Cubbiehouse Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics opening from 28th April!
Allied Health Therapy Services
Occupational Therapy Clients and Assessment
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is for children of all ages with autism, ADHD, global developmental delay, sensory processing difficulties, fine and gross motor delay, handwriting weakness, Dyspraxia, and emotional and social difficulties. Occupational therapy focuses on improving sensory processing, motor coordination, motor planning, fine and gross motor skills, play development, social skills, self-regulation, independence, daily living activities, adaptive behaviours, and executive functioning skills.
Sensory processing disorders refer to conditions where the brain has difficulty processing and interpreting sensory information, leading to challenges in responding appropriately to stimuli from the environment. Individuals with sensory difficulties may experience heightened sensitivity or reduced sensitivity to sensory input, impacting their daily functioning and behaviour which occupational therapy can support.
Occupational Therapy Assessment
Occupational therapy begins with an assessment to identify the main areas of strength and difficulty for your child and to design a plan for intervention.
The assessment process involves a parent/caregiver questionnaire and sensory profile. Then the initial two-hour in-clinic assessment session includes standardised and non standardised assessments that assess the following areas:
Sensory Integration
Play / social skills
Reflex Integration
Fine and Gross motor skills
Visual perception and visual motor integration
Handwriting
Following the assessment verbal feedback is given to parents and a comprehensive report is produced. The report will include detailed assessment results, specific goals, and recommendations for intervention. Parents can share this report with educators and other healthcare professionals involved in the child's care.
Occupational Therapy explained
Play-based therapy uses a DIR/Floortime approach focusing on engaging the child in meaningful play to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and sensory development. It emphasises the importance of following the child’s lead and supporting their developmental progress through interactions. This type of therapy supports the relationship between the caregiver and child through parent coaching techniques.
Sensory Integration and the Therapeutic Listening Program (TLP). The TLP is a structured intervention that utilises specially modulated music to target specific sensory processing difficulties and promote regulation in individuals with sensory processing disorders. By engaging participants in carefully designed listening exercises, it aims to improve sensory integration, attention, and emotional regulation. Find out more about the TLP here: https://vitallinks.com/therapeutic-listening/
Astronaut Training is a vestibular program offering a therapeutic approach aimed at optimising sensory integration in children. It has a particular focus on refining the vestibular system to enhance balance and spatial awareness. Incorporating rotational movement on the Astronaut Board, eye tracking and gaze stabilisation exercises, this comprehensive regimen provides therapeutic benefits by improving sensory processing, fostering improved coordination, and promoting adaptive responses to sensory stimuli in children.
The Willbarger Brushing Protocol is a sensory integration therapy designed to alleviate sensory defensiveness and enhance regulation in individuals with sensory processing disorders including autism. It involves the application of deep pressure and brushing techniques to the body's skin surfaces, followed by joint compressions, aiming to desensitise the sensory system and promote improved sensory modulation.
Primitive Reflex Integration. Primitive reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements that originate in the brainstem and are present in infants from birth. They are crucial for survival and early development, but ideally, they should gradually integrate as the child grows, making way for more sophisticated voluntary movements and higher cognitive functions.
Psychologist Parent Coaching
Psychologist Parent Coaching
Psychologist Parent Coaching
Parent coaching is a fabulous way of seeking support for your child and enhancing your parenting abilities. No parent is supplied with a guidebook on their individual pēpi, and often times you may naturally align with one of your tamariki only to be stumped with your next child.
Parent coaching is a non-judgemental way of supporting your child through discussion and collaboration with the psychologist, allowing insight into your unique situation. Sessions focus on your concerns, with cultural sensitivity, and acknowledgement of your whānau's values. Evidence-based strategies and techniques will be discussed, modelled and practised. Parent coaching may also be an informal way for the psychologist to understand any developmental concerns you have for your child.
Common supports may include (but are not limited to) attachment, anger, tantrum, meltdown and frustration behaviours, stubbornness, anxiety, depression, resilience and coping, school refusal, grief and loss, parental separation, relationships, difficulties with sleeping, feeding, toileting, friendships, bullying, social skills and functional communication.
Child psychology
Psychologist Parent Coaching
Psychologist Parent Coaching
Child psychology sessions involve 1-1 sessions with the psychologist and your child. Parent-child sessions may be relevant depending on the age of your child and your concerns.
Sessions are play based for the younger children and conversationally based for the older tamariki. Connection is first and foremost between the psychologist and your child. Connection may be developed through play, drawing, painting, construction, fidget toys, or conversation and enquiry about special interests. Connection and rapport is prioritised at the outset to ensure that your child feels comfortable and a strong therapeutic bond can be established.
Our psychologists work with a range of evidence-based approaches, including developmental science and attachment theory, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), positive behaviour support (PBS), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, trauma informed care, and compassion and mindfulness practices. Your child's emotional safety and wellbeing are of our highest priority.
Speech Language Therapy
Speech Language Therapy
Speech Language Therapy
Speech-Language Therapists (SLTs) recognise that all forms of communication are important and collaborate with each child to help them reach their fullest potential. Through communication, a child is able to establish connection, grow relationships, and create a sense of belonging. Developing strong communication skills form the foundation for early literacy. At Cubbiehouse, we are dedicated to supporting your child in finding their voice, enhancing their language skills, and fostering their literacy development.
What is Speech Therapy?:
- Improved communication: clarity of speech articulation, increased language understanding, and more connected social interactions.
- Enhanced Literacy Skills: enhancing phonological awareness, reading, writing, and spelling skills through a structured literacy approach.
- Increased confidence: confidence to use their voice and speak their thoughts and feelings in this world, self-esteem development and pride in their development.
- Early intervention: evidence-based research cites that early support can significantly improve long-term outcomes for children with communication difficulties.
Speech Language Therapy
Speech Language Therapy
Speech Language Therapy
Our wonderfully talented and nurturing speech language therapists can support your child with:
Speech: speech-sound errors, articulation difficulties, stuttering, speech prosody and fluency.
Language: difficulty following instructions, receptive and expressive language delay, language concepts, understanding words and sentences, asking and answering questions, understanding and participating in conversations.
Literacy: establish early literacy skills, phonological awareness, increase reading and writing skills.
Social communication: play, narration of play, imaginary play, making and maintaining friends, engaging in conversation, expressing and understanding emotions, nonverbal communication skills and identifying and understanding social cues.
Feeding: difficulty chewing or swallowing, excessive drooling, gagging. Picky eaters, tolerating and expanding food options including those with an ARFID diagnosis.
School Supports
School Supports
School Supports
Info coming soon
School Supports
School Supports
School Supports
Info coming soon