All parents are busy, and for those with children facing developmental, social, or emotional difficulties, the added pressure of fitting in your child's therapies can seem daunting and time-consuming. After all, you have other children, after-school activities, and homework to manage, not to mention dinner! It can feel like a lot to manage your child’s therapies, school work, social life, and general well-being when you are running a busy household.

At Come Play, we see and respect parents who are truly doing it all. Our goal is to help your child reach their therapy goals in a timely and efficient manner, so they can move on to all of the amazing things ahead!

That's where the concept of back-to-back therapy sessions comes in. In this blog, we’ll explore the advantages of this approach, from therapeutic benefits to ease of scheduling and efficiency.

What is Back-to-Back Therapy?

Back-to-back therapy simply means that your child will go directly from one therapy to another. For example, a child would attend Occupational Therapy from 4-4:45, then Play Therapy from 4:45-5:30.

At Come Play, we offer comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluations that provide not only an accurate diagnosis, but also a customized treatment plan based on your child’s needs.

This plan will outline the recommended therapies, and together, we will develop a schedule that not only accommodates timing but also maximizes the benefits of back-to-back therapy.

Therapeutic Benefits of Back-to-Back Therapy

Back-to-back multidisciplinary therapies offer significant therapeutic benefits, including:

Sensory Regulation: Occupational Therapy (OT) plays a critical role in helping children regulate their sensory system. By starting with OT, children become better prepared to engage in other therapies, like Play Therapy and Speech Therapy. This is particularly true after school, when kids may be over-stimulated from the day.

Sensory regulation is fundamental for children to access the part of their brain needed to process, grow, and heal. By addressing sensory needs through OT, children are better equipped to engage in Play Therapy, where they can express themselves, explore their emotions, and develop important social and emotional skills. Similarly, getting a child regulated in OT before Speech Therapy enhances their ability to communicate effectively.

Children dealing with trauma may find it challenging to process and heal without first addressing their sensory needs. For this reason, we often recommend OT immediately before Play Therapy.

Holistic Development: Back-to-back therapies allow for a holistic approach to child development. Addressing multiple aspects of your child's development in one day, such as motor skills, emotional well-being, and communication skills, can lead to more comprehensive progress.
Consistent Routine: Back-to-back therapy creates a consistent routine. Predictable routines reduce anxiety and set kids up for success.
Coordinated Care: Multiple therapists can collaborate more effectively when the therapies are provided back-to-back. This ensures that your child receives a more cohesive and tailored treatment plan.
Reduced Transition Stress: Switching from one therapy to another on the same day can reduce the stress that children may experience during transitions. This makes the therapy experience more comfortable for them.
Generalization of Skills: When children engage in multiple therapies in a single day, they may be more likely to generalize skills they've learned in one therapy to another. For example, skills acquired in Speech Therapy may be more readily applied in Play Therapy when the sessions are closely connected.
Comprehensive Assessment: Our multi-disciplinary approach allows for a more comprehensive assessment of your child's development.
Well-Rounded Development: By addressing various aspects of your child's development in a single day, you can ensure your child receives a well-rounded approach to therapy. This addresses not only specific needs but also promotes overall growth and wellness.

Additional Benefits

In addition to the therapeutic benefits, there are several other advantages of back-to-back therapy. One of the most important of these is simplified scheduling.

Simplified Scheduling

Back-to-back therapy simplifies scheduling for parents. Instead of managing multiple appointments on different days, you can consolidate therapy sessions into a single day. This not only saves time but also minimizes the disruption to daily routines. At Come Play, we understand the challenges parents face, and our streamlined approach is designed to make your life easier.

Quality Time for Siblings

Most of our young clients are not the only children in their families. Back-to-back therapy provides a unique opportunity for siblings to spend quality time with their parents. When one child is in therapy, the other siblings can have undivided attention from mom and dad, allowing for bonding and meaningful interactions.

Benefits to Parents

Parents of children who are dealing with complex emotional, physical, social, or academic challenges face additional stress above and beyond what most parents are dealing with. These parents face a multitude of additional parenting challenges, and the stress of this can cause burnout, anxiety, and depression.

Come Play offers Adult Therapy Services, such as Adult OT, Couples and Parenting Therapy, and Adult Evaluations. With your child in back-to-back sessions, you have the flexibility to schedule your own therapy during that time.

If you’re looking to unwind, Come Play is located next to a beautiful park. With two or more therapies, a typical session lasts at least 1.5 hours. This offers you the freedom to make that Target run, read a book, or simply enjoy some peaceful time in the park. When therapy sessions extend into the evening, we encourage parents to seize the opportunity for a date night. With various restaurants nearby, you can enjoy a nice dinner while your child is in capable hands at Come Play.

Conclusion

We believe that children thrive when provided with a supportive environment that meets both their developmental needs and the needs of their families. Back-to-back therapy offers not only therapeutic benefits for your child, but also the opportunity to streamline your family's schedule, making it easier to fit into your busy lives.

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The Benefits of Back-to-Back Therapy Sessions for Your Child