Based on his own life experiences, travels and meditations, Chris Mitchell reflects on how mindfulness practice can help people with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) with daily challenges including negative thought patterns, emotional and sensory issues, and navigating the social world. This practical handbook provides advice and instruction on adopting a mindful way of living to help tune in to the present moment and each chapter provides step-by-step mindfulness exercises that allow individuals with AS to overcome obstacles through awareness. Included are breathing exercises, simple yoga stretches, sitting, standing and walking meditations, visualisations, and easy ways to incorporate mindfulness techniques into everyday activities such as eating, brushing your teeth or doing the dishes. By teaching how to live mindfully moment to moment, this book gives people with Asperger's Syndrome the key to relieving stress, increasing awareness, and living a healthier and happier life.

Aims to help adults with Asperger's syndrome or high-functioning autism to turn their differences into strengths so that they can improve their daily functioning, pursue a career and have intimate relationships. Original.

This series of reflective accounts explores the benefits that Buddhist practice can bring for autistic individuals, and outlines how Dharma teachers, centre directors and meditation group leaders can help ensure sessions are truly autism sensitive. Including a wide range of international contributors discussing aspects of their autistic experience and the impact of Buddhism on their lives, this is a thought-provoking and often moving portrayal of the intersect between the lived experience of autistic people and spiritual practice. The deeply personal accounts of the positive impact Buddhist practices have had on relationships, social interactions, sensory overload, mental health and wellbeing, provide an opportunity to find out more about both Buddhism and the support that it can offer to the autistic community through, for example, personal practice, parenting and special educational provision.

Barb Cook and 14 other autistic women describe life from a female autistic perspective, and present empowering, helpful and supportive insights from their personal experience for fellow autistic women. Michelle Garnett's comments validate and expand the experiences described from a clinician's perspective, and provide extensive recommendations. Autistic advocates including Liane Holliday Willey, Anita Lesko, Jeanette Purkis, Artemisia and Samantha Craft offer their personal guidance on significant issues that particularly affect women, as well as those that are more general to autism. Contributors cover issues including growing up, identity, diversity, parenting, independence and self-care amongst many others. With great contributions from exceptional women, this is a truly well-rounded collection of knowledge and sage advice for any woman with autism.

Carers are particularly vulnerable to feeling stressed, worried and worn down by the vast demands that often come with caregiving, be they physical, psychological or emotional. Mindfulness can be enormously beneficial to carers, whether professional or voluntary, as a means of developing greater inner stability, resilience and gaining more control over their thoughts, feelings and emotions. Mindfulness is an evidence-based approach that is proven to help protect against stress, anxiety, depression and burnout. Dr Cheryl Rezek provides an accessible introduction to mindfulness, and explains how simple mindfulness practices and psychological concepts can be used to manage the day-to-day demands of caring effectively, helping caregivers to gain a greater sense of control and maintain a more positive and balanced outlook. The book includes easy-to-use and enjoyable mindfulness exercises, short enough to fit into a busy day, as well as accompanying audio tracks to support and guide the reader through these exercises. An essential read for all those involved in caring for people with acute or long-term health and mental health conditions, disabilities and other support needs, including relatives and other informal carers, adoptive parents and foster carers, as well as professional medical, health and social care staff.

Understanding who you are can be a lonely and difficult process following the diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Asperger's Syndrome and Mindfulness illuminates this experience as an empowering path of discovery through the teachings of Buddhism. Chris Mitchell draws parallels between the experience of his own journey towards personhood through AS and the spiritual tenants of Theravada Buddhism, as outlined through the Eightfold Path, a guideline to personal development. Worry and anxiety, confusing desires or negative thoughts are among the everyday hindrances a person with AS faces. This book takes the reader through the key beliefs of Theravada Buddhism, such as Mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths, showing how practices such as Insight Meditation can lead to a positive resolution of these feelings. Talking openly about his own personal experiences, Chris Mitchell provides helpful tips and suggestions for improving confidence and self-esteem towards an overall better sense of self that will be of interest to anyone diagnosed with AS or their family and friends.

This book is a comprehensive resource to guide work with individuals on the autism spectrum. It reflects the true range of needs presented by individuals with autism, pulling together the most salient aspects of treatment with invaluable information from several disciplines synthesized to guide your work. Divided into topical sections with chapters from three field experts in each, this book features contributions from therapists, educators, and medical doctors, as well as financial planners, health advocates, and innovators. The diverse disciplines and backgrounds of each author lend a different voice and perspective to each chapter, reflecting the continuum of care necessary when working with clientele on the autism spectrum, and that, for clients on the spectrum, one solution does not fit all. For use by psychotherapists, counselors, applied behavioral analysts, occupational therapists, social workers, teachers, and more, this text presents readers with expertise from various contributing disciplines to give them a treatment resource that can inform and guide their daily work with clients on the autism spectrum.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for treating mental health problems such as anxiety and depression in individuals both with and without autism spectrum disorders. This book bridges the gap between research and practice and shows adults on the spectrum practical ways to manage their emotions. Many adults on the autism spectrum experience isolation, interpersonal difficulties, anxiety, depressed mood, and coping problems. By applying theory and concepts from autism research, this book will help adults on the spectrum to understand their challenges. The author takes the best of CBT self-help strategies, to encourage self-analysis, and to help adults on the spectrum make better decisions in activities such as employment or relationships. This is an essential self-help guide for adults on the spectrum looking for ways to cope with emotional challenges, and will also be a useful resource for clinicians, psychologists, therapists, and counselors working with them.

Autism is associated with many qualities that are highly sought after by employers such as reliability, persistence, attention to detail, creativity in problem solving and many others. The key to success in the workplace is understanding these strengths and identifying the support you need to help you flourish. This self-guided workbook provides advice, strategies and activities to manage the difficulties that can arise at work. You will be given the tools to help minimise anxiety, sensory overload, unhelpful thinking patterns, difficulties with social communication, and organisation and planning problems. The activities are interactive, and you can approach them on your terms. They can be dispersed throughout the day or week, and the workbook and accompanying videos include everything you need to set and achieve your employment goals. The course can also be undertaken with the assistance of a mentor, and the workbook includes resources and videos to help them support you.

Filled with strategies and advice, this empowering guide presents practical ways to improve the mental wellbeing of people on the Autism Spectrum. This helpful guide focusses on the specific difficulties that can arise for people on the autism spectrum who may also experience a mental illness. The book includes information on common mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, as well as strategies for improving sleep patterns and mindfulness. Providing guidance on the benefits and drawbacks of therapy pets, medication, and psychotherapy, the authors offer balanced perspectives on treatment options and introduce self-help strategies tailored to meet your needs and improve your mental wellbeing. A number of short personal narratives from people on the autism spectrum and mental health issues illustrate the text. The book also includes a list of resources, books and organisations that can provide further support and inspiration.