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A developmental therapist assesses children’s development, recommends therapy techniques, communicates with parents and teachers, and keeps records. A master’s or doctoral degree is preferred, and effective communication skills are essential.
A developmental therapist can play an important role in helping children grow into healthy, functioning adults. For this position, it is beneficial to have an analytical mind, an empathetic nature and excellent communication skills. While it is sometimes possible to enter this field with just a bachelor’s degree in psychology, it is preferable to have a master’s or doctoral degree. Some primary duties of a developmental therapist include assessing children’s development, communicating with parents, recommending therapy techniques, and keeping records.
Perhaps the most fundamental aspect of this work is assessing children’s development. For example, if parents are concerned that a child is developing more slowly than other children, a developmental therapist will assess. During an assessment, he may ask the child a series of questions and implement tests to better understand the child’s developmental level. As he may work with a variety of children of different age groups, it is important for a developmental therapist to build rapport with each child and establish a level of trust.
Along with this, he usually communicates with a child’s parents throughout the entire duration of therapy. This may involve asking the parents questions, explaining the findings after each session, and answering any questions the parents may have. In some cases, a developmental therapist may also communicate with a child’s teachers for more information. Consequently, it is necessary for an individual in this role to communicate effectively with children and adults alike.
When a child’s developmental level is determined to be below average, it is the job of a developmental therapist to recommend therapeutic techniques. For example, if a child has learning difficulties, the therapist may recommend enrolling the child in specialized classes that meet those needs. If a child is having difficulties with speech, they may be able to recommend a program that focuses on that area. In some cases, he may also prescribe a certain type of medication to treat a disorder. As every child will respond differently, it is vital that a developmental therapist adapt to each child’s specific needs.
In addition, it is often necessary to keep detailed records for each child seen. This may include parent contact information, initial assessment results, individual child characteristics, therapy techniques used, and final results. Keeping these records accurate and up to date is important for future reference and can be shared with other professionals working with or treating the child later on.
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