Counselling for Asperger couples by Barrie Thompson
Foreword by Steve Bagnall

Asperger counselling for couples is the first book to provide a complete model for counselling couples where one partner has Asperger Syndrome (AS).

The book provides details of the seven different stages of the model and includes anecdotal evidence from clients who have used it. The author explains the importance of initial separate counselling and describes the co-counselling process, using case studies to demonstrate useful strategies. The book offers valuable advice on improving communication and cooperation and includes photocopiable activity sheets.

Based on considerable experience, this book will be invaluable for counsellors treating couples where one partner has Asperger Syndrome. Its insight into the world of AS will also benefit such partners who may not have access to counselling, but still wish to use for themselves the many and varied strategies it contains. Parents with children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as teachers and other professionals working in this field can also benefit from it.

Barrie Thompson has been working as a Relate Couple Therapist since 1995. Since completing his Masters Degree in couple therapy in 2003 he has specialised in dealing with couples with either partner having AS or who experience difficulty due to a child or young person in the family having an ASD. He has regularly shared his expertise on Asperger counselling by giving presentations to, and running workshops for, many organisations including Relate, Autism West Midlands and the Central London Samaritans.

Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
116 Pentonville Road
London
N1 9JB
ISBN 978 1 843 10 544 2




Counselling for Asperger couples by Barrie Thompson (Jessica Kingsley)
Review by Relate Supervisor Neil Clarke:

Barrie Thompson, Practitioner at Relate Coventry, is open about the personal traits which give him, “one foot in the boot” as far as understanding the difficulties faced by couples where Asperger Syndrome is a factor, and has developed a clear, rational and well-structured Seven-stage model for work with these couples. This is based on each partner gaining greater understanding of the disorder, and then using a variety of behavioural strategies to address the difficulties between them. Frequently this includes work on paper, using either graphics, list-making or visual-reminder tools that are particularly useful for the “Aspie” partner. The book includes many full-sized photocopiable resources of this kind. A unique volume, and highly recommended.