# Is feeding therapy one-on-one or in a group? Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-feeding-therapy-usually-one-on-one-or-in-a-group Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited Feeding therapy usually begins one-on-one, because eating is personal and a therapist needs focused, unhurried time to build trust and target skills like chewing and safe swallowing. As confidence grows, small group sessions or shared family meals may be added, since eating alongside others is a natural motivator. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. *Will your child sit at a table with other children, or work quietly with one therapist? Mostly it begins one-on-one — and that's by design.* ## In short Feeding therapy usually **starts one-on-one**, because eating is deeply personal — every child has their own reasons for refusing, gagging or eating only a few foods, and a therapist needs that focused, unhurried time to build trust and target the precise skills your child needs. As your child grows in confidence, **small group sessions or shared family-style meals** can be added, because eating alongside others is a powerful, natural motivator. The right mix is chosen for your child, not the other way round. ## Why one-on-one comes first - **Trust is everything.** A child who feels anxious around food needs calm, individual attention — no pressure, no comparison, no rush. One-on-one lets the therapist move at exactly your child's pace. - **Precise skill-building.** Chewing, lip closure, tongue movement and safe swallowing are watched closely and shaped bite by bite. Swallowing safety in particular needs individual observation. - **Sensory sensitivities differ widely.** One child refuses food for how it feels; another for how it smells. Individual sessions let the therapist tailor graded, playful exposure to your child's unique triggers. ## When groups can help Once a child is more comfortable, **small peer groups or shared mealtimes** can gently encourage them — children often try new foods when they see a friend or sibling enjoying them. Group work builds social mealtime skills, turn-taking and the everyday joy of eating together. Many children benefit most from a **blend**: individual therapy for skills and confidence, group or family meals for real-world practice. Parent coaching runs alongside both, so progress carries home to your own table. ## The Pinnacle way AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. From there your child's therapist decides whether to begin one-on-one, in a group, or with a blend, guided by a precise [developmental and feeding profile](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated). Explore our [feeding and oral-motor therapy](/feeding-therapy) support, and learn more about [how we help families](/) across 70+ centres. ## Trusted sources American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on paediatric feeding and swallowing; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) feeding guidance. **Next step —** Want to know the right format for your child? [Book a feeding assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](/feeding-therapy). This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. ## Sources - ASHA — paediatric feeding and swallowing: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/swallowing/feeding-and-swallowing-disorders-in-children/ - AAP HealthyChildren.org — feeding guidance: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/default.aspx ## Connected topics and perspectives - Therapies: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/therapies - Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent - Adaptive: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/adaptive - Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support - Plan: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/plan - Occupational Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/occupational-therapy - Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity ## Related question paths ### Understand the subject - At what age can a child start feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-can-a-child-start-feeding-therapy - How Feeding Therapy Helps a Child Develop: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-feeding-therapy-help-a-child-develop - Is Feeding Therapy Backed by Research Evidence?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-feeding-therapy-backed-by-research-evidence - What is feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-feeding-therapy - Which children benefit most from feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/which-children-benefit-most-from-feeding-therapy ### Explore therapy & support - What happens during feeding therapy sessions?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-happens-during-feeding-therapy-sessions - How feeding therapy helps with feeding and eating difficulties: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-feeding-therapy-help-a-child-with-feeding-and-eating-difficulties - Is feeding therapy the right therapy for feeding & eating difficulties?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-feeding-therapy-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-feeding-and-eating-difficulties - What techniques are used in feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-techniques-are-used-in-feeding-therapy - How many sessions of feeding therapy does a child usually need?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-many-sessions-of-feeding-therapy-does-a-child-usually-need - Can feeding therapy be combined with other therapies?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-feeding-therapy-be-combined-with-other-therapies - Are there any risks or side effects of feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-there-any-risks-or-side-effects-of-feeding-therapy - Can feeding therapy be done online?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-feeding-therapy-be-done-online - How does feeding therapy help babies?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-feeding-therapy-help-babies - How does feeding therapy help toddlers?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-feeding-therapy-help-toddlers - Is feeding therapy suitable for babies?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-feeding-therapy-suitable-for-babies - Is feeding therapy suitable for toddlers?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-feeding-therapy-suitable-for-toddlers ### At home & in everyday life - How can I support feeding therapy goals at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-feeding-therapy-goals-at-home ### Follow progress - How is a child's progress measured in feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-a-child-s-progress-measured-in-feeding-therapy - How long does feeding therapy take to show results?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-long-does-feeding-therapy-take-to-show-results - What progress can I expect from feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-i-expect-from-feeding-therapy - What progress can a child with Autism Spectrum make with feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-autism-spectrum-make-with-feeding-therapy - What progress can a child with cerebral palsy make with feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-cerebral-palsy-make-with-feeding-therapy - What progress can a child with feeding difficulties make with feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-feeding-and-eating-difficulties-make-with-feeding-therapy - What progress can a child with Hypotonia make with feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-hypotonia-low-muscle-tone-make-with-feeding-therapy - What progress can a premature child make with feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-prematurity-related-developmental-risk-make-with-feeding-therapy - What progress can a child with sensory-based feeding selectivity make with feeding therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-sensory-based-feeding-selectivity-make-with-feeding-therapy ### Choose and access care - How do I find a good provider of feeding therapy for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-find-a-good-provider-of-feeding-therapy-for-my-child - What does feeding therapy typically cost?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-feeding-therapy-typically-cost-and-what-affects-the-price - What qualifications should a therapist providing feeding therapy have?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-qualifications-should-a-therapist-providing-feeding-therapy-have