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What is Educational Therapy?
I was first introduced to the concept of Educational Therapy (ET) while working in a private Christian school where they had an ET program based on the National Institute for Learning Development’s (NILD’s) Blue Book (now Gray Matter) instruction.
Having studied Special Education in college, I was curious to know how this program compared to typical reading remediation, or tutoring. While each of these interventions may have the same overarching goal – to help students achieve their highest potential academically – there are some significant differences in their approach and practices. Here is what NILD’s website has to say about educational therapy as compared to tutoring:
What Is NILD Educational Therapy?
Since its beginning in 1973, the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) has focused on getting to the root of various learning disabilities by developing four key components of every student’s learning: cognition, perception, academics, & emotions.
By building new and efficient learning processes in students, we help children learn to think and solve problems independently.
NILD is more than traditional tutoring. Tutoring often focuses only on subject matter content, while NILD’s therapies use subject matter as the learning vehicle to develop cognition and confidence. We focus on root learning issues, helping learners overcome these issues by developing new learning paths.
Our therapies address the underlying causes of learning difficulties rather than simply treating the symptoms. We offer true educational therapy through individualized training.
Our goal is to help every student become a confident and independent learner who is prepared to succeed in life.
In other words, Educational Therapy is able to go to a deeper level for those students who need more than just extra help or additional time with a particular assignment or subject. To emphasize the point in greater detail, another source (Center for Learning and Behavioral Solutions, Inc) provided a side-by-side comparison which I have summarized in this chart:
| Educational Therapy | Tutoring | |
| Purpose | – Address underlying learning difficulties / disabilities– Assess student learning strengths and weaknesses– Target development of cognitive and academic tasks | – Provide academic support in specific subjects or topics – Help students master content taught in class curriculum– Address short-term academic needs and improve performance |
| Approach | – Comprehensive – Student Centered | – Specific – Content Centered |
| Goals | – Overcome learning challenges by developing areas of weakness – Develop skills and strategies for academic success | – Gain better understanding of a subject – Improve performance / grades |
| Student population | – Typically those with some form of Learning Disability, Attention Disorder, or cognitive challenges that affect grade level progress | – Typically students who are behind, performing below desired level, or wish to excel in a particular subject |
| Duration / Frequency | – Longer term – More intensive – Regular, ongoing sessions until independent learning at grade level is achieved | – Short term or on-going as needed – Scheduled as needed or on a weekly basis – Continue until learning goal is achieved, usually for a particular subject |
| Providers | – Teachers specially trained and qualified to work with a wide range of learning differences | – Aids or teachers who are trained and / or knowledgeable in specific subject matter |
So, now you may be asking yourself, “How do I know if my child needs a tutor or an Educational Therapist?”
Of course, if your child is enrolled in school, the first place to start is by talking with the classroom teacher and school about their recommendations. If you are homeschooling, however, the decision is yours. I will suggest that tutoring is a great short term option, and that it could resolve the issues your child is having fairly quickly. However, if no noticeable improvement is seen in 3-6 months, for example, it would be advisable to have the student evaluated, and seek out an Educational Therapist.
It may also be helpful to know that Educational Therapy can be qualified as a Tier 2- 3 intervention, while tutoring would generally be considered Tier 2.
The three tiers of educational support are:
- Tier 1: Universal or core instruction. This is the foundation of all tiered instruction and is designed for all students in all settings.
- Tier 2: Targeted or strategic instruction or intervention.
- Tier 3: Intensive instruction or intervention. This is for students who are two or more years behind their peers academically or behaviorally.
The progression of tiered instruction is designed to make sure that all students are receiving the correct level of structured, explicit instruction that they need to be successful learners. It’s important to note that Tier 1 instruction should be built on a solid, phonics-based curriculum, so that all students have access to the tools they need to develop strong, core reading skills. (More on this topic in my next blog!) If a child is struggling to learn to read after this first qualification has been adequately met, then additional support should be introduced at whatever level is indicated.
To summarize, Educational Therapy is helpful when a student has received adequate core-curricular instruction, but isn’t able to complete the academic tasks as expected, even when provided with additional support. An Educational Therapist is qualified to examine and explore the indicators for why the student is struggling, and to plan activities / therapies that target the student’s areas of cognitive weakness, as well as utilizing their unique strengths, to develop that student into a well rounded, independent learner. While Educational Therapy and tutoring are not the same, each has an important role in providing support to those who struggle with academics.
If you’d like to learn more about the type of help your child would receive with Complete Learning Development, please click on “Contact Us” and leave an email!
If you would like to comment on any part of this blog, remembering to be courteous and constructive, you may add your thoughts below. Thanks for taking the time to read up on Educational Therapy and its benefits!
About Kathy Palmquist:
Education / Background
- Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, K-12, LD/BD from Illinois State University
- National Institute for Learning Development certified through Level III, Search and Teach, Rx for Reading and GET (Group Educational Therapy).
- Former Educational Therapist @ Trinity Oaks Christian Academy, Cary, IL
- Independent Educational Therapist @ Aurora Christian School, Aurora, IL
- Former Family Teacher @ Mooseheart Child City & School, Mooseheart, IL
- Former Reading Interventionist @ Calvary Christian School, Naperville, IL
Bio / Philosophy
I started my experience as an educator in the typical fashion, earning my degree in Special Education from Illinois State University in 1987. When I hit the field, however, I was a bit disillusioned by what I experienced, and went another direction, focusing on Early Education in day care until I had my own three children.
After being a stay-at-home mom and homeschooler for many years, I started my journey with NILD Educational Therapy while teaching at Trinity Oaks Christian Academy (TOCA) in 2010. I was asked to do the training and join the team of ET’s at that school, because they believed in the program, and desired to reach more students. Through this training, my eyes were opened to the possibility for change in the human brain! I got excited about being able to offer struggling students and their families HOPE! Even as a novice, I began seeing real results in my students, and this spurred me on to learn more! I completed Levels I and II, plus Search & Teach, Rx for Reading (and GET), while at TOCA.
In 2013 my family and I moved to Aurora, and underwent some major life changes! Part of that journey was having my youngest son move from TOCA to Aurora Christian School, where I became acquainted with an independent NILD ET working at the school. She gladly welcomed me to work along-side her, and I began seeing students as an independent ET. Not long after that, my husband and I took a position working as Family Teachers at Mooseheart Child City and School, a residential facility for disadvantaged youth. While we went about the work of raising a group of middle-school and high-school boys, I continued to see students when I could, and completed my NILD Level III training in 2016.
After stepping out of the Family Teacher role in 2022, my husband became a Consultant on Mooseheart campus, while I took a position at Calvary Christian School in Naperville working as the school’s Librarian and Reading Interventionist. There I continued to apply my knowledge as an Educational Therapist using the Gray Matter and Search & Teach materials.
No matter where God has taken me in my journey with educational therapy, I have seen countless struggling students move from discouragement to improvement, then get excited about learning again, and ultimately enjoy school!! It is my hope and passion to see as many students as possible experience this joy as I enter into the private sector!
Please go to the “Contact Us” tab to privately message me about your interest! If you’d like to leave a public comment about educational therapy or a related topic, you may do so below!