Whether you just booked an intensive, or are curious what intensive therapy is all about, my hope is that this will serve as a helpful guide as you embark on intensive therapy for your little one.

I like to preface any initial conversation with parents about intensive therapy, that it is hard work for everyone involved. It is hard work for your child, hard work as a parent to see your child doing an incredible amount of work, and lastly, hard work for the therapist working with the child.

That never seems to scare anyone away. However, it is worth noting since it is vastly different than the one or two hours of PT your child receives on a weekly basis.

Here are some things to expect in an intensive program for your child. Of course, the details may vary from clinic to clinic.

Time

The first thing to expect is the amount of time you and your little one will invest into an intensive program. Most intensive programs are anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours per day. Some intensives spread the intensive hours throughout the day, while some have sessions scheduled back to back. This will vary on the program, and also what type of sessions you are scheduling for your child.

Different Intensive Therapies

While some intensive programs offer all the things (PT, OT, speech, DMI, etc.), others may specialize in just one or two areas. The programs offered will vary depending on the clinic. Therahappy specializes in TheraSuit, DMI, whole body vibration, and spider cage. We partner with Unity Therapy Solutions for MNRI and feeding intensives.

Education

During an intensive program, you can usually expect to learn some of the techniques to follow through with after the intensive is over. This is to help your child continue to progress. Something magical happens when the child returns home and generalizes all the new skills in their natural settings. A home program should be strong, easy to understand and administer, but also concise and not overwhelming.

If you are in the middle of an intensive and have no idea what to do when you guys leave the clinic, don’t be afraid to ask for a home program!

Modalities Used in Intensive Therapy

With each intensive, you can expect a variety of modalities. Some different modalities include whole body vibration, electric stimulation, TheraSuit, Theratogs, and many more. Your therapist should be able to explain benefits of each modality and how each will be used to reach their goals.

Sleep & Eating

One of the most common things I hear from my families is that their child’s eating and sleeping patterns are changed during an intensive. Some report that their child is eating more, sleeping more, and some report their children sleep surprisingly less. Regardless, good nutrition, adequate sleep, and hydration are vital during an intensive for optimal outcomes.

Seizures

If your child is prone to seizures, it is important to monitor for an uptick in seizures during an intensive. An intensive can be too much for a child with severe seizures. Be sure to communicate with your therapists any known triggers to the seizures, explain how your child’s seizures present, as well as their common frequency. It is always recommended to continue seizure medication as prescribed.

Other Therapies

If you happen to book an intensive local to your home, it is usually recommended to put your child’s other therapies on hold. Your child will most likely be ready to rest after their intensive sessions. It is my hope that the more common intensives become, the less difficult it will be to put them on hold for such important opportunities.

Motility

You will most likely notice that your child has an increased number of bowel movements! The more they move, the easier it is going to be to help things move along. This is huge with so many of my intensive kids struggling with constipation.

Gains in Intensive Therapy

And last but certainly not least, you can absolutely expect to see gains. All kinds of gains. Gains you are not specifically trying to address, but you end up gaining them anyway. Gains you are hoping to achieve. Whether you are in a one week or five week intensive program, some kind of progress will be made. Neuroplasticity is a power to be reckoned with, and in a child the potential is unfathomable. One of the biggest takeaways is the confidence the child gains in themselves in independent movement. It is a beautiful thing to watch, as they learn to navigate their environment their way.

I hope this helps ease your mind a little about what to expect, and maybe even how to prepare for an upcoming intensive.

If you are in the Houston area, I would love to work with your little one. Be sure to join our free email list for upcoming intensive opportunities! Find our more about our programs here.