Finding the Right Support for Your Child
A parent-friendly guide to turn overwhelm into clarity and hope
Searching for Answers, Finding Our Way
When my daughter was first diagnosed, I felt like I had to sprint to line up every doctor and get all the therapies she might need. We had just eighteen months before college and a long list of co-occurring diagnoses: hypermobility, gastrointestinal issues, depression, migraines, and, on top of it all, sensory sensitivities and meltdowns.
Advocacy quickly became my full-time job. We met with provider after provider, hoping for answers. Sometimes we found the right fit, other times we hit dead ends with professionals who didn’t understand or dismissed her needs.
Along the way, I kept wishing for a simple guide to explain who does what — who to turn to for testing, therapy, advocacy, or medical care. That’s what this glossary is meant to be: a quick, parent-friendly overview of common providers, what they do, and how they might support your child and family. It’s a big list; pick and choose what makes sense.
Who’s Who:
🎒 School-Based Providers
👩🏫 School Psychologist – Gathers data for IEP eligibility, consults with teachers/admin, doesn’t diagnose.
👨🏫 School Counselor – Supports all students with social, emotional, or academic concerns; sometimes leads 504 meetings.
🧠 Mental Health & Therapy
🧑⚕️ Licensed Psychologist – Doctorate; the only provider who can do psychological testing; may also do therapy/consultation.
- A Note on Testing: Only licensed psychologists can provide psychological or neuropsychological testing.
- A neuropsychologist has extra training to evaluate memory, learning, attention, and brain functioning.
- Other providers (like school psychologists or LPAs) may give tests too, but these are usually for school eligibility or under supervision.
- For a full neuropsychological evaluation, ask for a licensed psychologist with neuropsychology training.
🧑 Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) – Master’s level, supervised; provides therapy and testing.
🧩 Neuropsychologist – Extra training; evaluates memory, learning, attention, executive functioning, and brain injury.
🤝 Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – Therapy for children/adults in schools, agencies, or private practice; some do play therapy.
👩 Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) – Master’s in counseling; therapy across ages/settings; some do play therapy.
🛝 Registered Play Therapist (RPT) – Specialized in play therapy; supports children with trauma, anxiety, or attachment needs.
🧸 DIR/Floortime Therapist – Relationship-based approach (often for autism); can be OTs, SLPs, or mental health professionals.
📈 Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) – Uses ABA with autistic children; there are conflicting viewpoints about this therapy, so research before starting.
🎯 Development & Skills
🗣️ Speech/Language Pathologist (SLP) – Helps with speech clarity, understanding/expressing language, and social communication.
✋ Occupational Therapist (OT) – Supports motor skills, sensory needs, feeding, handwriting, daily living skills.
🏃 Physical Therapist (PT) – Focuses on gross motor skills, mobility, play, and movement.
📖 Academic Tutor – May be trained in Orton-Gillingham for reading/writing challenges; also coaches study skills and executive functioning.
📑 IEP/504 Advocate – Guides parents through school meetings and paperwork; helps ask the right questions.
🏥 Medical Providers
🩺 Pediatrician – First stop for concerns; may manage meds or refer to specialists.
👩⚕️ Developmental Pediatrician – Special training in autism, genetic disorders, and developmental delays; can prescribe medication, but unfortunately, there is more demand than doctors available.
💊 Pediatric Psychiatrist – Manages mental health medication; some also provide therapy; look for autism experience if relevant.
⚡ Neurologist – Specializes in seizures, tics, brain injuries, and sleep concerns.
👩🔬 Nurse Practitioner – Can prescribe medication; often partners with psychiatrists or pediatricians.
You Don't Have to Navigate This Alone
Finding the right support for your child can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Your pediatrician might be a logical Team Captain, and you are always the Co-Captain. No one knows your child better than you do. Trust your instincts, jot down your impressions, and let them guide you to the best fit.
If you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed, I can help you move from confusion to clarity. Together, we’ll develop a plan to evaluate providers and find the resources that fit your child and your family.
