The author offers practical strategies for gathering and analysing information about behaviors, in partnership with the individual concerned, in order to gain a useful understanding of why a particular behavior occurs. Case histories, with corresponding behavior plans, clearly demonstrate the real-life application of assessment methods.

John Clements is a clinical psychologist of over thirty years' standing, specializing in the field of developmental disabilities. He has previously worked for the NHS and university system in the UK and jointly established the UK's first independent psychology practice specializing in issues for people with developmental disabilities. He currently works as a behavior consultant in California, taking a particular interest in helping people with autism and their families. Neil Martin works at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent at Canterbury.

Preface. 1. Establishing the assessment agenda. 2. Relationships in assessment: The empathy mode. 3. Relationships in assessment: The analytic mode. 4. The tool box, John Clements and Neil Martin. 5. Extracting meaning from the information gathered. 6. The Behavioural Explorer Assessment System, John Clements and Neil Martin. 7. The stories we can tell. 8. Organizing the practice. 9. Last words. Appendix 1: Behaviour recording charts. Appendix 2: Clements Rapid Assessment Protocol. Resources. Index