Frequently
Asked Questions
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What age students/clients do you serve?
We provide support to clients of all ages/grades from early education through adulthood. Most clients typically seek out support between later elementary grades and high school because that is when academic challenges are most apparent.
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How do you qualify for Educational Therapy? Does my child need an IEP?
There are no eligibility requirements for educational therapy. Some clients are referred to educational therapy by teachers, schools, pediatricians, therapists, etc. while others seek out educational therapy on their own. While educational therapy can provide intervention for clients with learning disabilities and/or other developmental disabilities, educational therapy is also a tool that can support students with no identified disability who experience challenges that impact their involvement in school, homework, executive functioning, and/or extracurricular activities.
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How is Educational Therapy different than the Special Education my child recieves at school?
The goals and/or approaches to your child's challenges may be similar in educational therapy and in special education at their school. Special education is a school based service which means it's goal is to support student learning throughout the school day. Students typically exhibit significant academic deficits and gaps characterized by being two grade levels below grade level in a particular area coupled with one of thirteen designated eligibilities. Educational therapy is a home based service which means its goal is to support student learning more broadly. Challenges may be characterized by a disabilities and significant academic impact or may a relative challenge compared to other areas of academic involvement. Educational therapy seeks to close gaps in learning and vocational skills. Some clients receive special education support at school and educational therapy support after school.
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How long does it take to work?
Like many therapies and interventions, educational therapy takes time. Goals are identified to be address incrementally, over time. You can think of educational therapy akin to a marathon rather than a sprint. Over time you will notice small changes in self-efficacy, self confidence, academic ability, and motivation; however bigger goals like meeting specific grade level benchmarks or global goals will take time and patience. Some clients are in educational therapy for months while others are in educational therapy for years.
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Do you take insurance?
Educational therapy is not currently governed by licensure so there is no insurance code available to bill your insurance. We are happy to provide you with a super bill should your insurance company accept it. At this time we have not seen any insurance companies that have covered educational therapy, but it never hurts to ask. We would however love to work with you to ensure that your educational therapy is affordable.
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What kinds of disabilities do you work with?
We work with clients with or without disabilities, including clients who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), dyscalclia, hyperlexia, and more. Our team has experience working with clients with a variety of different abilities and will tailor goals and structure of sessions to meet the individual needs of your child.
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What does a typical session look like?
Sessions are tailed to individual clients to meet their unique needs and ensure that clients feel like their time in educational therapy is valuable and meaningful. Sessions may include homework help, studying for tests, evidence based intervention programs, and game based interventions. Each activity, including options for breaks, are intentionally chosen to address special client goals.
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How often should my child see an educational therapist?
Some studies show that intervention is most effective when delivered every day for a minimum of 20 minutes. At the same time everyone has busy schedules and extra curricular activities, hobbies, and downtime are equally as important in your child's development as academic support. Consistency and frequency are most important with every intervention and it is encouraged to maintain a regular schedule once set. As a care team we will work together to determine what is most appropriate on a case by case basis. Educational therapy is typically recommended at the frequency of 1-2 times per week with 50 minute sessions.