents a collection of stories that these maestros of dramatherapy have found to have a powerful effect almost without fail. These are the 'golden' stories of Sesame. The authors introduce the Sesame approach and describe the advantages of using myth and fairy tale as a central theme in a therapy session. The Sesame approach has been found to produce striking results with myriad client groups, including individuals with learning difficulties, offenders in psychiatric settings and children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and adults in mental health care. Dramatherapy with Myth and Fairytale provides a treasure trove of timeless stories that can be adapted and applied to the needs of different client groups and the style of each therapist. It also includes introductory exercises, warm-ups and scene setting suggestions. The book will be an invaluable source of inspiration for dramatherapists and dramatherapy students, creative arts therapists, storytellers, psychotherapists, Jungian psychoanalysts, teachers and play therapists.
Children will experience natural growth and change throughout their lives. Play, by its very nature, always results in things falling apart, often literally, and children generally find satisfaction in this process of collapse and renewal. This book harnesses the power of the reorganizing process to elicit positive and profound change in children dealing with social, neurological, developmental, health and family issues. The author clarifies the theory behind this innovative play therapy approach, and explains its practical application to a full spectrum of client needs, using inspirational, real-life anecdotes as examples. He also describes the importance of using symbols in play therapy and focuses on ways to enable children to act out their internal aggression in a safe and healthy manner. This will be essential reading for play therapists and other professionals working therapeutically with children and their families.
Working as an independent contractor or in private practice is often the ideal scenario for creative therapists who want to control their own career and make decisions about the jobs and clients they take on. This practical guide to successful self-employment takes you through every step of the process, from coming up with the idea and marketing yourself, finding jobs, and interviewing, to maintaining jobs and what happens when you or your client want to end the job. Each chapter is packed with practical information and illustrative stories from the author's extensive experience of setting up her own art therapy business, considering all the likely obstacles you may face, and covering topics such as ethics and interns. This accessible companion contains all the information a creative therapist who wants to find work as an independent contractor will need to get started. It will be suitable for any level of experience and all creative therapists, including art, music, drama and dance therapists.