Who it is for
- your child is afraid of haircuts: cries, runs away, is very tense
- is frightened by the vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, iron
- does not want to try new foods, eats a very limited range
- has difficulties with toileting
- does not want to brush their teeth
- cannot say what they want and needs another way to communicate
What we do in sessions
- Toilet training: we teach the child to use the toilet in a way that is calm and clear for them.
- Haircuts: we gradually get used to the procedure, reduce anxiety and go through the steps together with the parents.
- Household appliances: we introduce the appliances and teach the child to use them safely. We use desensitization: approaching the frightening object in small steps until the fear goes away.
- Feeding training: we expand the range of foods and teach the child to eat independently.
- PECS: we teach the child to communicate with picture cards. The child finds the right card, hands it to an adult and gets what they want.
What a session looks like and the role of parents
We move step by step, without pressure. An example from our practice: a child used to cry at the vacuum cleaner and run away from the hair dryer, and later came up to the appliances on their own, touched them and explored them.
These skills cannot be established without parents. Here is how it went with haircuts: we discussed the request, wrote out the steps, trained the mom, and after that she cut her child's hair at home, calmly and without tears. The goal of the training is for the skill to work in everyday life, not just in the therapy room.
Parent reviews
FAQ
What is desensitization?
It is a behavioral method: the child is gradually and safely introduced to what frightens them, and anxiety decreases step by step. This is how we work with fear of the vacuum cleaner, haircuts or water.
My child talks a little. Why would they need PECS?
Sometimes a child has words but does not know how to use them to ask for things. If visual prompts work better for them, cards help them start communicating, and from there they can move on to words and phrases.
How many sessions will be needed?
It depends on the child, so we do not give general timelines. We move at the child's pace.
What do parents do?
They learn the same steps as the specialist and repeat them at home. That is how the skill gets established.
Photos from sessions
Videos and photos from sessions
The center's videos on Instagram.