Picture of author.

About the Author

Maxine Aston has an MSc in Health Psychology and has practised as a couples counsellor specializing in individuals, couples and families affected by autism for over 30 years. She runs workshops both for professionals and for neurotypical partners in a relationship with a partner on the spectrum. mostrar mais Maxine has spoken about the subject of AS relationships of international conferences and has written relationship book including Aspergers in Love and The Other Half of Asperger Syndrome. mostrar menos

Includes the name: Maxine Aston

Obras de Maxine C. Aston

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Nome padrão
Aston, Maxine C.
Sexo
female
Nacionalidade
UK
Pequena biografia
Maxine Aston lives and works in Coventry, England - a city close to Shakespeare's birthplace.

Having achieved a first class honours Bachelors Degree in Psychology at Coventry University in 1999, Maxine went on in 2007 to achieve a Masters in Health Psychology.

Maxine has had the personal experience of once being married to a man, who was later diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. Unfortunately the diagnosis came after their divorce.

At this time Maxine was working as a Relate counsellor and studying psychology. The combination of personal and professional experience made her acutely aware of the lack of awareness and understanding offered to individuals and couples. In the 1990s it was believed by some professionals that individuals with Asperger syndrome did not form relationships or marry. Maxine challenged this myth by writing the first book addressing the difficulties faced by couples in an AS/NT relationship. Maxine has specialised exclusively in this area since 1998.

Author of four books, 'The Other Half of Asperger Syndrome', published in 2001 by the National Autistic Society, 'Aspergers in Love: Couple Relationships and Family Affairs', published in 2003 by Jessica Kingsley, 'The Asperger Couple's Workbook - Practical Advice and Activities for Couples and Counsellors', published in 2009 by Jessica Kingsley and 'What men with Asperger syndrome want to know about Dating, Women and Relationships' published in 2012 by Jessica Kingsley.

Maxine is a Relate trained couple counsellor and a qualified trainer and teacher in adult education. Maxine runs her own Practice close to Coventry City Centre. Maxine is able to offer consultations to individuals, couples and families whose lives are affected by Asperger syndrome.

Maxine runs workshops for both individuals and professionals. Awareness of Asperger syndrome has increased over the past decade, however, how best to provide appropriate support is still sadly lacking. Understanding Asperger syndrome and how it will impact on the individual and relationships are crucial if a positive outcome is to be achieved. The aim of these one day workshops for professionals is to increase understanding and to offer strategies for working in this area.

Maxine also offers a two day workshop for individuals who are in a relationship with a partner who has Asperger syndrome. The aim of these workshops is to offer support, increase understanding, reinforce boundaries, look at self-help and increase self-esteem.
See the workshops page.

Maxine has spoken at both National and International conferences since 1999, to promote awareness and understanding.

'Difference can only feel threatening
if it exists within the absence of acceptance and understanding'
Maxine Aston (2008)

http://www.maxineaston.co.uk/aboutme/...

Membros

Resenhas

I couldn’t get through this book to the end since it turned out not to have much relevance for me; it dealt with problems experienced by couples where the male (or one of the males in a gay relationship) suffered from Asperger’s syndrome.

Though I didn’t read the whole book, it seemed to deal with all aspects of relationship problems where Asperger’s is involved.

We learn that the Asperger’s partner can have many rigid daily routines and when these first are established, it will be difficult to get the person to change them.

Partners may feel that they did not feel necessary to the Asperger’s person on an emotional level but were needed more for what they did than for who they were and how they felt.

Those with Asperger’s are blunt and honest, which can cause social problems. (Funny that honesty turns out to be abnormal, but that’s probably true.) Asperger people can seem rude, so it is not surprising that they don’t always have close or long-term friends. But it can be that they don’t have friends because they never really wanted any or chose solitary pursuits.

Those (we) with Asperger’s often complain that they wish people would just say what they mean. One woman told her Asperger husband that she would kill him if he forgot to pick up the dry cleaning; he did forget and was thus afraid to come home, fearing for his life.

They may have wooden facial expressions, clumsiness to their movements or evasive eye contact.

I remember when leaving a job and mentioning to my boss that I knew we had not always seen eye to eye, and that he had perhaps been dissatisfied with me; but he said, no, on the contrary, several of the employees had not been happy with him but didn’t dare say anything, so he didn’t know where he stood with them, whereas with me he knew exactly where he stood because I always said exactly what I thought about things; he had greatly appreciated this.

Those with Asperger’s are hard workers and good providers. My bosses appreciated me and gave me much leeway because I was a conscientious worker and always got the job done as well as possible. I am not a morning person but they accepted that I regularly came late because of my conscientiousness and high standard of work.

With an Asperger partner it is important to say what you mean and mean what you say.

One woman told her Asperger husband that if he did not change he would have to leave, and, to her horror, he left the next day since he did not feel he could change.

I felt that the book provided a very adequate discussion of the various aspects of Asperger’s and the problems that may arise. Four stars!
… (mais)
 
Marcado
IonaS | outras 2 resenhas | Mar 8, 2020 |
Forty-one people with Aspergers and thirty-five of their partners were either interviewed by Aston or completed her questionnaire. This book is her report. Fair enough.

She's no great stylist but it's arranged in clear, short chapters with bullet point summaries at the ends. The problem with the book is Aston's commentary on the responses which is shallow and often consists of press releases from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious.
 
Marcado
Lukerik | Oct 4, 2017 |
A guide to living in an intimate relationship with a partner who has Asperger Syndrome. Written from personal experience and as a result of academic study and work as a counsellor. Looks at the background to an adult with Asperger syndrome and discusses strategies for dealing with everyday situations which occur in a relationship.
 
Marcado
ThePinesLibrary | outras 2 resenhas | Apr 14, 2014 |
These days, books on Asperger's Syndrome are coming out very rapidly, and the pace of research means that the newer books usually have much more to offer than the old. And most of them are directed to the Asperger's sufferers themselves.

So why would an Asperger's sufferer want to recommend a thin little book, more than a decade old, aimed at spouses rather than "Aspies?" Because it has a lot of good answers, that's why.

Although written for the spouses of Asperger's sufferers, there is a lot that the sufferers themselves can learn -- as Robert Burns said, it lets us "see oursels as others see us." In particular, it gave me insight into the way "Aspies" respond to the anger of others -- a behavior which often provokes fearful, irrational responses. Had I known this even a year earlier, it would have saved me a great deal of grief.

So get the books on brain function, and the books on employment, and the books on strategies -- and get this book to try to understand the way to help others help you.
… (mais)
 
Marcado
waltzmn | outras 2 resenhas | Aug 1, 2012 |

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Estatísticas

Obras
6
Membros
181
Popularidade
#119,336
Avaliação
½ 2.7
Resenhas
4
ISBNs
17
Idiomas
1

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