Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects the entire family system and not just the individuals diagnosed with ASD. Family therapists working with families dealing with the systemic effects of ASD must understand common ASD-related stressors and be able to properly assess what particular stressors are bringing a family into therapy. They must then employ-behaviorally based, emotionally-focused, or insight-oriented intervention strategies that adequately address a family’s particular area/s of stress. In addition to their therapeutic work, family therapists may also aid families of individuals with ASD through participation on interdisciplinary teams, helping the team to think systemically, advocating on behalf of the family, and facilitating collaboration among team members.
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Johnson, J. (2019). Family Therapy. In: Rieske, R.D. (eds) Handbook of Interdisciplinary Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13027-5_23
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