Freddy Jackson Brown

Raising an autistic child is a uniquely rewarding journey, filled with moments of joy, love and connection. However, it can also bring challenges that require understanding, patience, and new ways of looking at emotional growth and resilience. Supporting an autistic child effectively often requires two interlocking approaches: 1) changing the world around them to make it more inclusive; and 2) teaching them skills to better navigate that world. This book does both. It provides a range of learning exercises based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (and the closely related DNA-V) to build and enhance psychological flexibility, and it also describes the basis for making adaptations to the environment to mitigate stresses and frustrations. Whatever your situation or level of knowledge, this book offers insights, practical strategies and real-life examples that will help guide you and your child on your journey to a rewarding life together.

This essential book is packed full of comprehensive guidelines and practical resources for running wellbeing intervention sessions for children aged 7 to 11, drawing from the scientifically grounded Six Ways to Wellbeing and the DNA-V model. Each chapter focuses on one of the Six Ways to Wellbeing, six patterns of action known to correlate highly with aspects of positive mental health and wellbeing. These principles have been translated into 36 step-by-step sessions to develop children’s wellbeing and psychological flexibility and support those struggling with aspects of their mental health. The sessions can be delivered by educators with the whole class, with small groups as targeted wellbeing interventions or easily adapted to fit one-to-one contexts.The Six Ways to Wellbeing sessions include:• Be Active: Staying physically active and exercising regularly.• Self-Care: Engaging in good quality self-care behaviours.• Connect with Others: Connecting with others socially in ways that feel genuine, authentic and fulfilling.• Give to Others: Engaging in kind, thoughtful and giving behaviours toward others and the wider world.• Challenge Yourself: Encouraging learning that feels personally challenging to grow and develop new skills.• Embrace the Moment: Taking notice of the world around you and embracing and appreciating the moment.Easy to follow and requiring no previous training, this book is the ideal resource for primary school teachers and leaders, psychologists, mental health practitioners, school counsellors, SENCos, LSAs, ELSAs and Learning Mentors looking to support and improve children’s wellbeing within their professional roles.

This essential book is packed full of comprehensive guidelines and practical resources for running wellbeing intervention sessions for children aged 7 to 11, drawing from the scientifically grounded Six Ways to Wellbeing and the DNA-V model. Each chapter focuses on one of the Six Ways to Wellbeing, six patterns of action known to correlate highly with aspects of positive mental health and wellbeing. These principles have been translated into 36 step-by-step sessions to develop children’s wellbeing and psychological flexibility and support those struggling with aspects of their mental health. The sessions can be delivered by educators with the whole class, with small groups as targeted wellbeing interventions or easily adapted to fit one-to-one contexts.The Six Ways to Wellbeing sessions include:• Be Active: Staying physically active and exercising regularly.• Self-Care: Engaging in good quality self-care behaviours.• Connect with Others: Connecting with others socially in ways that feel genuine, authentic and fulfilling.• Give to Others: Engaging in kind, thoughtful and giving behaviours toward others and the wider world.• Challenge Yourself: Encouraging learning that feels personally challenging to grow and develop new skills.• Embrace the Moment: Taking notice of the world around you and embracing and appreciating the moment.Easy to follow and requiring no previous training, this book is the ideal resource for primary school teachers and leaders, psychologists, mental health practitioners, school counsellors, SENCos, LSAs, ELSAs and Learning Mentors looking to support and improve children’s wellbeing within their professional roles.

Life is often busy, demanding and full of challenges that can cause us to lose sight of what really matters. The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Diary 2022 is designed to help individuals focus on the things that are most important to them. It puts values centre-stage, where they can best guide actions and decisions, and is especially helpful for those engaged in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). However, the principles are relevant to anyone seeking to build psychological flexibility - the ability to connect fully with experiences, including difficult thoughts and feelings, and pursue an authentic life. Weekly short, accessible pieces discuss aspects of psychological flexibility, present helpful metaphors, and suggest exercises to identify core values, clarify issues and record goals. Alongside these, reflection spaces offer regular opportunities to record thoughts, identify barriers and track progress.

Life is often busy, demanding and full of challenges that can cause us to lose sight of what really matters. The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Journal is designed to help individuals to focus on the things that are most important to them by identifying personal values and putting them centre-stage where they can best guide actions and decisions. Taking the form of a 12-week course of structured self-development, with ACT-informed guidance, reflection exercises, goal-setting tasks and inspirational quotations throughout, it is especially helpful for those currently engaged in ACT and other forms of brief therapy and/or coaching. However, the principles and lessons are relevant to anyone seeking to increase their personal wellbeing and build psychological flexibility - the ability to connect fully with experiences, including difficult thoughts and feelings, and pursue an authentic life

Puberty, personal hygiene and sex can be difficult topics to broach with your child, especially when they have an intellectual disability or autism. The authors of this guide provide honest answers to challenging questions and provide solutions to the dilemmas that many parents face on a daily basis. Structured around issues related to puberty and emerging sexuality in children with disabilities or autism, such as physical changes, mood swings and sexual behaviour, the book presents case studies alongside practical guidance on how to overcome problems that commonly arise.The book also explains laws relevant to disability and sexuality and suggests appropriate sex education programmes to meet the needs of differing degrees of disability.

Harness ACT to live a healthier life Do you want to change your relationship with painful thoughts and feelings that are holding you back from making changes to improve your life? In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy For Dummies, you'll discover how to identify negative and unhealthy modes of thinking and apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles throughout your day-to-day life, creating a healthier, richer and more meaningful existence with yourself and others. Closely connected to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), ACT is an evidence-based, NICE-approved therapy that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies mixed in with commitment and behaviour-changing strategies to help people increase their psychological flexibility in both their personal and professional lives. With the help of this straightforward and authoritative guide, you'll find out how to target unpleasant feelings and not act upon them—without sending yourself spiraling down the rabbit hole. The objective is not happiness; rather, it is to be present with what life brings you and to move toward valued behaviour. Shows you how to banish unhelpful thoughtsGuides you to making room for painful feelingsTeaches you how to engage fully with your here-and-now experienceHelps you cope with anxiety, depression, stress, OCD and psychosis Whether you're looking to practice self care at home or are thinking about seeing an ACT therapist, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy For Dummies makes it easier to live a healthier and more productive life in spite of—and alongside—unpleasantness.