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Dog-Assisted Occupational Therapy

Dog-Assisted Therapy sessions run across an 8 week block, led by a qualifed Occupational Therapist with the support of a trained Therapy Dog. Find out more today.

What is therapy?

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Kites therapy services focus on supporting children’s learning and development, from birth to until they reach early adulthood.

Therapy works best when it is embedded into daily family life. It’s even better when other family members, child care workers and teachers do the same activities with children to help them learn and develop.

Therapy can occur during play, or family home and community activities such as household tasks and shopping. This means that you are doing things you normally do at home or out and about, but you pick up on opportunities where you can say or do something that will encourage your child to develop and use new skills.

Setting therapy goals

One of the first things you will be asked by your therapist is what your goals are for your child. This means talking together about what areas of life are going well, and what areas your child needs help to develop.

  • What can your child do now?
  • What would make a difference to your child’s life and to your family experience right now?
  • What will help your child to take part in family and community activities more easily?

Your child’s goals might focus on:

  • Life and family experiences
  • Developmental and learning needs
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Balancing your child’s needs with the rest of the family
  • Inclusion in community settings

How will Kites therapists work with my family?

All families are different and unique. The services you receive from Kites will look different to other families and children. Personalised services are important to get the best outcomes for your child and family.

At your first Kites session, time is spent focusing on getting to know each other. The more therapists know your child, you and your family, and what’s important to you, the better they are able to provide services which suit your child’s needs and your family’s needs. This is known as family-centred practice. Find out more about how we work with families.