In my experience working with adolescents in Dallas, I have discovered that there is a very basic therapeutic aspect to education which we cannot afford to ignore. Educating involves much more than simply teaching. It must be about connection to the whole child. The field of educational therapy is built on this holistic approach.
The goals of educational therapy include:
- Integration
- Self-advocacy and self-efficacy
- Increase autonomy and self-esteem
- Collaboration of allied professionals and parents
- Change in perceived self from failure to success
- Relevance and meaning attached to subject matter
- Maximize strengths through multi-sensory experience
- Helping clients learn how to learn (modeling, role-play, metacognition)
- Decrease anxiety related to academic and social demands
- Increase self-awareness, resiliency, coping skills
- Strengthen executive functioning skills, organizational and study skills
Educational Therapists do NOT:
- diagnose learning differences or medical conditions
- administer intelligence or psychological tests of any kind
- practice psychotherapy
I have been pursuing certification in this new and dynamic field and have completed my training for the Associate Educational Therapist Certification. I will continue practicum hours under the mentorship of a board certified ET as I work toward my professional status. For an overview of the field, visit www.aetonline.org (Association of Educational Therapists). To learn more about the benefits of Educational Therapy, read my article.
