Neurological disorders and disabilities are caused by damage or injury to the nervous system—the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves that connect them. This can have an impact on energy levels, movement, speech, memory, behaviour, and how people express their thoughts and feelings.
Behaviour therapy is an action-based treatment that focuses on how behaviour is influenced by a multitude of variables (i.e., social, emotional, physiological, environmental, etc.). We use a number of different approaches, including those listed below, to create an individualizes therapeutic approach for each client.
Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) use positive reinforcement to encourage skills and modify how someone responds to their environment. The objective of ABA and IBI are to enable useful behaviours and reduce those that could be harmful.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy (mental health counselling) that considered the thoughts and feelings that influence how someone responds to a given situation. We use cognitive therapy to help build resilience, through things like problem-solving skills to help cope with stressful situations, or tools to help manage or channel emotions.
Social learning theory combines the positive reinforcement of ABA with the mental aspects of CBT to help people learn in a more social context. It’s based on four requirements—attention, retention, reproduction (repetition), and motivation—that enable people to learn by observing and imitating the behaviour of others.
Play therapy uses different types of play—like toys, pets, games, or art—to help people, especially children, improve social skills, build mental and emotional strength, and encourage psychological wellbeing.