Links parents with child psychologists who work in private practice and can offer the skills they are looking for.
Medical
Therapists
What types of therapist are there and what do they do?
About Sencos and other therapists you might meet
Find out about…
- Psychologists
- Physiotherapists
- Speech and language therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Dietitians
- Art/music/drama therapists
Why would my child need special therapists?
While your child goes through diagnosis and treatment, you may come across some specialist therapists and professionals. Most therapies and other professional supports are available through the NHS. If you need extra support, talk it over with your child’s paediatrician first. Here is how to find one and how to check a therapist’s qualifications and governing body registration.
Who are The Health Professions Council (HPC)?
They are a regulator set up to protect the public. To do this, they keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards for training, professional skills, behaviour and health. They currently regulate 15 health professions: arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists/podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, hearing aid dispensers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthopedists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetics, radiographers, and speech and language therapists. All of these professions have at least one professional title that is protected by law, including those shown above. This means, for example, that anyone using the titles 'physiotherapist' or 'dietitian' must be registered with the HPC. Check if your therapist is registered.
What is a psychologist?
A child psychologist is like a therapist. They talk with children and try to help them with their emotions and problems. Often they will work with the whole family and can help a wide range of behavioral and emotional problems.
How to find a psychologist
- Directory of Chartered Psychologists: search for a psychologist offering services to the public.
- List of Chartered Members: check whether a person is a Chartered Psychologist.
- Association of Child Psychologists in Private Practice: this one has a great search facility.
What is a physiotherapist?
Physiotherapists can help children affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. Physiotherapists help treat physical problems linked to a number of the body's systems, including bones, joints, heart and lungs.
How to find a physiotherapist
- The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP): founded in 1894, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has grown to become the profession's largest membership organisation.
- The Physiotherapy Site: all of the physiotherapy practices registered with the Physiotherapist Site are qualified to practise in the UK and are also registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC), which supervises all UK physiotherapists. In addition to satisfying all the educational and regulatory requirements of the HPC, the Physiotherapist Site has its own more stringent admission criteria for clinics wishing to participate in the network. All Physiotherapists must have at least 5 years’ experience in practice (although 90% have more than 10 years’ experience) and be recognised by most major health insurance providers.
- Physio First: Physio First is the organisation which represents physiotherapists in private practice. It was launched in 1952 to promote the highest standards of clinical physiotherapy practice.
- Patient.co.uk
Other physiotherapy groups that you might find useful:
- British Association of Hand Therapists
- European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (ENOTHE)
- The Health Professional Council replaces the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine as the regulatory body for OT in the UK.
- UNISON: The union for occupational therapists in the UK.
- National Electronic Library for Health: includes a dedicated OT portal with useful links to a variety of resources including evidence-based medicine, anatomy, medical textbooks and much more.
- The Bobath Centre: a non-profit making organisation that specialises in the treatment of cerebral palsy and acquired neurological conditions.
- Patient.co.uk
What is an occupational therapist?
Occupational therapists can help children with everyday activities, like washing, eating, going to school and writing. They can give advice on adapting your home to meet your child’s needs. They can assess your child for mobility aids and wheelchairs around the home and at school.
How to find an occupational therapist
If you are not sure where to start, talk it over with your GP, social worker, nurse, physiotherapist, or any other professional who knows you and who may be able to point you in the right direction. If a referral from a professional is needed, they may be able to do this for you, but you may be able to refer yourself. Be prepared to give information on the difficulty you are having and how that is affecting your life. Ask if there is a waiting list.
The College of Occupational Therapists (COT) has a Specialist Section for occupational therapists working in independent (private) practice. All occupational therapists who are members of COT Specialist Section Independent Practice are fully qualified and registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC).
What is a speech and language therapist?
Speech therapists help children of all ages with different speech and language disorders. They can help children who have difficulty producing and using speech, understanding and using language or have difficulty with feeding, chewing or swallowing.
How to find a speech therapist
- The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists: this is the professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK.
- Health Professions Council: you can check if therapists are registered on this site.
- The Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice: independent therapists may be contacted via this website. The Association of Speech and Language Therapists In Independent Practice (ASLTIP) provides information about independent speech and language therapists throughout the United Kingdom.
Other Speech and language groups that you might find useful
- I CAN is the charity that helps children with speech and language difficulties across the UK. The charity works to create a society where their special needs are recognised, understood and met, so that they have the same opportunities in life as other children.
- Afasic is the UK charity representing children and young adults with communication impairments, working for their inclusion in society and supporting their parents and carers. Afasic is also a recognised training provider for parents and professionals.
- Speech Teach UK provides speech therapy resources for parents and professionals supporting children with speech and learning difficulties, including dyspraxia, apraxia and autism. Other areas of articulation, literacy and late speaking are also covered, together with links and reviews for other websites specialising in these areas.
What is a dietician?
How to find a dietician
The title ‘dietician’ can only be used by appropriately trained professionals who have registered with the Health Professions Council.
The British Dietetic Association: Established in 1936, this is the professional association for dietitians.
Other dietician groups that you might find useful
What are music, art and drama therapists?
Art therapists help people express thoughts and feelings through creative activities. This can be in art, music or drama.
How to find a music therapist
How to find an art therapist
- Health Professions Council (HPC)
- Patient.co.uk
How to find a drama therapist
- The British Association for Dramatherapists (BADTH)
- Health Professions Council (HPC)
- Patient.co.uk
They help children and families affected by cerebral palsy. Using a mix of physiotherapy, occupational and speech & language therapy, children develop the skills to be independent, stay healthy and participate in life to the full.
Hemispheres Movement for Learning is an established and privately owned therapy company, with a dedicated team of Occupational Therapists who have the specialist knowledge and skill needed to help your child overcome any challenges they have in their development and learning so they can unlock their true potential.
Henry Spink Foundation
The Henry Spink Foundation is an independent charity created to help families of children with severe disabilities of all kinds. They provide information on conventional and complementary/alternative medicine, therapies and research relating to a very wide range of physical and mental disorders.
Independent Therapy Services (ITS)
Independent Therapy Services (ITS) provides professional Occupational Therapy for individuals, solicitors, insurers, case managers, charities, housing associations and employers.
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Local Physio is the leading help service to finding local Physiotherapists UK-wide. Local Physio are extremely committed in treating patients who are experiencing pain and discomfort. From sports injuries to rehabilitation after an accident or injury, Local Physio can help you find the expert help you require.
Newsbeat
Cerebra's quarterly magazine Newsbeat is free to members. They feature columns written by parents about their experiences. Updates on research being carried out that might be of interest to people caring for children with neurological conditions, and articles written by professionals in many different fields.
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Paediatric Occupational Therapy services for families within the Greater London area. Our specialised services include assessment, treatment and intervention for young children, including treatment of various neurological disorders such as: Autism; ADD/ADHD; Cerebral palsy; Dyspraxia; Developmental delay; Learning disabilities and Sensory processing Disorders. Greater London
Safespaces supply custom made safe rooms and sleep areas for use in home, in schools, and for respite care and holidays. Safespaces products are for those with special and often complex needs including autism, epilepsy and challenging behaviours. They work closely with parents, carers, occupational therapists and other health care professionals as well as architects and design engineers. They can support you through every stage of the process from intial enquiry to design, installation and aftercare of your equipment.
Sensory Linq UK
Sensory Linq are specialists in the field of sensory impairment. They offer support, guidance and training to local authorities, social and health care agencies in order to help them meet statutory requirements. They can even give you advice on meeting the needs of children who are deafblind (have multisensory impairment) on request.
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Speech Therapy South West
Private speech and language therapy in Devon and Cornwall
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The Autism Directory is a national database to signpost families to all kinds of Autism Friendly help, information, resources, conferences, activities and much more in your area.
This website is an amazing resource and tool for families with autistic children.
If you are looking for an Occupational Therapist (OT) to give you independent advice or provide private treatment, you can search our online Directory. The Directory lists COTSS-IP members who provide a wide range of services throughout the country.
The Counselling directory provides a UK-wide counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs.
Promoting the benefits of complementary therapy and aims to give visitors all the information they need to help them make an informed decision about whether therapy would be right for them. The website has an FAQ's section, and you can also search for a therapist near you. Therapy Directory only lists therapists who are members of a recognised professional body or those who have sent us copies of their qualifications and insurance cover.
