Who we are

Welcome to Richmond Floortime. I am a certified DIRFloortime therapist and help children with autism spectrum disorder to communicate, relate and think. I specialise in early intervention and apply the DIRFloortime model approach to promote children’s ability to regulate, engage, communicate, and problem-solve. The outcomes are happier and more connected children who look forward to being part of a shared world. I work with parents /carers and schools as well as other health professionals to support children in all kinds of settings.


Rather than just focusing on observable outward behaviour, I prioritise the development of inner changes which foster the relationship between children and their parents while supporting them in their developmental capacities. My goal is not to promote compliant behaviour through rewards but to encourage growth through warm, meaningful interactions.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  • Follow the child’s lead and challenge them to go up the developmental ladder
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  • Use affect and attunement to engage and co-regulate
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  • Interaction, not instruction
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  • Encourage the individual to extend/expand the interaction
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  • Treat everything a child does as intentional communication
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  • Richmond Floortime

10 reasons to choose DIRFloortime

DIR Floortime focuses on the individual developmental level, and strengths of each child. It provides a personalised intervention plan tailored to meet their specific developmental challenges, needs, and goals.

DIR Floortime places a strong emphasis on building positive relationships between the child and caregivers, therapists, and peers. By fostering secure attachments and meaningful connections, it creates a supportive environment for learning and development.

It emphasises building emotional connections and relationships, which are crucial for the overall development of children with autism. By engaging in interactive play and communication, children can learn to express their emotions, understand other people’s emotions, and develop social skills.

Through interactive play and engagement, children learn to communicate their needs, preferences, and feelings more effectively. This can lead to improvement in verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

DIRFloortime encourages children to explore and engage with their environment in creative and imaginative ways. This helps them develop flexibility in thinking and problem-solving skills.

 

The approach encourages child-led play, where the child takes the lead in activities and interactions. This helps empower the child, increase motivation, and enhance their sense of agency and self-esteem.

Since parents are actively involved in the intervention process, DIR Floortime strengthens the bond between the parents and children. It empowers parents to understand their child’s unique needs and effectively support their development at home. Parents play a crucial role in DIR Floortime interventions, as they are actively involved in their child's therapy sessions and encouraged to apply DIR principles in everyday interactions. This promotes continuity of support and generalisation of skills outside of therapy sessions.

DIRFloortime incorporates strategies to address sensory sensitivities and promote sensory integration, helping children regulate their responses to sensory input and engage more fully in their environment.

Research suggests that early intervention programmes like DIRFloortime can lead to long-term improvements in social, emotional and cognitive development for children with ASD, setting a positive trajectory for their future.

Instead of solely focusing on specific behaviours or skills, DIR Floortime considers the child's overall development, including social, emotional, cognitive, and sensory aspects. It aims for holistic growth and progress in various domains. DIR offers a holistic approach to supporting the development of children with ASD, focusing on building foundational skills in communication, social interaction, emotional regulation, and sensory integration.
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