Emotion-focused therapy for autism spectrum disorder : a case conceptualization model for trauma-related experiences

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) report painful experiences through emotional misunderstandings with typically developing (TD) peers. There are limited intervention methodologies for ASD on the impact of emotional injuries and how to work with resulting trauma. This paper presents a rational-empirical model of trauma-related experiences with the first presentation of a new case conceptualization model for Emotion-Focused Therapy for ASD. It describes the transformation of problematic emotion schemes through a sequence of emotional processing steps illustrated with a case example. These steps include: overcoming differentiation of core painful feelings (such as loneliness, shame, and fear); autobiographical memory recall of distanced trauma, using a novel method of video Interpersonal Process Recall; and articulation of the unmet needs contained in core painful feelings. This is followed by the expression of an emotional response to those feelings/needs; typically, self-soothing, protective anger and compassion responses offered interpersonally by group members. These emerging adaptive emotions facilitate mentalization of self and other that strengthens intrapersonal and interpersonal agency. This rational-empirical case conceptualization acts as a hypothesis for testing in subsequent trials

Online Lifeline : An Evaluation of Right Click Parent Training Programme

The Present Study used parents as key stakeholders and a phenomenological approach to examine parent perceptions of Right Click, an online, telehealth training programme that supports parents in their understanding of ASD. As the Right Click parent programme is designed as self-referring and self-directed learning support; the specific research questions for this study included (1) What are parents’ general perceptions of Right Click? (2) How does Right Click support family wellbeing and parent coping? (3) How do these experiences inform receptivity of Right Click as a parent intervention? From the interviews participants clearly see Right Click as a useful, valuable resource and recognised that, certainly for Scottish families (predominant sample) that it is the most extensive one stop resource available of its kind for parents

Lieb-Robinson Bounds and Existence of the Thermodynamic Limit for a Class of Irreversible Quantum Dynamics

We prove Lieb-Robinson bounds and the existence of the thermodynamic limit for a general class of irreversible dynamics for quantum lattice systems with time-dependent generators that satisfy a suitable decay condition in space.Comment: Added 3 references and comments after Theorem 2; corrected typo

At the Intersection of Functionality and Beauty: A Study of the Carrara Herbal

The Carrara Herbal is a manuscript that sits at the cusp between medieval and early Renaissance work in Padua, Italy. With medical “simples,” or singular ingredients to be combined, as its primary focus, the Herbal is heavily illustrated and illuminated (the process of decorating a manuscript with color and even precious metals like gold), demonstrating the commissioner’s intentions and establishing him as a leader in the field of botanical medical knowledge. However, the intent and practical use seem to be at odds in the case of the Carrara Herbal. As six centuries passed, the manuscript was actively used and revised as a reference guide for students and practitioners alike. These readers unknowingly created a practical-pedagogical community that modernized medical knowledge as it was learned. This is evidenced by the variety of marginalia left by generations of readers in a plethora of handwritings. Using these notes as clues, historians and manuscript scholars can chronicle the life of this relatively unstudied illustrated herbal, reveal critical information about its users, and discover new information about medieval Italian medical practices

First Year Student Expectations: General Education Goals at a Multi-Campus Community College

In recent years, there has been a focus on the importance of general education in colleges and universities as a means of delivering a quality liberal education. Completion of a general education curriculum in the community college is required for successful completion in all associate degree programs. As more students are choosing community colleges to begin their studies, their general education experiences may affect their successful transfer to the baccalaureate, performance in the future workforce and participation as educated citizens.;Unfortunately, students have described general education as a barrier to their major or courses to get of the way. At the same time, research has also shown that students value college outcomes (connected to study in general education) as being important. However, most research has been inclusive of students only at baccalaureate colleges and universities.;In this study, the College Student Expectations Questionnaire (CSXQ) was administered to first time students enrolled in Student Development courses at five campuses of a large suburban community college. Students expected the community college to moderately emphasize college activities that develop general education goals. They expected to participate often in college activities pertaining to Information Literacy, Communication, and Critical Thinking. They expected to occasionally participate in activities related to Cultural and Social Understanding, Quantitative Reasoning, and Scientific Reasoning. Significant differences in expected quality of effort were found based on College Opinion, Academic Major, Parents\u27 Education, and Employment

Excuses for Silence: A Review of The Silence of the Archive

The Silence of the Archive by David Thomas, Simon Fowler, and Valerie Johnson promises to investigate the causes of archival silence, and to find solutions for dealing with these silences. The topic is timely and important at a time when distrust of power is high, and there exists a concomitant expectation of finding truth in the archives. The book is reticent in its investigation, however, shying away from calling out the way power is exercised to create silences. The exception is Valerie Johnson’s argument on the necessity of silence, which challenges the tendency toward stasis in the archive

The Biggest Hoax? Investigating the Work-Life Balance of Veteran Secondary Teachers in North Mississippi Public Schools

This thesis investigates the struggle with work-life balance among veteran secondary teachers in public North Mississippi schools. Primary research questions include a) How do veteran teachers describe the struggle with work-life balance, b) What coping strategies over their career seem helpful?, and c)What changes could be made to the educational system to better support public school teachers in their pursuit of work-life balance? At what level should those changes occur? Qualitative data was collected by interviewing five teachers from middle and high schools in the North Mississippi region and analyzed to understand emergent themes from the interviews. This research found common experiences, beliefs, and recommendations for change among the five participants concerning the ability to achieve work-life balance as educators in Mississippi public schools

Convergences and divergences of geographies from an East-Central European perspective

STUDY DESIGN:  Prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE:  This study investigates the results of long posterior instrumentation with regard to complications and survival. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:  Fractures of the cervical spine and the cervicothoracic junction related to ankylosing spinal disease (ASD) endanger both sagittal profile and spinal cord. Both anterior and posterior stabilization methods are well established, and clear treatment guidelines are missing. METHODS:  Forty-one consecutive patients with fractures of the cervicothoracic junction related to ASD were treated by posterior instrumentation. All patients were followed prospectively for 2 years using a standardized protocol. RESULTS:  Five patients experienced postoperative infections, 3 patients experienced postoperative pneumonia, 2 patients required postoperative tracheostomy, and 1 patient had postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage due to accidental durotomy. No patient required reoperation due to implant failure or nonunion. Mean survival was 52 months (95% confidence interval: 42-62 mo). Survival was affected by patient age, sex, smoking, and spinal cord injury. CONCLUSION:  Patients with ASD experiencing a fracture of the cervicothoracic region are at high risk of developing complications. The posterior instrumentation of cervical spinal fractures related to ASD is recommended due to biomechanical superiority. Level of Evidence: 4

Scottish teachers' experiences of the effectiveness of nurture groups in supporting autistic children

Nurture groups (NGs) are recognised as an effective early practice for the development of children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). Early educators outline enhanced social and emotional development, academic attainment and secure attachments with peers and adults. Nevertheless, there is limited data reporting on the efficacy of this approach for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This small-scale phenomenological study reports Scottish primary teachers’ experiences of NGs in promoting wellbeing in autistic pupils. Data were gathered through an online questionnaire. Results were mixed in that they suggest some significant progress in academic attainment, with slight improvements in emotional and social functioning. After the inclusion of pupils in NGs, continued positive impact appeared to persist with both difficulties in emotional expression and in forming secure attachments with peers and adults. This indicates that for good NG practice for autistic pupils there is a need for structural modifications and curriculum adaptations to create an ‘autismfriendly’ environment