List of Tables Preface Acknowledgements Author Biography 1. Getting Started 2. Session 1: Trading Information and Starting Conversations 3. Session 2: Trading Information and Maintaining Conversations. 4. Session 3: Finding a Source of Friends. 5. Session 4: Electronic Communication 6. Session 5: Appropriate Use of Humor 7. Session 6: Entering Group Conversations 8. Session 7: Exiting Conversations 9. Session 8: Get-Togethers 10. Session 9: Dating Etiquette – Letting Someone Know You Like Them. 11. Session 10: Dating Etiquette – Asking Someone on a Date 12. Session 11: Dating Etiquette – Going on Dates 13. Session 12: Dating Etiquette – Dating Do’s and Dont's 14. Session 13: Handling Disagreements 15. Session 14: Handling Direct Bullying 16. Session 15: Handling Indirect Bullying 17. Session 16: Moving Forward and Graduation References Appendices
Dr. Elizabeth A. Laugeson is a licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Dr. Laugeson is the director of the Help Group—UCLA Autism Research Alliance, a collaborative research initiative dedicated to developing and expanding applied clinical research in the treatment of children and adolescents with ASD. She is also the training director for the UCLA Tarjan Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), and the founder and director of the UCLA PEERS® Clinic, an outpatient hospital-based program providing parent-assisted social skills training for individuals with ASD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other social impairments across the lifespan.
"Many young adults with ASD struggle to make and keep friends and
establish romantic relationships. Despite caregivers and relatives
best efforts, these individuals are often socially isolated and
despondent about their future social life. Dr Elizabeth Laugeson
and her team have risen to this challenge by building upon their
successful and widely used PEERS program for teenagers to produce
The PEERS for Young Adults Manual: an evidence-based group
treatment program for able young adults with ASD or other social
difficulties. The manual is targeted at clinicians knowledgeable
about ASD in adult life and provides a self-contained and
comprehensive approach to teaching the ecologically valid social
skills necessary for establishing and maintaining meaningful
relationships. It is not difficult to see why this CBT approach is
so effective: the focus of individual sessions is on key skills and
the session formats are predictable and build upon prior learning;
the teaching style is Socratean and encourages problem solving and
perspective taking; whilst there is a strong emphasis on the
logical underpinnings of successful social interactions, much use
is also made of humor to reinforce learning; therapists encourage
participants to use easily remembered buzzwords and phrases to
encapsulate important learning points; clear homework tasks are set
to provide opportunities to rehearse newly learnt skills, and,
particularly importantly, caregivers attend parallel group sessions
where they learn how to provide social coaching to support
rehearsal in the individuals’ social environment. Laugeson displays
a deep understanding of the nuts and bolts of both social
interactions and running therapy groups and gives advice based on
extensive experience. She also thoughtfully highlights where
adaptions may be necessary to deal with varying social norms.
Although not all clinicians will have the resources to provide a
group based intervention, I still highly recommend they read this
manual: even the most experienced therapists will find helpful
knowledge and tips on how to improve the social interactions of
their clients."
Dr Anthony J. Bailey, chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
UBC, Institute of Mental Health chair
"Liz Laugeson’s PEERS® was the first evidence-validated system for
teaching autistic kids to make friends and work together. Her
program began with teens, and this important new work extends
PEERS® into young adults of college age and beyond. As an autistic
adult I’m proud to have been a supporter of Dr. Laugeson’s work
from the beginning, and I hope you will see as much value in her
new book as I do."
John Elder Robison, New York Times bestselling author,
neurodiversity scholar, College of William & Mary"Elizabeth
Laugeson is to be congratulated for taking on the enormous task of
attempting to systemise the social world for adults with autism.
The rules governing the social world are complex, subtle and
implicit. People with autism often complain that the social world
lacks a "manual." This book is an impressive effort to provide one
and is supported by evidence for its effectiveness."
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge
University"This manual provides a self-contained and comprehensive
set of lesson plans for teaching able young adults with ASD
ecologically valid social skills, supported by social coaching from
their caregivers. It combines well established CBT principles with
deep, and often humorous insights into the mechanics of
establishing and keeping meaningful relationships; it is a must
read for all clinicians managing able adults with ASD."
Dr. Anthony J. Bailey, chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
University of British Columbia, Institute of Mental Health"Since
the vast majority of interventions for autism focus on very young
children, this manual, which extends the scope of the
well-established PEERS® intervention to adults with autism, is
particularly welcome. The group-based program described provides
practical and evidence based strategies for dealing with the
day-to-day social challenges faced by individuals with autism as
they approach adulthood. It should prove a valuable resource for
clinicians and other professionals working with this client
group."
Patricia Howlin, emeritus professor of clinical child psychology,
King's College, London"The social difficulties in autism remain
both the most important and most challenging to treat. This
comprehensive volume is a major contribution to the treatment
literature. Practical and yet evidence-based, this book will be of
great value to individuals with autism spectrum disorders, their
parents, and supporters. It is highly recommended."
Fred R. Volkmar, MD, Irving B. Harris professor, Child Study
Center, Yale University School of Medicine, editor in chief,
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, editor, Encyclopedia
of Autism
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