2nd Edition
Play Interventions for Neurodivergent Children and Adolescents Promoting Growth, Empowerment, and Affirming Practices
This revamped second edition provides several play interventions designed to address a variety of common mental health needs that neurodivergent children face, such as social navigation, regulation, relationship development, anxiety issues, identity struggles, and self-advocacy.
Completely reorganized and with the addition of several new chapters, the book begins with a thorough presentation of how and why structured interventions are used with neurodivergent children. Special focus is given to understanding neurodivergence, relationship and rapport building, therapy planning and goal setting, how to create a structured play intervention, the therapeutic powers of play, the role and level of involvement of the therapist, theory integration, avoiding ableist practices, and parent involvement. The second half of the book covers a wide selection of play therapy interventions for use with neurodivergent children and adolescents. The structured interventions focus on need areas related to social navigation, emotional expression, regulation, sensory processing, connection and relationship development, executive functioning, strengths, self-advocacy, and identity.
These structured play therapy interventions designed uniquely for neurodivergent children and adolescents will be valuable resources for any mental health professional working with neurodivergent youth.
1. The Neurodiversity Paradigm and Ableist Practices 2. Relationship Development and Rapport Building 3. Therapy Planning and Goal Setting 4. Creating Structured Play Interventions 5. Play Therapy and the Therapeutic Powers of Play 6. The Role of the Practitioner and the Parent 7. Social Navigation Interventions 8. Feeling Identification and Expression Interventions 9. Regulation Interventions 10. Sensory Processing Interventions 11. Connection and Relationship Development Interventions 12. Executive Functioning Interventions 13. Strengths Development Interventions 14. Identity (Self-Worth) Interventions 15. Advocacy Interventions
Biography
Robert Jason Grant is a licensed professional counselor, national board-certified counselor, registered play therapist-supervisor, and a certified autism specialist based in Missouri, USA.
"Grant is a pioneer, enlightening and teaching us about neurodiversity-affirming practices for mental health professionals who provide play therapy for children. This book provides a clear and practical guide for structuring play therapy in meaningful ways to meet the needs of neurodivergent children".
Lynn Louise Wonders, LPC, CPCS, RPT-S™
"Robert Jason Grant contributes once again to the mental health field. In his new book, he offers structured and practical interventions grounded in the AutPlay® framework. Mental health therapists who want to increase their confidence and competence when working with neurodivergent children and adolescents will find this book extremely valuable".Tony Lai, MA, LPC, RPT-S™
"Play Interventions for Neurodivergent Children and Adolescents: Promoting Growth, Empowerment, and Affirming Practices is a well-balanced and detailed book for anyone who is interested in providing fun and play based interventions for the neurodivergent client. Dr. Robert Jason Grant uses a concentrated lens to clearly show the importance of empathy and understanding when implementing play interventions with neurodivergent children. He details specific techniques to help with clients’ social navigation, regulation, and feeling identification needs, as well as valuable information on the neurodiversity paradigm and ableist practices. This will be my new, go-to book; not only when working with my neurodivergent clients, but also when checking within to enhance my therapist abilities"!Tracy Turner-Bumberry, LPC, RPT-S™
