Behold the Tree: An Exploration of the Social Integration of Boys on the Autistic Spectrum in a Mainstream Primary School through a Dramatherapy Intervention
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online November, 2017
Behold the Tree: An Exploration of the Social Integration of Boys on the Autistic Spectrum in a Mainstream Primary School through a Dramatherapy Intervention
This article examines the process of a dramatherapy group with three boys on the autistic spectrum who attended a mainstream school. The boys were part of a mixed group where their neuro-typical peers were both group participants and witnesses. The main body of the article focuses on eight sessions based around the theme of ‘the tree’ which proved to be a turning point for all three boys when with growing confidence they were able to express their emotional needs. Thoughts are shared on ‘theory of mind’ and why the lack of this quintessential quality for those on the autistic spectrum places severe limitation on their social functioning.
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