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Behaviour Therapy
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Therapy & support
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Therapy & support
Is parent-mediated therapy the right therapy for a child with ADHD?
For younger children with ADHD, parent-mediated (behavioural parent training) therapy is often the recommended first-line support, coaching parents in routines, positive attention and calm responses. As children grow, the best results usually combine it with school support and, when a clinician advises, other therapies or medication. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs parent-mediated therapy right for a child with Autism Spectrum?
Parent-mediated therapy is a strong, well-evidenced support for young children with Autism Spectrum, coaching parents to build communication and connection into everyday routines. It usually works best alongside direct therapies like speech and occupational therapy, with the right blend tailored to the child. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs parent-mediated therapy right for Global Developmental Delay?
Parent-mediated therapy is often a highly valuable part of supporting a child with Global Developmental Delay, but it works best alongside therapist-led sessions rather than replacing them. Because GDD affects several areas at once, the right balance of direct therapy and parent coaching is decided with a clinician. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Parent-Mediated Therapy Right for a Child with ODD?
For most children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, parent-mediated therapy is the first-line, best-evidence support — coaching parents in warm, consistent, predictable responses to reduce defiant and confrontational behaviour, often alongside support for any co-occurring needs. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs parent-mediated therapy right for speech and language delay?
Parent-mediated therapy is an evidence-backed and often first-line choice for young children with speech and language delay, because language grows fastest through warm, frequent everyday interaction. A therapist coaches parents in simple play-based strategies, sometimes blended with direct one-to-one speech therapy depending on the child's profile. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs parent-mediated therapy usually one-on-one or in a group?
Parent-mediated therapy is usually delivered one-on-one, with a therapist coaching the parent while the child plays, so strategies fit the child's needs and home routine; many programmes add small parent-group sessions for teaching and peer support. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy suitable for preschoolers?
Play therapy is highly suitable for preschoolers because young children express themselves and learn most naturally through play. A skilled therapist uses toys, pretend and movement to build communication, emotional regulation and social skills in a gentle, child-led, low-pressure way. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy suitable for school-age children?
Play therapy is well suited to school-age children when adapted to their age — using games, story, role-play and creative tasks rather than simple toys. It helps children name emotions, build social and problem-solving skills, and manage anxiety, behaviour or friendship difficulties in a child-led, pressure-free way. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Play Therapy Suitable for Toddlers?
Yes, play therapy is well suited to toddlers because play is their natural way to explore, communicate and learn. A child-led, play-based approach gently builds attention, early communication, emotional regulation and social connection, and often works alongside speech or occupational therapy. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy right for a child with attachment difficulties?
Play therapy can be a strong fit for children with attachment difficulties because play is how young children express feelings and a safe, consistent therapeutic relationship is itself healing — but it usually works best alongside parent- and caregiver-centred relational support rather than alone. The right blend depends on the child's age, history and needs. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy the right therapy for a child with Autism Spectrum?
Play therapy can be a valuable part of supporting an autistic child, building connection, joint attention and early communication through motivating, child-led play — but it rarely works alone. Most children benefit from a tailored blend, often play-based approaches alongside speech and occupational therapy. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy the right therapy for a child with Childhood Anxiety?
Play therapy is often a well-matched, evidence-informed support for childhood anxiety because young children express fears through play before words. It gives a safe space to build coping skills and confidence, and frequently blends with child-friendly cognitive-behavioural strategies, parent coaching and school support. The right fit depends on the child's age and the type and intensity of anxiety. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy the right therapy for a child with developmental trauma?
Play therapy is often an appropriate and effective support for children with developmental trauma, because play is how young children safely process feelings they cannot yet name — rebuilding trust, calming the body and restoring a sense of control. It works best as part of a wider, trauma-informed plan tailored after assessment. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy right for emotional & behavioural difficulties?
Play therapy can be a strong fit for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties because play is how children naturally express and process feelings they cannot yet put into words, building emotional regulation, confidence and calmer behaviour. Whether it is the right primary therapy depends on what is driving the difficulty, so assessment comes first. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy the right therapy for a child with Selective Mutism?
Play therapy can be a helpful part of support for a child with Selective Mutism because it lowers the pressure to speak and builds trust, but it is rarely enough alone. Selective Mutism is anxiety-based, so the most effective plan usually blends anxiety-led behavioural strategies with speech and language input where needed. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy the right therapy for separation anxiety?
Play therapy is often a strong fit for separation anxiety in young children because play lets a child express and rehearse fears they cannot yet voice, building confidence and security; it works best alongside parent coaching and, for some children, structured behavioural approaches chosen by a clinician. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs play therapy usually one-on-one or in a group?
Play therapy is delivered both one-on-one and in small groups, and the choice depends on your child's goals — individual sessions build trust and specific skills, while small groups help practise sharing and friendships, with many children benefiting from a blend over time. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Running Off In Public a Normal Part of Child Development?
Running off in public is a very common, largely normal part of toddler and early-preschool development, driven by curiosity, new motor skills and still-maturing impulse control. It usually eases with gentle teaching and supervision, needing a closer look only if it is frequent, fearless of danger, or paired with other developmental concerns. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs screen-time meltdowns a normal part of child development?
Meltdowns when screen time ends are a normal part of early child development — a young child's brain hasn't yet built the skills to leave a highly rewarding activity calmly, so big feelings spill out. They settle with consistent, gentle routines as the child grows. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Separation Anxiety a Normal Part of Child Development?
Separation anxiety is a normal, expected stage of child development, typically emerging around 6–9 months, peaking by 10–18 months, and easing through the preschool years. It reflects healthy attachment and the growth of object permanence. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerSocial skills training for preschoolers
Social skills training is well suited to preschoolers aged roughly 3 to 5, because this is the natural window for sharing, turn-taking and joining play. At this age it is gentle and play-based — games, stories and coaching woven into everyday moments, with parents and preschool involved. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs social skills training suitable for school-age children?
Yes, social skills training is well suited to school-age children (around 5 to 12 years), when friendships, turn-taking and group play become central. Through playful, guided practice and small-group work, children learn to greet, listen, take turns, read social cues and manage frustration. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs social skills training the right therapy for a child with ADHD?
Social skills training can be a valuable part of supporting a child with ADHD, but rarely works best alone. Because social difficulties often stem from the underlying ADHD, the most effective plans combine social-skills work with behavioural therapy, parent coaching, school strategies and any medical care a paediatrician advises. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Social Skills Training the Right Therapy for Autism?
Social skills training can be a valuable part of support for an autistic child, but it is rarely the whole answer and isn't automatically the right starting point for every child. The best plan begins with understanding your child — a non-verbal child may need communication support first, while a verbal child seeking friendships may benefit greatly. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
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