When parents learn their child has a learning problem, it can be devastating. They blame themselves thinking it must be hereditary. Confused and anxious, they sometimes ignore the first signs of a problem because they feel their child will outgrow it. Sometimes the child does improve, although most of the time it requires ongoing remediation until a point in time when the child is progressing within developmental norms. Parents may first face the problem at a teacher conference, and may leave the meeting unsure how to help their child. They feel very overwhelmed and may experience a process similar to grieving.
What comes next is a step by step process and may begin with a school administrator offering the parents a list of educational therapists to contact. Parents may also learn about ET’s through allied professionals, friends and family.
When parents meet with an educational therapist, they feel a sense of relief as educational therapists are professionals who can help parents and clients navigate the educational system. A trusting relationship is essential for an effective treatment alliance between the ET and client.
Educational therapists serve as a support system and resource for parents. By assisting parents through the educational process with their child, ET’s serve as case managers helping parents:
- prioritize interventions
- select the most suitably skilled allied professionals to help their child
- demystify their child’s learning issues
- learn self-advocacy skills
- collaborate with teachers and allied professionals
- set realistic and developmentally appropriate goals for their child
- enhance their child’s self-confidence
Students who work with educational therapists develop lifelong skills such as
- resiliency
- curiosity
- love of learning
- perseverance
- empathy
- autonomy
- heightened self-confidence.
Often ETs help students recognize and cope with the anxiety and shame that accompany their school failure. Working with ETs, clients learn strategies and techniques that help them work more efficiently and effectively; they learn how to learn. Students who work with educational therapists are more independent learners and better prepared to face college, graduate school, and ultimately, workplace demands.
