Services
The Developmental, Individual Differences and Relationship Model (DIR™-Floortime)
Any attempt at forming an "A Total Approach" would not be complete without considering the development of the mind and it's ability to entertain different thoughts, while manipulating observations and facts in order to make an effective judgment call. We believe that in DIR® we have found the perfect companion in this regard in our work with children who struggle with disorders in communicating and relating.
It is fundamental to our practice that every child should be given the chance to develop
his/her own mind, personality and thought processes through tapping into their own motivations and individual
interests. As adults we so often believe that we know better and we quite rigorously attempt learning methods that
will "change" the child and/or his/her behavior into what we deem as acceptable. In our love for our children,
we forget that development has it's own course and that each personality and/or profile will develop mostly
according to it's own course. We have found DIR® to be a natural facilitation technique that is centered around
the child and not on our own preconceived ideas as to what and how we would like to see the child develop.
In order for the child to develop strongly into his/her own mind, we have to emphasize the child's spontaneous ability and own motivation in order for the learning to occur intrinsically. Extrinsic motivation lasts as long as the prompt or reward lasts, but what a child learns according to his/her own motivation with trained facilitation, results in spontaneous processing that lasts a lifetime. DIR® is often confused with Floortime. Floortime is the actual techniques we coach caregivers to apply in sessions at home or school. DIR® is the umbrella concept that embraces Floortime, as well as a myriad of different services to cope with family needs and individual differences. DIR® is a very intensive process and the gray areas of the mind often causes us to have to think 'out of the box". The recipes are few, but the rewards are plentiful.
DIR® Services at A Total Approach
- Staff members at A Total Approach are actively engaged in the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental Delays and Learning Disorders DIR® certificate process. Maude Le Roux has obtained her certificate and pursues ongoing training.
- A Total Approach is directly involved in the organization "DIR® Training Services in Pennsylvania". (570) 586-3587
- We provide Floortime evaluations in terms of the 6 emotional developmental levels as part of our comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations as well as separately.
- We offer direct one-on-one treatment sessions in Floortime with your child.
- During sessions we also offer parent / caregiver coaching to assist caregivers in continuing the process on a daily basis.
- Due to family time and distance constraints, we also offer video training during which the parent, either send videos of home / school sessions, or attends the consultation with video material.
- We provide home and school consultations on DIR®.
- We provide training seminars on DIR® to school districts and / or parents.
- As the child progresses, we also provide coaching in peer play dates or small groups.
- We offer sensory-motor groups for 3-4 yr olds and also for 4 to 5 yr olds every morning of the week. These sensory motor groups includes an occupational therapist and physical therapist, both of which provides the service from a DIR® perspective, with much opportunity for social learning.
- We have an active parent DIR® support group that meets once every month and training occurs through video material provided by the parents. These parents are now in our advanced group.
- We also offer a DIR® support group for parents relatively new to the DIR® method, starting in the Fall of 2005.
- Our DIR® support group for one-on-one assistants commences in the Fall of 2005.
- We include DIR® every day in our summer extended school year programs, where applicable.
If you are interested in any of the above, please call (484) 840-1529 at your earliest convenience to secure your space and time. All our groups have limited numbers to ensure quality care.
