THE USE OF THE KINETIC FAMILY DRAWING IN THE EXPLORATION OF THE VIEW EACH PARENT HAS OF THE FAMILY

AND THE IDENTIFIED PATIENT IN FAMILIES THAT HAVE A CHILD WITH THE ASPERGER SYNDROME Josefa Frenkel, Art Therapist (M.A.). Nes Ziona Mental Health Center. Israel. E-mail ipsi!inter.net.il INTRODUCTION Art therap" ma" #e parti$%larl" s%$$essf%l &ith $hil'ren ha(in the Asper er )"n'rome sin$e these people ha(e a pre'ominantl" (is%al st"le of thinkin . This i(es a tremen'o%s a'(anta e to the %se of art in therap", as o%tline' #" Temple *ran'in (+,--), a &ell-kno&n personalit" ha(in the Asper er )"n'rome. .M" min' is $ompletel" (is%al an' spe$ial &ork s%$k as 'ra&in is eas"/ E(er" pie$e of information I ha(e memori0e' is (is%al/1hen I think of a#stra$t $on$epts s%$h as h%man relations, I %se (is%al smiles.2 *reat a'(an$es in s$ien$e an' art ha(e #een attri#%te' to people &ith the Asper er )"n'rome, partl" '%e to their ori inal &a" of thinkin . Famil" art therap" pro(i'es parents an' $hil'ren &ith a more e(en le(ele' ro%n' th%s #rin in them $loser in their intera$tion. Art therap" ma" pro(e a (er" po&erf%l &orkin tool &ith this pop%lation. The la$k of Theor" of Min' in most $ases of a%tism as &ell as Asper er )"n'rome is responsi#le for so$ial an' $omm%ni$ati(e 'iffi$%lties. Theor" of Min' in(ol(es a person post%latin the e3isten$e of mental states an' then %sin these to e3plain an' pre'i$t another person4s #eha(ior. There is a 'ire$t relationship #et&een the Theor" of Min' an' so$ial pra mati$ a#ilities in e(er"'a" life. The 'ire$t $on$reti0ation of feelin s an' tho% hts possi#le thro% h art materials $an #"-pass the 5min' #lin'ness5 t"pi$al of $hil'ren &ith Asper er4s )"n'rome. The p%rpose of this st%'" is to e3plore the (ie& ea$h parent (mother an' father separatel"), has of his famil" an' his $hil' (the I.6.), &ho has #een 'ia nose' &ith the Asper er )"n'rome. These (ie&s &ill #e resear$he' thro% h the %se of the 7ineti$ Famil" 8ra&in pro9e$ti(e e(al%ation test (7.F.8), as &ell as a semi-str%$t%re' inter(ie& of ea$h parent follo&in the 'ra&in session. The 7.F.8. test &as 'e(elope' #" :%rns ; 7a%fman in +,<= an' i(es e3pression to famil" '"nami$s. This resear$h &as infl%en$e' an' %i'e' #" t&o a''itional rele(ant st%'ies &hi$h 'e(elope' an' impro(e' s$orin te$hni>%es for the ori inal 7.F.8. Interpretati(e Man%al #" :%rns ; 7a%fman (+,<?). These t&o st%'ies are@ 5The Ase of the 7.F.8. as a 8ia nosti$ Tool in Assessin the Chil'4s )elf-Con$ept5 #" Elin ; N%$ho (+,<,) an' a later st%'" name' 57ineti$ Famil" 8ra&in )$orin Metho' for Cross-C%lt%ral )t%'ies5 $arrie' o%t #" 1e mann ; B%sen#rink (?===). Another (al%a#le st%'" &hi$h infl%en$e' this resear$h is Niesen#a%m4s st%'" $alle'@ 5Comparati(e )t%'" of the 7.F.8. an' the Animal 7.F.8. in re ar' to )elf-Con$ept Assessment in Chil'ren of 8i(or$e' an' Inta$t Families5 (+,-C). The %n'erl"in p%rpose of this st%'" is to #e$ome familiar &ith $ommonl" hel' 5Asper er5 famil" iss%es an' (ie&s. These in t%rn ma" possi#l" assist the therapist &orkin &ith these families an' ma" pro(e a $ontri#%tion in the formation of a f%t%re art therap"&orkin mo'el for famil" therap" &ith this pop%lation. D Asperger Syndr !e - The 'ia nosti$ term Asper er )"n'rome is relati(el" &i'esprea' to'a", this &as not the $ase onl" a fe& "ears a o. The first 'efinition of s%$h $hil'ren &as p%#lishe' o(er E= "ears a o (+,FF) #" Hans Asper er, a Giennese pe'iatri$ian in his 'o$torate. He i'entifie' a $onsistent pattern of 'isa#ilities an' #eha(ior that pre'ominantl" o$$%rre' in #o"s. The pattern in$l%'e' a la$k of empath", little a#ilit" to form frien'ships,

one si'e' $on(ersations, intense a#sorption in spe$ial interests an' $l%ms" mo(ement. Anfort%natel" onl" in +,,= 'i' Asper er4s pioneerin &ork re$ei(e international re$o nition (Att&oo', T. +,,-). The essential feat%res of Asper er4s 8isor'er are se(ere an' s%staine' impairment in so$ial intera$tion (Criterion A) an' the 'e(elopment of restri$te', repetiti(e patterns of #eha(ior, interests an' a$ti(ities (Criterion :) (see p.HH in A%tisti$ 8isor'er for a 'is$%ssion of Criteria A an' : - 8.).M. -IG, +,,F). The 'ist%r#an$e m%st $a%se $lini$all" si nifi$ant impairment in so$ial, o$$%pational, or other important areas of f%n$tionin (Criterion C). In $ontrast to A%tisti$ 8isor'er, there are no $lini$all" si nifi$ant 'ela"s in lan %a e (e. . sin le &or's are %se' #" a e ? "ears, $omm%ni$ati(e phrases are %se' #" a e C "ears (Criterion 8). In a''ition, there are no $lini$all" si nifi$ant 'ela"s in $o niti(e 'e(elopment or in the 'e(elopment of a eappropriate self-help skills, a'apti(e #eha(ior (other than in so$ial intera$tion), an' $%riosit" a#o%t the en(ironment in $hil'hoo' (Criterion E). Asper er )"n'rome is a#o%t fi(e times more $ommon than A%tism (*ill#er ; *ill#er , +,-,). The pro nosis for Asper er )"n'rome is $onsi'era#l" #etter than for $lassi$ A%tism (:ishop 8.G.6., +,-,). In the +,,=4s the pre(ailin (ie& is that Asper er )"n'rome is a (ariant of a%tism an' 6.8.8. It is $onsi'ere' a s%#- ro%p &ithin the a%tisti$ spe$tr%m an' has it4s o&n 'ia nosti$ $riteria (p%#lishe' in the 8.).M.IG). " T#e F$!%&y ' (#e E)*ep(% n$& C#%&d + In a st%'" of $opin an' $oheren$e amon parents &ith 'isa#le' $hil'ren $arrie' o%t #" Malka Mar alit, Amiram Ia(i( an' 8ee :. Ankonina of Tel A(i( Ani(ersit" (+,,?), some rele(ant information &as p%t forth. The parents &ith 'isa#le' $hil'ren sho&e' si nifi$antl" more a(oi'ant $opin , lo&er sense of $oheren$e an' less emphasis on famil" mem#ers inter-relations an' personal ro&th than 'i' the $ontrol parents or normal $hil'ren. )i nifi$ant 'is$repan$ies #et&een mothers an' fathers &ere fo%n' in three areas@ a(oi'ant $opin , sense of $oheren$e an' personal ro&th. The rationale for famil" art therap" is roote' in the re$o nition that an in'i(i'%al4s learne' responses to life an' 'iffi$%lties in li(in e(ol(e' from an' are a part of an on oin net&ork of famil" relationships (1a'eson, +,-=). The patholo " of the $hil' is seen as resi'in in the famil" matri3 rather than in the in'i(i'%al alone, 'eman'in treatment for the entire famil" in or'er to #rin a#o%t lon lastin $han e. The so$ial aspe$t of 'e(elopment re$ei(es the reatest emphasis '%rin laten$", th%s, most of the ener " is free to $on$entrate on so$ial an' inter-personal aspe$ts of 'e(elopment. )ho%l' he la$k the ne$essar" tools to s%$$ee' in these, his self-ima e &ill #e h%rt. " T#e K%ne(%* F$!%&y Dr$,%ng + :%rns ; 7a%fman 'is$o(ere' that the 7.F.8. refle$te' primar" 'ist%r#an$es more >%i$kl" an' a'e>%atel" than inter(ie&s or other pro#in te$hni>%es. To'a" the 7.F.8. is $onsi'ere' an important a''ition to the ps"$ho-'ia nosti$ fiel'. The 7.F.8. i(es e3pression to the famil" in '"nami$ a$tion in $ontrast to other akineti$ famil" representations.The anal"sis of kineti$ 'ra&in fo$%ses on the a$tion or mo(ement rather than the inert fi %res. The a''ition of mo(ement mo#ili0es the $hil'4s feelin s a#o%t himself an' a#o%t his pla$e in the famil", th%s e3posin the >%alit" an' e3tent of interpersonal relations in the famil". This resear$her #elie(es the same is tr%e of the a'%lt parent 'ra&in in the 7.F.8. .

METHODOLOGY A sample of fi(e marrie' $o%ples a e' ?E-EE "ears, parents of laten$" #o"s <-++ "ears an' earl" a'oles$ents a e' +?-+C "ears 'ia nose' &ith Asper erJs )"n'rom, &ere a'ministere' &ith the 7.F.8. pro9e$ti(e e(al%ation test. These &ere follo&e' #" a personal semi-str%$t%re' inter(ie& of ea$h parent. Three main (aria#le fa$tors &ere st%'ie'@ the self$on$ept of ea$h parent, his (ie& of the other parent an' his $on$ept of the I.6. $hil'. These a(e a sense of the >%alit" of famil" '"nami$s an' intera$tion in s%$h families. Information athere' from the 7.F.8. stan'ar' :%rns ; 7a%fman s$orin sheet, Elin ; N%$ho4s s$orin s"stem an' 1e man ; B%sen#ri$k4s s$orin metho', as &ell as the information #ase' on the personal inter(ie&s, &as all $harte'. These $harts &ere e3amine' for patterns in famil" histor", art $ontents as &ell as for patterns a$ross the ro%ps of mothers an' fathers. Elin ; N%$ho4s 7.F.8. )$orin )heet &as %se' to assess the self-$on$ept of mothers an' fathers separatel". The s$orin s"stem re$or's the o#sta$les in the st%'ie' intera$tions. Hen$e, The hi her the s$ore the more pro#lemati$ the intera$tion or relationship seen in the 7.F.8. A lo& s$ore in $ontrast, in'i$ates a relati(el" positi(e intera$tion an' relationship. The 'imension of intera$tion (ers%s isolation is ass%me' to #e $entral in assessin self-$on$ept. This is operationali0e' thro% h the follo&in fa$tors@ A*(% n- H$nds- A**ess- $nd A''e*(. A$tion refers to the intera$tion amon famil" mem#ers. The presen$e of han's refle$ts the a#ilit" to ha(e effe$t on persons an' o#9e$ts in the en(ironment. A$$ess implies the n%m#er of o#str%$tions an' the ph"si$al 'istan$e #et&een in'i(i'%al fi %res st%'ie'. These are s%#'i(i'e' into@ :arriers, Compartments an' K%a'rants. Affe$t refle$ts the feelin tone 'ispla"e' #" the fi %res in the 7.F.8. Th%s ea$h 'ra&in is rate' alon these (aria#les "iel'in n%meri$al (al%es. The total s$ore $orrespon's to the self-$on$ept of the person st%'ie'. The fa$tors of $*(% n (e3tent of intera$tion (ers%s isolation) an' of /$rr%ers in Elin ; N%$ho4s s$orin sheet are the t&o fa$tors most infl%ential on the total s$ore a$>%ire' #" ea$h parent, in this st%'". The three (ariants@ /$rr%ers, * !p$r(!en(s an' 01$dr$n(s refer to o#sta$les in the intera$tion #et&een parents an' their (I.6.) $hil'. Iimmerman (+,-C) &rites that these (ario%s t"pes of o#sta$les stan' in the &a" of e3pression of emotional ener " #et&een in'i(i'%als. In a health" familial en(ironment positi(e emotional ener " is e3presse' &itho%t o#sta$les. In $ontrast, &hen internal or e3ternal fa$tors affe$t feelin s o#sta$les &ill pre(ail amon the in'i(i'%als in the 7.F.8. It is ass%me' that the pro9e$tion of feelin in the 7.F.8. refle$ts the >%alit" of intera$tion #et&een the fi %res portra"e' as &ell as one4s eneral state of &ell-#ein . This is s%pporte' #" resear$h 'one #" Coopersmith in +,<H. In this st%'", the hi h per$enta e of ne%tral $''e*( e3presse' #" #oth parents 7.F.8.4s in the 'ra&in of the I.6. $hil' is s%pporte' #" the fa$t that the $hil'ren &ith the Asper er )"n'rome ha(e limite' %se of est%res an' fa$ial e3pression an' ha(e a pe$%liar stiff a0e. A$$or'in to :%rns ; 7a%fman (+,<?) en*$ps1&$(% n (The lines that en$lose or en$ir$le a &hole fi %re) is a s%#tle te$hni>%e for isolatin famil" mem#ers. H=L of parents en$aps%late' either themsel(es or the I.6. $hil'. This i(es e3pression to the >%alit" of the intera$tion pre(ailin #et&een them an' their $hil'. F=L more mothers than fathers %se' en$aps%lation. It $an #e s%mmari0e' that the eneral affe$t portra"e' in the 7.F.8.4s of all parents in mainl" ne%tral. The I.6.4s affe$t is in $omplete a reement to the spe$ifi$ parent 'oin the 7.F.8. This s% ests a stron m%t%al infl%en$e #et&een parents an' the I.6. in their $on$ept or (ie& of self. RESULTS The most strikin an' si nifi$ant fa$t re(eale' #" this st%'" is that in most of the 7.F.8.4s of #oth parents, no intera$tion &hatsoe(er amon famil" mem#ers &as e3presse'.

-=L of the mothers an' H=L of the fathers ha(e a poor intera$tion &ith their $hil'. As in'i$ate' #" Elin ; N%$ho (+,,<) poor intera$tions are ass%me' to lea' to ne ati(e self$on$ept. Th%s is appears that the entire famil" s%ffers from the most prominent 'isa#ilit" of the $hil' &ith the Asper er )"n'rome, namel" so$ial impairment &hi$h e3presses itself in prominent 'iffi$%lties in inter-personal an' so$ial $omm%ni$ation. This is the sin le most important pattern re(eale' thro% h the famil" '"nami$s of the sample st%'ie' in this resear$h. It &as 'emonstrate' that there is a 'ire$t relationship #et&een inter-personal relations an' self-$on$ept, (Elin ; N%$ho, +,,<). All res%lts in'i$ate' a ten'en$" for a ne ati(e self$on$ept of #oth parents. The 'ifferen$e in the self-$on$ept #et&een mothers an' fathers &as not si nifi$ant (FL in fa(or of fathers) in Elin ; N%$ho4s s$orin . In eneral it appears that the more realisti$ pi$t%re of famil" '"nami$s &as e3pose' in the 7.F.8.4s rather than #" the inter(ie& &here a 'e ree of eneral i'eali0ation of the I.6. &as e3presse'. The inter(ie&sJ $ontri#%tion lies mainl" in the e3position of famil" health histor" an' rele(ant information re ar'in '"nami$s in the ori inal $ore families, &hi$h &as important in this resear$h &here the 7.F.8. &as a'ministere' to a'%lts rather than to $hil'ren. C !p$r$(%2e K.F.D. S* r%ng S#ee( Fathers I.6. in Ma 7F8 -=L M C --?=L M ? Han's -=L M = +==L M = ?=L M + :arriers < Total Compartments H Total K%a'rants H=L M +, ?=L M ? ?=L M = Affe$t -=L M + H=L M +, ?=L M + -=L M + ?=L M = ?=L M N ?=L M = T ($& 34 5 6789: 3< 5 749 87 ;<< 87 ;<< M$ M Mothers, F$ M Fathers, X M no affe$t $o%l' #e 'e$iphere' A$tions Mothers H=L M C F=L M ? -=L M = ?=L M + +? Total E Total +==L M + I.6. in Fa 7F8 ---=L M = ?=L M +

H=L M + ?=L M N

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The #irth of an e3$eptional $hil' shatters man" parental e3pe$tations. The t"pi$al sta es s%$h parents %s%all" %n'er o are@ a loss of self-esteem, %ilt feelin s, shame, am#i(alen$e of $ontra'i$tor", positi(e an' ne ati(e feelin s to&ar' the I.6. $hil', an' 'epression. The entire famil" ma" t%rn into an e3$eptional famil" a'optin pattern of famil" se$l%sion #oth &ithin an' &itho%t (Mishori, +,,?). In 'is$%ssin $opin patterns *reenspan ; 1ei'ler (+,,-) report some parents of e3$eptional $hil'ren sa''ene' an' 'isappointe' #" their $hil', #e$ome hostile an' re9e$tin O the" &ith'ra& ph"si$all" an' emotionall", keepin their intera$tion to a minim%m. Pnl" #" keepin a 5safe5 'istan$e #et&een them an' their $hil' $an the" prote$t themsel(es. :e$omin o(er-prote$ti(e an' an3io%s, other parents limit their $hil'4s intera$tion &ith others th%s affe$tin ne ati(el" the I.6. $hil'4s self-ima e. Elin ; N%$ho4s reatest $ontri#%tion is their appre$iation of the importan$e of interpersonal relationships in shapin a so%n' self-$on$ept. In this st%'" Elin ; N%$ho4s s$orin s"stem for the 7.F.8. &as %se' mainl" to st%'" ea$h parent4s self-$on$ept an' their relationship &ith the I.6. $hil', &hi$h is instr%mental in the $hil'4s formation of a so%n' selfF

$on$ept, (Elin ; N%$ho, +,<,). Pther famil" '"nami$s &ere also e3plore'. The 'imension of intera$tion (ers%s isolation is ass%me' to #e $entral in assessin the $hil'4s self-$on$ept (Elin ; N%$ho, +,<,). This resear$her #elie(es there is a m%t%al effe$t an' infl%en$e of the la$k of intera$tion on the $on$ept of self of #oth parent an' I.6. $hil'. The st%'" of Coopersmith (+,H<) len's s%pport to the infl%en$e of intera$tion on self-esteem. In the s$orin sheet of :%rns ; 7a%fman (+,<?) s"m#ols i(e e3pressions to famil" st"le of #eha(ior. The s"m#ols most $ommonl" %se' &ere $omp%ters an' T.G.s, &hi$h are $ommon mo'ern a e s"m#ols asso$iate' &ith isolation an' la$k of h%man intera$tion. In the 7.F.8.4s most of these &ere in %se #" either fathers or I.6. $hil'ren. In the (ariant of a$tions of in'i(i'%al fi %res@ in F=L of the 7.F.8.4s of mothers an' in H=L of the 7.F.8.4s of fathers the I.6. &as &orkin on the $omp%ter #" himself. A$$or'in to :%rns ; 7a%fman (+,<?) $ompartmentali0ation (Bines that or ani0e spa$e, pla$in fi %res in $ompartments an' str%$t%re the entire 'ra&in ) o$$%rs in 7.F.8. of $hil'ren &hen feelin s of lo(e $annot #e e3presse' nat%rall". It seems onl" nat%ral to ass%me that the same is tr%e for a'%lts. The 7.F.8. anal"sis sheet %se' to s$ore the 7.F.8.4s of parents in this st%'" re(eale' that F=L of the fathers an' ?=L of the mothers %se' $ompartmentali0ation in their 'ra&in s, i.e. t&i$e as man" fathers than mothers 're& o#str%$tions in e3pressin their feelin s to&ar's their families, espe$iall" to&ar's the I.6, or their &i(es. This fa$t ma" ser(e to s%pport the h"pothesis set forth in this resear$h that sin$e most $hil'ren &ith Asper er )"n'rome are males (F@+ Ehelers ; *ill#er , +,,C), the selfima e of the father ma" #e more ne ati(el" affe$te' than that of the mother. Ho&e(er, this &as not a $lear-$%t pi$t%re pro9e$te' #" other s$orin fa$tors. A$$or'in to :%rns ; 7a%fman (+,<?) e' in is an e3pression of a position of sta"in o%tsi'e &itho%t ettin in(ol(e'. H=L of the fathers an' F=L of the mothers %se' e' in in their 7.F.84s. This implies that nearl" half of the mothers an' more than half of the fathers feel the nee' or 'esire not to #e in(ol(e'. This s%rel" infl%en$es their $apa$it" an' 'esire to #e in $omm%ni$ation &ith their families. In t%rn this affe$ts the $hil'4s a$>%isition of $omm%ni$ation skills, &hi$h &ill help him so$iali0e an' promote his 'e(elopment. It appears that the most si nifi$ant fa$t re(eale' thro% h the :%rns ; 7a%fman 7.F.8. anal"sis sheet in this resear$h is the fa$t that no a$tions #et&een in'i(i'%als &hatsoe(er &ere s$ore' in an" of the 'ra&in s of either mothers or fathers. In their st%'" of so$ial #eha(ior on Asper er $hil'ren ma'e in )&e'en, *ill#er ; *ill#er (+,-,) 'es$ri#e the so$ial impairment of $hil'ren &ith Asper er4s )"n'rome as fail%re in intera$tion &ith their peers. 8.).M. IG 'es$ri#es the $hil'4s >%alitati(e impairment in so$ial intera$tion an' his la$k of so$ial an' emotional re$ipro$it". This resear$her #elie(es that this so$ial impairment seems to affe$t an' $hara$teri0e the entire famil" of the e3$eptional $hil', &ho in Mishori4s &or's (+,,F) #e$omes 5an e3$eptional famil"5. 1hen a''in the s%m total of per$enta e of the three t"pes of o#sta$les namel", $ompartmentali0ation, en$aps%lation an' #arriers, there is a +==L $orrelation #et&een the 7.F.8.4s of #oth parents. Intera$tion an' relationship is e3presse' #" (ario%s (ariants. The 7.F.8.4s of #oth parents e3pose no intera$tion &hatsoe(er amon famil" mem#ers. There is also no 'ire$t fa$in amon famil" mem#ers in an" of the 7.F.8.4s 'ra&n. There is $omplete a reement in this (ariant &ith its e>%i(alent 5a$tion #et&een in'i(i'%al fi %res5 in :%rns ; 7a%fman4s anal"sis sheet &here no a$tion #et&een in'i(i'%al fi %res &as 'es$ri#e'O an' #et&een the (ariant 5a$tion5 in the Elin ; N%$ho s$orin sheet. Here a$tion or rather the la$k of it, &as the most infl%ential element affe$tin the ne ati(e ten'en$" in s$orin the self$on$ept of #oth parents. These refle$t a loom" pi$t%re of la$k of $omm%ni$ation &ithin the famil" of a $hil' &ith Asper er4s )"n'rome. In the (ariant of share' a$ti(ities, there appears to #e no share' a$ti(it" #et&een either parent an' the I.6. $hil' in an" of the ten 7.F.8.4s st%'ie'. These fin'in s in'i$ate a 'ama e' le(el of $omm%ni$ation amon famil" mem#ers

as &as alrea'" e3presse' in the la$k of intera$tion an' hi h le(el of o#sta$les present amon famil" mem#ers.

" D%s*1ss% n ' (#e Se!%+S(r1*(1red In(er2%e, + Most inter(ie&s re(eale' a m%$h reater 'ail" in(ol(ement an' operational intera$tion #et&een mothers an' their I.6. $hil' than #et&een fathers an' their I.6. $hil'. This resear$her #elie(es therefore that the reater fre>%en$" an' 'e ree of intera$tion makes mothers more a&are of the 'iffi$%lties in(ol(e' in $omm%ni$ation &ith their $hil' than fathers, th%s a$$o%ntin for the $onsi'era#l" hi her n%m#er of #arriers appearin in the 7.F.8.4s of mothers. It is also possi#le that the reater 'e ree of a&areness of mothers to their $hil'4s limite' $apa$it" to intera$t effe$ti(el" $a%ses the mothers to appl" #arriers to prote$t themsel(es a ainst pain an' 'isappointment. ?=L of the fathers reporte' 'iffi$%lties in $omm%ni$ation present in their $ore families an' ?=L in the present famil" e3$ept for the I.6. $hil', &hilst mothers reports rates three times hi her i.e., H=L of 'iffi$%lties in $omm%ni$ation in their $ore families an' H=L in their present famil" e3$ept for the I.6. $hil'. This si nifi$ant 'is$repan$" in reports a#o%t the present famil" (F=L 'ifferen$e #et&een fathers an' mothers) ma" a ain #e a res%lt of the reater a&areness of mothers to their famil" st"les sin$e the" spen' m%$h more time &ith the $hil'ren at home than 'oes the father. The fathers are either less a&are or in nee' of reater 'enial in or'er not to 'ama e their $on$ept of self, alrea'" at stake '%e to the fa$t that their e3$eptional $hil' is a male like themsel(es. In the s$orin sheet of Elin ; N%$ho there &as also a $lear ten'en$" for ne ati(e self$on$ept of #oth parents. The 'ifferen$e #et&een mothers an' fathers &as m%$h less si nifi$ant than in the inter(ie& &here three times as man" mothers than fathers e3presse' a ne ati(e self-$on$ept. It is possi#le that in the $o%rse of an inter(ie& &hen the parent has more time to e3press himself an' '&ell on his famil" more %ilt an' 'issatisfa$tion rises to the s%rfa$e. Pn the &hole the res%lts of this resear$h stron l" refle$t the pi$t%re set forth #" the literat%re on people 'ia nose' &ith Asper er4s )"n'rome, an' parental iss%es in families ha(in an e3$eptional $hil'. SUMMARY This st%'" set o%t to e3plore the (ie&s parents, mothers an' fathers separatel" ha(e of their famil" that has a $hil' 'ia nose' &ith the Asper er )"n'rome. It &as 'emonstrate' that there is a 'ire$t relationship #et&een self-$on$ept an' the 'e ree an' >%alit" of intera$tion (ers%s isolation amon famil" mem#ers. The %n'erl"in p%rpose of this st%'" &as to #e$ome familiar &ith patterns of 'iffi$%lties prominent in families &ith a $hil' ha(in the Asper er )"n'rome. This familiarit" in t%rn, &o%l' assist the therapist in $reatin a famil" art therap" mo'el for s%$h families. It is more than e(i'ent that s%$h assistan$e is most ne$essar", espe$iall" in laten$" $hil'ren &ho ha(e a ro&in nee' for so$ial intera$tion, &hi$h in the $ase of the $hil' &ith the Asper er )"n'rome has to #e la#orio%sl" learne'. It is important to #e in therap" as earl" as possi#le to e(a'e so$ial re9e$tion, &hi$h $an 'ama e the $hil'4s self-ima e irrepara#l"O an' in t%rn the self-$on$ept of his parents. This st%'" emplo"e' the 7.F.8. &hi$h is an e(al%ation tool #orn &ithin art therap". The st%'" s%pports m" #elief that the 7.F.8. e3poses a more realisti$ pi$t%re of famil" '"nami$s. Ies%lts in'i$ate $learl" the la$k of intera$tion amon famil" mem#ers in families &ith a $hil' 'ia nose' &ith the Asper er )"n'rome. )in$e the famil" ser(es as the matri3 for a$>%irin tools for intera$tion an' $omm%ni$ation, these $hil'ren alrea'" la$kin the a#ilit" for so$ial intera$tion are 'epri(e' pra$ti$e in their nat%ral ro%n' for learnin an' ro&th. Th%s, the" rea$h laten$" %ne>%ippe'. )in$e $hil'ren &ith the Asper er )"n'rome ha(e a pre'ominantl" (is%al &a" of thinkin , art therap" $an pro(e a ro&th promotin a$ti(it" for this pop%lation.

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