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So what’s with all those questions we ask during therapy sessions?

In coaching, therapists or “coaches” use reflective questions to help caregivers gain insights into a problem or situation. By asking open-ended questions, the coach and caregiver can dig deeper into a problem. Evidence suggests that when solutions grow out of the caregiver’s ideas, children perform better and caregivers feel more empowered (Dunn et al., 2012).

In traditional therapy, a therapist will develop a plan for the caregiver and give specific intervention instructions to the family. In coaching, the coach and caregiver will develop a plan together. Instead of telling the caregiver what to do, the coach invites the caregivers to be part of treatment planning. In the coaching model, the coach guides the caregiver to develop his or her own plan. During a “coaching” session, therapists help caregivers identify what is most important to the family, what strategies parents have already tried, analyze factors that contribute to participation, develop a plan of action, and determine what next step fit best within the family’s life.

Literature suggests that when parents identify their own problems and come up with their own solutions, not only are they more likely to follow through with their plans but they feel more confident to tackle future problems and feel less stressed doing so (Dunn, Cox, Foster, Mische-Lawson & Tanquary, 2012; Foster, Dunn, Mische-Lawson, 2012). Ultimately, the goal of early intervention and coaching is to help children participate in their daily activities while simultaneously helping caregivers feel confident in their decisions.