A Practical Guide to Happiness in Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Positive Psychology Approach

by Victoria Honeybourne

Clear and engaging, this book offers a refreshing positive psychology approach to mental health and autism. Moving away from neurotypical views of happiness, it sets out simple techniques to help adults on the spectrum improve their mental health. Packed with helpful exercises for individuals and groups, it covers topics such as recognising character strengths, dealing with negative self-talk, building communication skills and self-awareness, and forming coping strategies for the workplace. Autistic individuals and professionals who work with them will find flexible and practical solutions to recurring negative thoughts, helping clear the path to a successful and happy future. A must-read for anyone on the spectrum or those who support them.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Psychology, Nonfiction

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2019

Reviews

[G. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, an interesting and practical read

[The B-tching Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me feel so seen. Seeing words written on a page describing what I experience and telling me it's nothing to be ashamed about lifted a weight off my shoulders. I'm more ready to accept myself now, and I'm ready to start working on skills to help better my life.

I was diagnosed with autism spectrum, disorder level 1 about a month ago as an adult, and it's thrown me for a loop. What if they discovered that I had autism when I was still a child, would things have been easier for me now? Would things be different? I felt confused, alone, and even angry at times. I felt like I didn't know who I was, where the mask stopped and the real me started and, to an extent, I'm still trying to figure that out.

While I did learn some coping skills and ways of thinking through cognitive behavioural therapy a few years back for a separate disorder, there were still some tips and thought exercises that put things into perspective for me and that I'll use to live a more fulfilling life.

I recommend this for anyone on the spectrum who is struggling to deal with day-to-day life due to their condition, as this book takes a positive psychology approach to autism and helps you see things from a slightly different perspective. I appreciated that this book didn't see autism as something that needed fixing, it sees autism as something that's just different.