How Does Caregiver Coaching Benefit My Child and My Family Unit?

Evan Hunter Blumenthal
3 days ago
3 min read

Caregiver Coaching at Blume

At Blume, we offer caregiver coaching services in addition to direct 1:1 occupational and speech therapy services.

Caregiver coaching is an individualized service where occupational and speech therapists partner directly with caregivers in dedicated, one-on-one sessions. In these sessions, our clinicians provide education, training, and problem-solving opportunities to help you best support your child in the home, school, and community environments.

Coaching is a powerful tool that supports you, the caregiver, in furthering your child’s progress and increasing your confidence as a caregiver. It delivers meaningful outcomes whether it is performed alongside your child’s therapeutic services (scheduled separately from the brief check-ins that occur before or after their session), or on its own.

Caregiver coaching can support you, your child, and your family by…

Empowering you, their caregiver, with skills to foster meaningful change

Learn actionable strategies to support your child’s development and regulation across settings, including home, school, and the community.

Building your confidence in challenging moments

Feel more equipped to respond with clarity when challenging situations arise.

Offering personalized support for your family’s needs

Our OTPs and SLPs customize each coaching session to your child’s goals and your goals as their caregiver. We collaborate with you, the expert on your child.

Creating consistency across environments

Kids thrive when caregivers and professionals utilize the same strategies to support regulation and development. Coaching supports your ability to enact these strategies and approaches across environments outside of the clinic.

Reducing stress and building confidence

Caregiver coaching creates space to build a roadmap together for how to support your child in a way that’s effective, leading to less overwhelm for you.

Strengthening the parent-child connection

Learn strategies for how to engage with your child, understand their needs, and increase joy in your relationship.

Supporting long-term progress

Coaching helps build a strong foundation for your child’s regulation, communication, and independence.

Focusing on measurable outcomes using evidence-based interventions

Work together with your child’s therapist to develop coaching-focused goals that can be tracked with measurable outcomes. Research shows that coaching leads to…

Increased competence and self-efficacy in one’s role as a caregiver
Increased knowledge and problem-solving skills
Increased awareness of the child’s needs and increased confidence to meet those needs
Increased reflection and mindfulness

Saving time and money in the long run

Coaching maximizes the benefits of any direct 1:1 services that your child may be receiving.

What Can We Work on in Coaching Sessions?

Caregiver coaching sessions typically follow an organized structure where our clinicians partner with you to:

Identify a current priority or challenge
Explore the context and factors contributing to that priority or challenge
Discover, discuss, and enact practical strategies and solutions
Track progress, reflect on, and adjust how the strategies are working in subsequent coaching sessions

Caregiver coaching is highly flexible and collaborative. Topics are guided by your goals and may include:

Clinical education and resources
Learning about, working with, and advocating for your child in various settings, including educational settings
How to implement new routines at home
Navigating concerns about your child’s development or regulation
Discussing clinical recommendations
Answering questions and addressing your priorities
…and more!

Scheduling Caregiver Coaching Sessions

Coaching sessions can be scheduled in 30- or 60-minute blocks with any of our clinicians. The sessions can be scheduled as in-person or virtual sessions, and can be held either in conjunction with your child’s OT or speech services or as a standalone partnership between you and one of our providers.

Our OTs and SLPs bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in neurodiversity-affirming pediatric care and are here to support you in showing up for your child with clarity, confidence, and connection.

Please note: At this time, caregiver coaching is not billable through insurance. Sessions are offered at our self-pay rate.

References:

Usdin, R. (n.d.). Introduction to Coaching in Pediatric Occupational Therapy. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/wp.nyu.edu/dist/6/11051/files/2020/05/Competence-Project-1.pdf
Foster, L, Dunn, W. & Lawson, L.M. (2013) Coaching mothers of children with autism: A qualitative study for occupational therapy practice. Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics, 33(2), 253-263. https://doi.org/10.3109/01942638.2012.747581
Dunn, W., Little, L. M. Pope, E., & Wallisch, A. (2018). Establishing fidelity of occupational performance coaching. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 38(2), 96-104. doi: 10.1177/1539449217724755
Flynn, E. & Guttadauro, T. (2020). Supporting Parents: The Occupational Therapy Practitioner’s Role as Coach. The Spiral Foundation. https://thespiralfoundation.org/product/supporting-parents-the-occupational-therapy-practitioners-role-as-coach/