Finding an Educational Therapist

After interviewing over 3,000 parents and students seeking one-on-one help for a learning disability, I am sure of only one thing: there are as many variations on the theme of learning disabilities as there are afflicted individuals. For the uninitiated parent this complex range of types of learning disabilities is overwhelming and confusing.

How Tutors Differ From Educational Therapists

To begin, it is important to understand the difference between a “tutor” and an “educational therapist.” A tutor provides subject support whereas educational therapists provide remediation by addressing the specific learning disability with specialized teaching techniques. (This can sometimes be achieved within the context of a particular subject.) There are many teaching approaches and kinds of expertise. An ideal therapist is eclectic and able to pull many “tricks from his/her bag.” The educational therapist has the ability to analyze the student’s individual learning style, discover which remedial approach works best and help the student to understand and come to terms with this learning style. This is often referred to as the diagnostic/prescriptive approach.

So how does a parent find and recognize this paragon? How does one judge which educational therapist has the magical combination of expertise and personality for a particular child?

Appropriate Credentials

1. Formal educational background — A graduate degree in education is excellent but not absolutely essential. Good experience can compensate for lack of specialized graduate training. But if a graduate degree has been earned, it is desirable to know the areas of concentration, e.g., reading, moderate special needs, speech and language. It is also advantageous if there has been some training in both administering and interpreting educational and psychological testing.
   
   
2. Further training — e.g., specific remedial approaches (Orton Gillingham, Project READ, LEAD, Semple Math).
   
   
3. Experience — How many years, at what age/grade level, what type of teaching.
   
   
4. Certification — Not essential but helpful as an assessment of training and experience.

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