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Devising Flowdramas

Supporting Communication in Dramatherapy Practice with Young Autistic Children

Medium: Buch
ISBN: 978-1-041-28694-3
Verlag: Taylor & Francis
Erscheinungstermin: 23.11.2026
vorbestellbar, Erscheinungstermin ca. November 2026

The use of drama as a social and therapeutic medium is well-established, but there is very little evidence-based literature about dramatherapy with young autistic children described as non-speaking, minimally verbal or non-verbal. Devising Flowdramas responds to this gap, offering an evidence-based framework for one-to-one dramatherapy practice with young autistic children who are referred for support with communication.

Combining evidence from the field of dramatherapy with theories regarding intersubjectivity, flow states, and strengths-based ideas about autism, this book offers a new perspective of practical approaches to therapeutic support for autistic children. Topics explored include, but are not limited to:

- An exploration of communication including forms, modes, and approaches to communicating, why it is needed, how the development of communication may be different for autistic children

- The theories and evidence base supporting dramatherapy as a methodology for practice with autistic children

- Evidence from case studies and qualitative research leading to Devising Flowdramas a new framework for supporting communication outcomes

- Tips and suggestions for setting up one-to-one dramatherapy practice and measuring outcomes with autistic children

Firmly rooted in therapeutic practice, this will be essential reading for dramatherapists with an interest in developing their competence when working with autistic children who require support with their communication. It may also be of interest to researchers and mental health practitioners of other disciplines who are seeking new approaches to their work with autistic children.


Produkteigenschaften


  • Artikelnummer: 9781041286943
  • Medium: Buch
  • ISBN: 978-1-041-28694-3
  • Verlag: Taylor & Francis
  • Erscheinungstermin: 23.11.2026
  • Sprache(n): Englisch
  • Auflage: 1. Auflage 2026
  • Produktform: Gebunden
  • Seiten: 138
  • Format (B x H): 156 x 234 mm
  • Ausgabetyp: Kein, Unbekannt
Autoren/Hrsg.

Autoren

Preface

Abstract

Chapter outline

Chapter 1: The need for communication

Describing communication

The joy of communication

The challenges of communication

Communicating before words

Missed opportunities for communication

The importance of context

Communication on the autism spectrum

Perspectives of autism

Developing communication on the autism spectrum

Different ways of perceiving

Autistic intersubjectivity

The influence of the social situation on communication

Developmental differences in autistic children’s distribution of interests

The double empathy problem

Flow states

Summary

Chapter 2: Communication: Approaches forms, modes and conditions

Approaches to communication

Forms of communication

Modes of communication

Optimal conditions for creating a facilitating environment to support communication with autistic children

Summary

Chapter 3: Dramatherapy to support communication with autistic children

Autism from a drama perspective

Dramatherapy with people on the autism spectrum

Theories to support dramatherapy practice

The enactive perspective

Child development and drama

Drama, intersubjectivity, and autism

Drama, object relations, and autism

Techniques to employ in dramatherapy practice

Creating a facilitating sensory environment

Dramatic ritual structure

Attunement

Mimesis, improvisation, and spontaneity

Play and flow

Shared flow states

Devising

Dramatic reality

Words for playing with and words for expression

The dramatherapist’s role

Summary

Chapter 4: Developing an approach: Cases from the dramatherapy research study

Assessment questions

Case examples

Formulating cases from assessment information

Dramatherapy sessions

Discussion of outcomes from the dramatherapy study

Examples from Klara’s mother’s account

Examples from George’s mother’s account

Discussion

Summary

Chapter 5: Devising Flowdramas: A framework for dramatherapy practice to support communication outcomes with young autistic children

Procedure

Forming modes of communication

Modes of expressive communication

George’s house game

Modes of receptive communication

Improvising

Rossa’s throwing game

Devising

Reflecting, responding, and attempting to understand

Klara with the cone

Discussion

Summary

Chapter 6: Setting up one-to-one dramatherapy practice with autistic children

Contracting, assessment, and review processes

Socio-cultural considerations

Ascent, dissent, and autonomy

Basic tenets for supporting the child’s agency

Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and other conditions

Case formulation

Clinical supervision and reflective practice

The dramatherapy space

Dramatherapy session structure

Materials

Summary

Chapter 7: Measuring communication outcomes in dramatherapy

Communication subcategories

Stages of contact

Completing the CROM+DT outcome measure

Steps for completion

Interpreting the scores

Summary

Chapter 8: Discussion and recommendations

Devising Flowdramas

Communication outcomes

Shared flow states in dramatherapy build gratifying experiences of communication

Collaboration with the family

Challenges and the limitations

The dramatherapy space

Limited sessions

Anxiety

Getting lost in flow

The ethical tension of the double empathy problem belongs to us all

Learning to wait and give the child time

Further applications and progression of the Devising Flowdramas framework

Conclusion

Appendices