Authentic Dialogue With Persons Who Are Developmentally Disabled: Sad without Tears

Hill has worked in the field of developmental disability for over 20 years, and she has developed this guide for mental health professionals and families who need to encourage emotional insight and sensitivity during dialogues with people who have these disabilities. The author challenges the accepted notion that people with disabilities cannot discuss intensely emotional issues within the context of therapy, and she uses five case studies from her own group psychotherapy sessions to explore how these individuals feel about pain, sorrow, grief, jealousy and joy. She also details the specific improvements in behavioral issues that led to increased intimacy, engagement and group cohesiveness among the participants. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Jennifer Hill worked in the field of developmental disabilities for over 20 years before going on to work in aboriginal communities with trauma victims and establishing a private psychotherapy practice. She is currently completing a PhD in Sociology at the University of British Columbia. She has received two awards from the university for outstanding scholarship: the Jean Jure Scholarship and the Henry Maas Memorial Scholarship. Jennifer is also a director for the Who Minds the Child? Media Education Society which promotes the healthy development of children. She lives in the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna in British Columbia, Canada with her husband, Marc Brillinger, and cat, Sylvester.