Psychomotor Therapy
What Difficulties Do Psychomotor Therapists Help With?
Many children, teens, and adults encounter challenges that impact their ability to coordinate movements, focus, manage their bodies in space or access learning. Psychomotor therapy is an approach that addresses these types of difficulties, using movement, play, and interactive activities to help individuals improve their coordination, cognitive and executive functions, visuospatial skills, and emotional regulation. It helps enhance their psychomotor development by improving body awareness, motor skills, visuospatial integration, attention, planning and organization, and overall confidence, supporting progress in academic, social, and daily life tasks.
Psychomotor therapists address a broad variety of domains, including:
- Body Awareness
- Muscle Tone Regulation
- Gross and Fine Motor Skills
- Laterality
- Balance and Coordination
- Attention and Executive Functions
- Visuospatial Perception andIntegration
- Handwriting Skills
- Emotional Regulation
They also assist with conditions such as:
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Specific Learning Disorder (SLD)
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
- Global Developmental Delay (GDD)
- Behavioral and Emotional Disorders (such as anxiety and impulsivity)
- Genetic Disorders
Why Do Individuals Need Psychomotor Therapy?
Psychomotor therapy is beneficial when motor, attention, or emotional difficulties disrupt a person’s ability to function in daily life, whether it be in the classroom, at home, or in social situations. Psychomotor therapy helps individuals toimprove their body awareness and control, attention abilities, visual spatial skills, and emotional regulation, leading to better academic performance, social interactions, and a greater sense of autonomy.
How Does Psychomotor Therapy Work?
In psychomotor therapy, especially for children, learning is often integrated into playful activities. It can involve games, drawing, and movement. The therapists provide targeted activities and strategies to develop essential skills, such as body awareness, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, attention, planning, anticipating, problem solving and emotional regulation aiming to promote overall development.
What Should I Tell My Child Before Therapy?
Explain to your child usinga simple andcomfortingway of communication that you’ve noticed some of their struggles and understand that they can be challenging. Reassure them that seeking help is a positive and empowering choice. For younger children, let them know that therapy is a fun, supportive way to improve their skills through enjoyable activities.
What Happens in Therapy?
Firstly, an initial consultation takes place where the therapist will meet with you and your child to discuss your concerns, gather background medical and developmental information and assess the child’s needs. This process helps the therapist gain a thorough understanding of the child’s requirement to tailor the therapy accordingly.
After that, a screening or a full comprehensive assessment will be conducted relying on observation and standardized tests to evaluate your child’s strengths and challenges andset an individualized therapy plan.
In therapy, children may engage in a variety of activities designed to support their development, such as:
- Playing games: Participating in activities that strengthen attention, planning, problem-solving, visuospatial integration and fine motor skills.
- Motor skill exercises: Engaging in activities to build core movement abilities, improving balance, coordination, and motor control.
- Learning new skills: Practicing everyday tasks like using cutlery to foster independence and confidence.
- Breathing and relaxation techniques: Working on exercises that enhance body awareness, grounding, emotional regulation, and muscle relaxation.
How Long Does Therapy Last?
The length of therapy varies based on the goals and plan established. Sessions are usually held once or twice a week, with progress reviewed every 3 to 6 months to adjust the plan as needed—whether modifying objectives or concluding the therapy.
How can parents help?
For optimal improvement and skills’ generalization of acquiredskills during psychomotor therapy sessions, consider the following:
- Choose a therapist who helps create a reassuring and comfortable environment for both you and your child.
- Maintain regular attendance to build progress.
- Collaborate with the therapist by engaging in activities that reinforce the objectives targeted in therapy at home.
- Adopt a patient and warm approach to parenting, being clear with boundaries and limits while consistently offering encouragement for your child’s efforts and accomplishments.
