Episode 81 | Jane Ferris Richardson | Multiple Languages for Expression: Art, Play, & Autism

FEATURED GUESTS: Jane Ferris Richardson EdD, LMHC, ATR-BC, RPT-S, is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and an active, exhibiting artist. She is an associate professor and core faculty member in art therapy at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Jane holds an EdD from Boston University School of Education, where she was managing editor of the Journal of Education. Her professional credentials include Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor, and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Her recent book on art therapy and autism, Art as a Language for Autism: Creating Therapeutic Relationships with Children on the Autism Spectrum was published in July by Routledge.

Jane maintains a private practice with children and families, with specialties in young children and children with special needs. She uses a developmentally based, integrative approach to working with children, merging play and expressive approaches. Her approach is informed by her experience as a preschool educator, early childhood mental health consultant, and early intervention senior clinician.

Lesley University has an ongoing relationship with the Reggio Emilia approach, and Jane has travelled to Reggio for an International Study Group on children with special rights, as well as participating in Reggio events locally. Her work with expressive “languages” for children with autism has led her to collaboration nationally and internationally in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Most recently she taught in a training for therapists, medical professionals, and parents of children with special needs in Delhi, India, and Dhaka, Bangladesh and an Autism and the Arts workshop in Paris.

Jane has published and presented on autism and art therapy, play therapy, and the importance of multiple languages for expression. She has also written about art therapy in Asia, based on collaboration in China.

LISTEN & LEARN: 

• What is the Reggio Emilia Approach® to early childhood development. 
• How Jane considers multiple languages for expression within her work with children. 
• The importance of choice within the therapy room when working with children. 
• How Jane has used the creative process with parents to help them buy into play and art therapy. 
• The importance of recognizing the multiple forms of communication that occur within therapy without use of words. 
• The role of balance within a child-centered approach to therapy and ways that the therapist can invite opportunities to create balance which the client may not readily recognize. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
Jane's practice website http://www.transformative.info
Book coupon: https://selfesteemshop.com/product/art-as-a-language-for-autism/
Nonspeaking Valedictorian gives Speech to Graduating Class