Educational therapy is oftentimes an unknown term for parents and families. Today’s guest has actually shared with us in a previous episode what it is and how it can benefit so many different students in Episode 10: Building Independence Through Educational Therapy. But what we haven’t talked about is what educational therapy looks like… virtually.
Welcome back to Rachel Kapp, who is an educational therapist with an extensive background in the field of education. After working with so many types of students through tutoring in private practice, she became passionate about building relationships with and helping students who learn differently. She is now a sought after educational therapist and co-host of the Learn Smarter Podcast.
In our conversation today, Rachel shares how virtual educational therapy has changed the way students can access the services they need. She explains the surprising benefits and misconceptions about virtual therapy and how to find the right fit for you and your family.
Show Notes:
[1:43] - Rachel was a previous guest on the podcast and introduced educational therapy in episode 10.
[4:27] - During the pandemic, for the first time parents saw firsthand the learning challenges of their children.
[5:57] - Rachel explains what educational therapy is and what they focus on at Kapp Educational Therapy.
[7:12] - While the therapy impacts academics, educational therapy is also extremely beneficial for executive functioning and life skills.
[10:02] - Virtual educational therapy is not “Zoom School”.
[11:10] - Compared to in-person educational therapy, virtual therapy has a lot of different benefits including flexibility and, surprisingly, connection with the therapist.
[13:11] - One type of therapy isn’t faster than another. Rachel has not seen a difference between the results of in-person and virtual.
[15:09] - In most cases, Rachel sees students for 50 minutes twice a week, but when it is virtual, there are a lot of different ways to spend that time.
[16:49] - Rachel has had students who are in virtual educational therapy as guests on her podcast and has great connections with them.
[19:13] - Writing is typically very challenging for students with executive functioning issues.
[21:47] - There’s not a “perfect” age for virtual educational therapy. It depends on the child.
[25:27] - When it is the right fit for the family, virtual therapy is so accessible.
[27:40] - Be open to alternative solutions. The most important thing is the clinician match.
About Our Guest:
Rachel grew up in Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Sociology and minored in Jewish Studies. Rachel began tutoring students in high school, eventually choosing to pursue a career in education. For over six years, Rachel was a lead preschool teacher, where she gained a firm foundation in explicit teaching. Rachel has been a tutor in private practice since 2004, working with students in a variety of subjects, including all levels of math, reading, history, and writing. After working with so many types of students over the years and realizing she was passionate about building relationships with and helping students who learn differently, Rachel decided to pursue educational therapy. She completed her coursework at California State University, Northridge, in December 2015 and Masters degree in December 2016. In her free time, Rachel loves spending time with her husband, Adam, son, Elliot, and their dog, Fritzy, watching Cal Football, cooking for friends, and spinning. Rachel is a Board Certified Member of the Association of Educational Therapists and an active participant in ongoing education through the International Dyslexia Association. She is also trained in Wilson Reading Systems.
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The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.
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