This handbook details best practices and discusses ongoing challenges in assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Chapters address assessment and diagnostic protocols, developmental considerations in ASD assessment, and issues concerning comorbid psychological and medical conditions. Various aspects of the disorder are emphasized throughout the handbook - from assessment in adolescent and adult populations to the latest findings in neuropsychology. The book concludes with future directions for research and clinical applications, focusing on universal screening, improved assessment methods, and earlier and more accurate diagnosis. Topics featured in this handbook include: Types of ASD assessment. Report writing for ASD evaluations. Stress and satisfaction in the diagnostic process. Clinical and neuropsychological perspectives from comorbid diagnosis of ASD and ADHD. Executive functions in ASD. The Handbook of Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder is an essential reference for researchers, clinicians, professionals, and graduate students in clinical child and school psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, and social work as well as rehabilitation medicine/therapy, behavioral therapy, pediatrics, and educational psychology.

Aimed at school staff and other caregivers on the front lines of providing assistance without in-depth training or an understanding of how trauma manifests, this book offers a detailed approach to helping children who have experienced trauma. Trauma in children varies in how it presents-in behavior, emotions, learning, and social interactions-and how to address it depends largely on its presentation. Children may exhibit many types of behavior that could be attributed to trauma, such as telling lies and feeling shame, lacking focus or having outbursts in class, and distrusting peers and adults, among many more. When you read this book, you'll learn how to support a child with severe trauma by employing a sensitive yet structured approach. Discussion of a kaleidoscope of case studies using the new Basic Pyramid model, developed by the author, will help you to determine appropriate intervention. Introduces a new intervention model used as the basis of care for children with trauma Offers clear application of intervention practices in case studies Emphasizes the link between trauma, behavior, learning, emotions, and social interaction skills among children Demonstrates that supportive action can produce positive responses in children with trauma

This volume considers the teaching of writing in computer-supported and traditional classrooms. It is divided into three main sections which consider: literary processes - access to a symbolic system; learning and meaning in childhood; and literacy and activity contexts in adulthood.

This book sets out a proposal for applying psychological and educational psychology concepts to improve work with children and young people. It also suggests how some of the criticism aimed at pedagogical-psychology practice can be answered. In several respects educational psychology practice seems to be in a transition phase and could even be said to be suffering an identity crisis: educational establishments and education policy alike are looking for different skills than those the psychology profession traditionally provides, and people are generally questioning the relevance and applicability of pedagogical-psychological counseling. The book is based on the fundamental premise that good professional practice is contingent upon circumstances that allow practitioners to apply their knowledge, experience and skills in the specific encounter with a specific task. This means that the ability to act pragmatically and creatively is, and will increasingly be, an important skill not only for educational psychologists, but also for psychologists in general. In other words, psychologists must be able to contribute to tasks in new ways and new contexts when required. Intended primarily for students of psychology, school psychologists and other professional groups that provide counseling in schools, the book is also a valuable resource for the various groups that use pedagogical-psychology tools and insights in their work with children and young people.

This work presents one of the first thorough applications of the Rorschach Test to preschool children. The findings are analyzed in terms of age, sex, mental ability, and various other measurable aspects of personality.

This book examines the eight-year development of the Reading Orienteering Club after-school program, showing how to develop, test, change, and adapt an after-school program to fit the needs of the children who attend. It includes case studies and data reports for each year and presents the theory, application, and program evaluation steps that workers in the field or students learning about program design must follow. Chapters present first-person accounts as well as statistical evaluations of the effectiveness of the reading program with each group of children. In addition, chapters highlight the changes that were made in program design and why each change was implemented, giving practitioners the insights needed to adapt interventions and strategies to their own programs. The book concludes with recommendations from the authors on how to run a successful after-school reading program. Topics featured in this book include: The effect of intrinsic motivation to mental wellness in the classroom. The importance of oral reading in correcting reading failure. Group-center approaches to teaching reading in the classroom. How to select the best evaluation tool. The challenges of mixing inner city and rural students in a reading program. After-School Programming and Intrinsic Motivation is an essential reference for scientist-practitioners, clinicians, researchers, and graduate students in such disciplines as school psychology, childhood education, social work, psychotherapy and counseling, and learning and instruction.

In 1998, the Foundation for Child Development (FCD) provided Kenneth Land a grant to explore the feasibility of producing the first national composite index of the status of American children that would chart changes in their well-being over time. Important questions needed to be answered: was it possible to trace trends in child and youth well-being over several decades? Could such an index provide a way of determining whether the United States was making progress in improving its children's lives? The Index of Child and Youth Well-Being (CWI) was born from these questions. Viewing the CWI trends from 1975 to present, there is evidence that the well-being of American children lags behind other Western nations. As conditions change, it is clear that the index is an evolving and rich enterprise. This volume attests to that evolution, and what the CWI promises for understanding the progress - or lack of progress - in enhancing the life prospects of all American children.

Poverty. Lack of social support. Limited access to education. High risk for health problems. Indigenous communities face an inordinate number of hardships. But when children have special needs, these problems multiply exponentially, making existing difficulties considerably worse. School-Parent Collaborations in Indigenous Communities: Providing Services for Children with Disabilities begins with an in-depth overview of indigenous experience and psychology, and situates disabilities within the contexts of indigenous communities and education services. The pilot study at the core of the book, conducted among the Bedouins of southern Israel, shows this knowledge in action as special education personnel engage parents in interventions for their children. Going beyond facile concepts of cultural sensitivity, the model recasts professionals as cultural mediators between school and family. This practice- oriented information has the potential to improve not only the well-being of children and families, but of the greater community as well. Featured in the coverage: * Unique characteristics of indigenous communities and children with disabilities. * Psychological models of reactions to disability. * Benefits of multidisciplinary teams. * Factors affecting collaboration between indigenous parents of children with disabilities and school professionals. * Core principles of indigenously attuned collaboration. * An extended case study on collaboration between parents of children with disabilities and school professionals in a Bedouin community. School-Parent Collaborations in Indigenous Communities is a breakthrough resource for researchers, graduate students, and professionals working with special needs children in child and school psychology, international and comparative education, social work, cross-cultural psychology, public health, and educational psychology.

An increasing number of Americans marry late or never at all. Today there are more than 3 million men who are at least 40 years old and have never been married. Waehler examines the myths surrounding bachelors, and he shows that stereotypes about never-married men are largely simplistic and inaccurate. Just as it would be impossible to make reliable statements about all people who have chosen to marry, the bachelor caricature falls short of reality. In this book, Waehler describes bachelors' internal processes and interpersonal styles along a continuum with three specific bachelor types: Flexible, Entrenched, and Conflicted.

"Bachelors" is the first and the only book to examine the inner workings of the bachelor mind. Waehler explores the psychology of never-married men and their choices, looking at similarities as well as differences. He looks at their conscious and unconscious psychological profiles, the experience within their families of origin, their relationships with women, their development through adulthood, and their beliefs about marriage. In the end, Waehler establishes patterns that lead to men maintaining their single status with varying degrees of satisfaction. He also provides practical advice on how to come to terms with various bachelor styles, or alternatively, how to successfully move from bachelorhood to marriage. Real life case studies are provided throughout, making this a book for the interested adult as well as researchers and other professionals.

A Childhood Psychology is a truly unique contribution to the field of childhood psychology. By interrogating the key questions lying at the heart of this rapidly changing field, it provides fresh and bold insights that are accompanied by original analysis and an interdisciplinary approach. Packed with new developments and delivered with clarity, the book challenges our assumptions about childhood in modern society, scrutinizes contemporary trends in international research, and outlines controversial challenges to traditional paradigms. Sommer's valuable insights into developmental and childhood psychology will be of particular interest to students and researchers of psychology, anthropology, cultural studies and sociology.

A powerful and insightful clinical resource for CBT practitioners who work with children and young adults The newly updated and thoroughly revised Second Edition of this companion to Think Good, Feel Good and Thinking Good, Feeling Better delivers guidance for clinicians using the author's seminal workbooks. This companion work builds upon the workbook materials by offering readers instruction on all aspects of the therapeutic process and a wide range of case studies highlighting specific therapies in action. A Clinician's Guide covers topics including parental involvement, key cognitive distortions in children, formulations, challenging thoughts, guided discovery, and the use of imagery. The author also includes a chapter focusing on common potential problems that arise in therapy and strategies to overcome them. The book highlights the underlying philosophy, process, and core skills of employing CBT with children and young people. Readers will appreciate the competency framework, which describes the CORE philosophy, PRECISE process, and the ABCs of specific techniques. The book also includes: Additional materials and handouts for use in therapy, including psycho-educational materials for children and parents on common problems, like depression, OCD, PTSD, and anxiety Downloadable, multi-use worksheets for use in the clinician's therapeutic sessions Practical, real-world case examples that shed light on the techniques and strategies discussed in the book A systematic approach to the use of cognitive behavioural therapy to treat common psychological problems Perfect for professionals and trainees in child and adolescent mental health, like psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, and occupational therapists, the book also belongs on the shelves of non-mental health professionals, including school nurses and social workers, who regularly work with children in a therapeutic setting.

This book examines promoting engagement for children and adolescents from challenging contexts or who are dealing with challenging conditions. The volume concentrates on three vulnerable groups: marginalized youths who have experienced repeated exclusion and sought their second chance in alternative education; children who are coming from economically, culturally, and linguistically disadvantaged backgrounds; and students with social or emotional issues. It defines engagement as evolving over the course of learning, an interpersonal as well as personal process involving students, learning environment, teachers, and peers. Chapters identify the complex personal, sociocultural, economic, and systemic barriers that keep these vulnerable students from fully engaging in school, and explore the enabling role of collaborative and supported learning activities in building academic success and a foundation for productive adult lives. In addition, chapters present instructional practices based on engagement enablers. Chapters also pinpoint specific learning skills and subject areas that can provide openings for promoting motivation and participation. Featured topics include: The importance of cognitive and social enablers for promoting learning engagement. Engagement in instruction from teachers and testing within classrooms. Student voice and perspective as a reading engagement enabler. Promoting academic engagement and aspiration for challenging and advanced mathematics. Alternative educational programs for re-engaging marginalized youths who "don't fit". Empowering Engagement is a must-have resource for researchers, scientist-practitioners, clinicians, and graduate students in the fields of child and school psychology, educational policy and politics, social work, motivation and learning, schooling and pedagogies, and related disciplines.

This book presents an early treatment model for toddlers. It describes the early life span development, trajectory, and future potential of toddlers and how it may be powerfully influenced by the protection and guidance of caregivers to meet toddlers' physical and mental health needs. It offers an in-depth guide toParent-Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers (PCIT-T), an evidence-based program for addressing and preventing behavior problems affecting young children's development. The book details the innovative intervention design and how it guides clinicians in providing treatment for 12-month old to 24-month old toddlers with disruptive behaviors in addition to being used as a prevention model for caregivers experiencing stress of child rearing. PCIT-T focuses on core areas of social and emotional development, including behavior management and language skills, and can be used in dealing with difficulties as diverse as tantrums, language issues, autistic behaviors, and separation anxiety. Play therapy and compliance training in child-directed as well as parent-directed sessions are also examined. Initial chapters provide an overview of attachment and behavioral theory components that are foundational to the treatment model. Subsequent chapters provide a session-by-session guide and clinical manual for implementation of PCIT-T as well as the clinician tools needed to monitor treatment integrity and fidelity to the model. Topics featured in this book include: Core elements and treatment goals of PCIT-T A range of behavioral assessments used in PCIT-T. Instructions for room set-up, toy selection, and special considerations when providing PCIT-T treatment. Preparation guides for the pretreatment interview, assessment sessions, and weekly coaching sessions. The importance of child-directed interaction toddler (CDI-T) and parent-directed interaction toddler (PDI-T) in teaching children the necessary skills to regulate their emotions and develop self-control. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers is a must-have resource for clinicians and related professionals, researchers and professors, and graduate students in the fields of clinical child and school psychology, social work, pediatrics, infancy and early childhood development, child and adolescent psychiatry, primary care medicine, and related disciplines.

This volume examines the use of prediagnostic mental health screening as part of preventive services in primary and secondary schools. It presents the theory underlying mental health screening for children and the obstacles against its widespread implementation. Empirical findings illustrate the potential of schools as the platform for mental and general health services. The authors contribute their own experiences to provide real-world perspectives and establish future directions for research and practice on mental health screening in schools. Featured topics include: Rationales for comprehensive mental health screening in schools. Evaluations of widely used assessment instruments for suitability with children and youth. An analysis of mental health screening in a Response to Intervention framework. The multiple-gate approach to screening and service delivery. Benefits and challenges of screening in educational settings. Current and emerging issues in the field. Mental Health Screening at School is a valuable resource for clinicians and scientist-practitioners, researchers, and graduate students in school psychology, social work, special education, and school counseling, as well as school principals and administrators.

Social changes, including women's entry into the labour force and higher rates of divorce and remarriage, dramatically altered family life and raised complex questions about how individuals develop in the ever changing contexts of family, community and society. The goal of this 1989 volume is to enhance our understanding of human development in an evolving social context. Featuring contributions by eminent scholars in developmental, clinical and personality psychology, behavioural genetics and sociology, Persons in Context: Developmental Processes presents advances in theory and research on two central topics: how environments influence individuals in the course of development and how individuals select and shape the very environments that influence their development. The volume assembles a theoretically convergent body of research on how individuals and environments are linked in the course of development, including studies of genetics - environment relations, social interns, social interchanges in family systems, and linkages between the family and other major settings, such as peer groups, communities, and the larger social structure.

This volume seeks to explore the idea of identity as a flexible center of events around which aspects of the self and events in the outside world are organized. Historically, in much of the literature, identity was conceptualized as a somewhat fixed, unchanging construct. Scholars now have a greater awareness of more nuanced theories about identity and there is a greater willingness to accept that identity is not fixed, concrete, and permanent, but rather evolving and fluid. Although this volume discusses a wide variety of aspects of identity as it flexibly changes during adulthood in the face of numerous experiences, it is really addressing one key question. How adaptive and fluid is identity and how can we know ourselves as both continuing and changing? Exploring these ideas raises the importance of future research on adult identity. With a firm grounding in the historical and theoretical background of identity research, this volume begins by defining identity and the psychological "self" as a center around which the person's behaviors and self-concepts revolve. The following chapters gather the wisdom of many writers who all accepted the challenge of talking about creating a flexible adult self and identity during adulthood. They come at this challenging question from many different perspectives using different tools. Some survey existing literature and theory, then summarize prior work in a meaningful way. Some discuss their own research; some reflect on personal experiences that have demanded a flexible identity. Also included in the coverage are discussions of methodology and validity issues for studies and scales of identity. With its dual focus on research and applied fields ranging across social and personality psychology, industrial/occupational psychology, cross-cultural psychology, mental health, existential issues, relationships, and demographic categories, Identity Flexibility During Adulthood: Perspectives on Adult Development is a fascinating and complex resource for psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, gerontologists, and all those interested in our changing identities.

This handbook offers a comprehensive review of intellectual disabilities (ID). It examines historical perspectives and foundational principles in the field. The handbook addresses philosophy of care for individuals with ID, as well as parent and professional issues and organizations, staffing, and working on multidisciplinary teams. Chapters explore issues of client protection, risk factors of ID, basic research issues, and legal concerns. In addition, chapters include information on evidence-based assessments and innovative treatments to address a variety of behaviors associated with ID. The handbook provides an in-depth analysis of comorbid physical disorders, such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and seizures, and developmental coordination disorders (DCD), in relation to ID. Topics featured in this handbook include: Informed consent and the enablement of persons with ID. The responsible use of restraint and seclusion as a protective measure. Vocational training and job preparation programs that assist individuals with ID. Psychological and educational approaches to the treatment of aggression and tantrums. Emerging technologies that support learning for students with ID. Key sexuality and relationship issues that are faced by individuals with ID. Effective approaches to weight management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Handbook of Intellectual Disabilities is an essential reference for researchers, graduate students, clinicians and related therapists and professionals in clinical child and school psychology, pediatrics, social work, developmental psychology, behavioral therapy/rehabilitation, child and adolescent psychiatry, and special education.

In the later stages of gestation, fetal functions undergo increasing change and development, preparing the fetus for the transition to its postnatal environment. Rapid maturation is witnessed in breathing, swallowing, sensory functions, sleep, and many other processes, with corresponding behavioral changes. By 35 to 40 weeks of gestation, fetuses are capable of living ex utero without support, but it is increasingly appreciated that even infants born at between 35 and 36 weeks can suffer long-term consequences. This book, which complements the author's previous volume on development of normal fetal movements during the first 25 weeks of gestation, discusses in detail the full range of behavioral phenomena observed during the final 15 weeks of gestation, with careful analysis of their mutual relationships. A key feature is the outstanding photographic material, difficult to obtain at this late stage, and the instructive graphs that are also included. The information provided will alert clinicians to deviations from the norm and to physiologic phenomena that can turn pathologic in infants born prematurely.

In this volume, gender and schooling in the early years addresses a broad range of issues including, but not limited, to gender equity in education. We explore, for example, the complex world of play in Fromberg's chapter and are reminded that for young children, play involves issues of power and hierarchy in ways that parallel the role of gender in society. Miletta's study of preschool children in northern Italy, at Reggio Emilia, reveals a story of classroom interactions where gender differences are not part of the equation for the youngsters. Her chapter begs the question, ""How does this environment empower all children, regardless of gender?"" Two chapters provide a lens to the Montessori setting for young children. Wilgus studies the gendered patterns of young women teaching at a Montessori school, while Irby, Rodriguez, and Lara-Alecio explore the intersections of culture and gender at a bilingual Montessori public school. Further examining the preschool years, Plaster and Schiller address the current brain research and examine the ways in which the adults that staff early child care programs, and the environments that they offer, play an important role in the development of our children.

This book explores the question of family language policy in multilingual households. Presenting six case studies which focus on the experiences of parents and children in French-English bilingual contexts, the author draws conclusions about the impact of parental language management on the family as a whole which can be applied to transnational families from other linguistic backgrounds. While many parental guides on bilingual childrearing have been published in recent years, little attention has been paid to the possible impact of such language strategies on the experiences and interrelationships of bilingual family members. This book is unique in focusing in depth on the psychology and experiences of the child, and it will be of interest to readers in fields as diverse as sociolinguistics, language policy and planning, sociology of youth and family, and child psychology.

Unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase among young people. This volume explores social and behavioural implications of adolescent sexuality and suggests ways in which to encourage sexual responsibility.

With contributions from psychologists, sociologists and family care experts, the volume examines such topics as gender, sexual behaviour, adolescent parenting, homosexuality and bisexuality.

Today, individuals have greater access to information about their healththaneverbefore(Randeree,2009;Eysenbach,2008).Muchofthis changeisdue, inlargepart, toadvancesinbiotechnologyandtheseque- ing of the human genome (Manolio & Collins, 2009). It is now possible, forexample, forindividualstologontotheInternetand, forafeeofs- eral hundred dollars, order an at-home DNA collection kit and have the resultsofamyriadofgenetictestsdelivereddirectlytotheire-mailinbox (Gurwitz&Bregman-Eschet,2009).Insomecases, thesetestresultsmay indicatepersonalriskforcommonchronicdiseases, suchascertainforms ofcancer, diabetes, cardiovasculardisease, andseveralothers.Companies marketing these test kits often claim that promoting greater access to and awareness of the association between genes and health, and one's genetic susceptibilities to disease, leads to more proactive and insig- fulmethodsofindividualhealthmanagement(Hogarth, Javitt,&Melzer, 2008). Moreover, it is consistent with an emerging trend in medicine - that of consumer-oriented medicine - which places health information toolsdirectlyinthehandsofpatientsunderthepremiseoffosteringbetter patient-providercollaboration(Silvestre, Sue,&Allen,2009). Though the principles behind this direct-to-consumer approach to genetics seem laudable and perhaps even exciting, there is consid- ablecontroversyastowhat, ifany, utilitytheinformationactuallyholds (Geransar&Einsiedel,2008;Wasson, Cook,&Helzlsouer,2006).Unlike geneticteststhatarediagnostic(e.g., chromosomeanalysisforDowns- drome)orhighlypredictive(e.g., BRCA1andBRCA2testingforhereditary breast-ovarian cancer risk), this new wave of presymptomatic predictive genetictestsforcommondiseaseyieldsresultsthataremuchmoreunc- tainbecausethestatisticalmodelsonwhichtheyarepresentlybasedare imperfectandwithlimiteddata(Ng, Murray, Levy,&Venter,2009). Theabovescenarioraisesmanyquestionsfortoday'shealth-carec- sumers. For example, for whom is this information applicable, and for whatpopulationsorsubpopulationsisitnot?Underwhatcircumstances might this information be useful, and when should it be disregarded as irrelevant?Andperhapsmostimportantly, what, ifanything, canbedone inlightofinformationaboutpersonalgeneticrisktoeffectivelylowerthe oddsofbecomingsickandraisetheoddsofstayinghealthy? vii viii PREFACE Becausetheprevalenceofmostdiseasesvariesasafunctionofage, gender, race/ethnicity, and other personal characteristics, answers to these questions are complex and many are just beginning to be und- stood(Khouryetal.,2009).Someexpertshaveconcludedthattheanswers tosuchquestionsremainoutofreachatthepresenttimeandmayc- tinue to be elusive for another 5-10 years (Frazer, Murray, Schork, & Topol,2009).Yet, twenty-?rstcenturyhealth-careconsumers, providers, and policy makers face these choices now about incorporating personal genetic information into health management and often do so without a complete and accurate understanding of the potential impact of their decisionsonmultiplelevels(Carlson,2009).