This book provides an in-depth look at what a little-known clinician, the educational therapist, does and how they do it. It goes behind the clinician's door to illustrate the unusual and broad range of interventions - both academic/vocational and social/emotional - that an educational therapist employs. This particular case study involves a young woman named Nora who had a severe but undiagnosed auditory processing disorder. She could not give meaning to the spoken language that came at her too rapidly, leaving her in a constant fog of words that she couldn't comprehend.

This case discloses the problems, their causes, and the emotional toll that had to be considered when developing an effective educational/therapeutic plan for Nora. It vividly illustrates the dynamic exchanges and mutual learning that goes on between client and therapist. Parts I and II illustrate how the psycho-educational interventions that addressed Nora's academic and non-academic needs were gradually formulated over the first year. Part III provides a series of vignettes from subsequent years that illustrate the ongoing applications of the therapist's work.

Distinguishing Features

Explanatory Sidebars - The rationale behind particular techniques and interventions is clarified through a system of explanatory sidebars that inform the reader without distracting from the story. This approach makes the book both an instructional tool well as compelling story.

Organic Curriculum - The rationale for and application of an "organic (personalized) curriculum" is explained and applied throughout the book as a model for others to use in working with this population.

A Longitudinal Perspective - The initial work with Nora began many years ago, so this book provides a long view of her life and tracks the influences that educational therapy exerted on he