AUTISM THERAPY
Survival Tips for In-Home
Therapy You Need to Know
By Caroline MITCHELL
S
o, you have decided that in-home therapy
is the right move for you and your child.
You’ve had the referral and the assessment,
and the insurance company says yes—
you’re all set, right? Well, almost! Before the
therapist even rings the doorbell, take a
moment to read eight tips for therapy sur-
vival to help make your sessions a positive and suc-
cessful experience for everyone.
1.
Prepare your child as much as you can for each
therapy session. All kids are different, and “get-
ting ready” will differ for everyone, making it
important to develop a routine to help your
child be ready mentally and physically for ther-
apy. Let him/her know who is coming, why,
and when. In our house, we have a couple of
countdowns, and five minutes before arrival
time, we go to the bathroom to wash hands
and clean our glasses. We also have a remind-
er about listening and paying attention, iPads
go away, and we have some quiet time. We are
ready when the therapist walks in to start work.
2. If space allows, dedicate a bathroom and
workspace for the therapist. Even if this is not
possible, ensure he/she has a separate clean
towel or paper towels, a trash can, and soap.
A designated working space is also appreci-
ated—often there is a lot of paperwork, toys,
and props, and he/she needs space to conduct
the session. Having a designated space, even if
it’s the dining room table, allows the therapist
to spread out without feeling like he/she is en-
croaching on your space.
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 68 |
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