Clinical Psychologists’ Views of Intensive Interaction as an Intervention in Learning Disability Services

Berry, R., Firth, G., Leeming, C. & Sharma, V. (2014) Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 21 (5), 403-410. Some Background This explored clinical psychologists’ views of Intensive Interaction as an intervention in learning disability services in terms of its theoretical underpinning and empirical support. It was also hoped that the study might illuminate significant issues influencingContinue reading “Clinical Psychologists’ Views of Intensive Interaction as an Intervention in Learning Disability Services”

Effective Engagement through Intensive Interaction

Sharma, V. & Firth, G. (2012) Learning Disability Practice, 15 (9), 20-23. This paper reviews research on the effects of Intensive Interaction on the conduct, health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities who exhibit severe challenging behaviour, and on the wellbeing of their carers.  The authors conclude that Intensive Interaction can benefit clients, carersContinue reading “Effective Engagement through Intensive Interaction”

A Dual Aspect Process Model of Intensive Interaction

Firth, G. (2009) British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(1), 43-49. Since the 1980s, intensive Interaction has been employed to meet the social and communicative needs of people with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties and/or autism. The approach, which employs naturalistic interactions with learning disabled people based on the ‘infant-caregiver’ interactional model, was initiallyContinue reading “A Dual Aspect Process Model of Intensive Interaction”

Intensive Interaction and autism: a useful approach?

Nind, M. (1999) British Journal of Special Education, 26 (2), 96–102. This article addressed the potential usefulness of Intensive Interaction (I.I.) for pupils whose learning disabilities are compounded by autism. It begins with a general outline of Intensive Interaction, describing it as an approach to ‘communication’ suitable for children and young people with the mostContinue reading “Intensive Interaction and autism: a useful approach?”