Navigating ND-Friendly Therapies: What Actually Works for Your Child?

Finding the right therapies for your neurodivergent child can be an overwhelming task. With so many options available, it’s hard to know which ones are genuinely effective. In this blog, we’ll break down some of the most popular therapies for neurodivergent children and highlight what works and what doesn’t.

What Works:

• Speech and Language Therapy: Effective for children with communication delays or difficulties. It helps in improving verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

• Occupational Therapy (OT): Ideal for addressing sensory processing challenges, fine motor skills, and daily living activities.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Proven to help children with anxiety or emotional regulation issues, it teaches coping mechanisms and positive thinking patterns.

• Social Skills Training: A good way to help children learn appropriate social behaviours and develop better peer relationships.

  
  

What Doesn’t Work:

• Unstructured "One-size-fits-all" Programs: Every child is different, and a generic therapy that doesn’t consider individual needs is less likely to be effective.

• Punitive Approaches: Negative reinforcement or punishment-based techniques may cause further distress or emotional harm to neurodivergent children, who may have difficulties understanding these methods.

  
  

The best approach is to seek out therapies tailored to your child’s unique needs and always consult professionals to ensure the right fit.

Want more support like this? This article is just a snippet of the full guide available exclusively to members of The Dock — our private, supportive online community for parents of neurodivergent children. Inside, you’ll find the full downloadable version, plus expert-led resources, lived experience advice, and real connection with people who truly get it.

Join The Dock today and access the full guide, plus so much more.