At Centria, we have developed a therapy model that creates lasting progress by ensuring our therapeutic environment is built on compassionate care. Our goal is to foster deep, sustainable change, not just temporary compliance or learning to do a skill in one environment, with one person.
An Assent-Based Approach
Our model for therapy at Centria is rooted in an assent-based approach. We continually monitor the child’s emotional state, ensuring they feel happy, relaxed, engaged and safe before any intensive learning begins. We aim to help kids feel good by honoring their preferences and supporting them, which involves actively listening and adapting our own behavior in real-time based on the child’s feedback and subtle cues.
Our ability to immediately and respectfully pause and adapt when a client communicates their lack of assent demonstrates that their voice is the most important one in the room. To draw a parallel, imagine that you have broken your leg and are going through physical therapy. If you are working on an exercise where you feel pain, the therapist will have you stop and try something different, instead of pushing it and causing more pain.
Kind and Consistent Boundaries
When safety requires setting limits, we do so with a kind but firm approach. This practice shows respect and helps the child learn about consistent boundaries and feeling their feelings, supporting social-emotional growth within and outside of session.
Check out this blog post to learn more about our approach.
Long-term success relies on building skills that help individuals navigate their world flexibly. We move beyond rote instruction to focus on building a robust repertoire that generalizes across contexts. We help children grow in a thoughtful way, providing just enough help to succeed on their own. This balance is critical in helping the child build independence and internalize a sense of success and competence. We encourage children to keep trying and always praise them for trying, not just for finishing a task.
Family Collaboration for Meaningful Progress
Most importantly, we coordinate with families regularly and often, to review what is most meaningful for your child to learn, and tailor therapy goals according to the goals of your family.. We ensure change is lasting by regularly reflecting and adjusting our approach based on the client’s current needs and progress. This habit of observation and adaptation makes our therapeutic dynamic collaborative, ensuring we are constantly refining our methods to best support the child’s long-term progress.
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Creating Sustainable Growth
By embracing an assent-based, compassionate, and family-centered approach, we are committed to fostering lasting change and empowering children to thrive. We believe in building trust, nurturing independence, and celebrating every step of progress, ensuring that your child’s journey is filled with positive experiences and sustainable growth. Together, we can create a supportive environment where your child feels heard, respected, and capable of achieving their fullest potential.
This blog was written by Heather MacDhubhain BCBA, LBA. Heather is a Director of Functional Assessment and Treatment Implementation at Centria. Her professional experience expands across a wide range of settings, including public school, residential, community, home, and center-based environments. She is an alumna of Grand Valley State University and Capella University.
