It is increasingly recognized that major barriers to social function may be related to a lack of opportunity or instruction rather than just to intrinsic impairments.” (Batshaw, 2002.)
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome may well be neurobiological. Nevertheless, at the Social Therapy Group, we work hard not to interpret or predict based upon a child’s current performance repertoire. We relate to children and families as having the capacity to organize what’s happening in more creative and developmental ways, and as having the capability to transform the performance of their lives.
In social therapy, we help families out of the diagnostic box in which children (and their parents) can be trapped. Diagnosis too often has the effect of limiting what parents and others think they can do in terms of interacting with their child. Parents often will not even attempt normal conversation with a son or daughter who has been so labeled. Instead of two-way communication, interaction gets reduced to a series of declarative instructions directed at the child — “Do this! Don’t do that!” — and little else. When this happens, the child’s development and ability to grow are severely limited, too.
A group therapy approach
Treatment and support comes in a group setting that includes individuals of all ages and backgrounds, each making his or her unique contribution — social therapy does not segregate children with Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder. This highlights the child’s strengths (often the innate ability to create and play) and limitations in relating to others, and enables her or him to interact and be part of creating a diverse social environment.
Group support provides many other learning and growth opportunities:
- Reinforcement and support for growth and development can come from a variety of different sources — not just the therapist.
- Through broad interactions with others, the child benefits from exposure to a rich social environment. A lack of such information can contribute significantly to social isolation.
- Parents become involved in the therapy. This is essential, and creates a network of support for the child and the parent.
- The child is supported in expressing emotions — in a pro-social way — for and with others.
- The group offers many different positive and appropriate role models that children and parents see and interact with.
At the Social Therapy Group, we help individuals and families learn how to build an environment where relationality is key. In essence, it is helping all concerned look at the impact they are having on other people. In some cases it’s recognizing that there are other people. A diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger’s Syndrome need not and should not be allowed to interfere with continuous human development.