Book review: Is This Autism? A Companion Guide for Diagnosing by Donna Henderson, Jamell White, and Sarah Wayland.

This is another great book for mental health providers. While it is written for those who are doing actual autism testing, I feel that any mental health professional would benefit. It provides information about what the testing process should look like, which would provide valuable information that could then be shared with clients who may be nervous about the testing process. It reviews the pros and cons specific screening tools and autism assessments, as well as how behavioral observations and collateral contacts may be used to determine a diagnosis. It also provides valuable information about differential diagnosing and how to identify what may be autism verses other common co-occurring, or misdiagnoses. This section alone makes the book worth reading for any therapist. This information is missing from most therapy training programs, which is why so many autistic adults go without their autism being identified, even when they have been in therapy for years. Finally, it reviews techniques on how to give balanced feedback to the person after the assessment has been completed.

Book cover, blue background with the title written from top to bottom: Is this Autism? (bold letters) A Companion Guide for Diagnosing. Below the title is a square filled with colors, then the authors names listed below in white font with a black background: Donna Henderson, with Sarah Wayland and Jamill White