Parents often wonder what the difference is between a Tutor, a Learning Specialist, an Academic Coach and an Educational Therapist. It’s a common question and an important one.

A Tutor typically helps students with current class material and prepares them for tests. A Learning Specialist provides targeted academic instruction and skill-building support in reading, writing, or math. An Academic Coach focuses on helping students develop organization, time management, and study habits so they can manage school more effectively. An Educational Therapist goes further, combining tailored academic instructions with executive-functioning support, effective study strategies, and remediation in one or multiple subject areas, all grounded in the science of learning.

Educational Therapy is designed to remediate gaps in background knowledge, understanding, and learning strategies to develop independent learners. The process honors the individual student’s learning needs and supports them academically, emotionally, and socially through their journey. While educational therapy occurs during one-on-one sessions, the process begins by partnering with parents, teachers, and allied professionals involved in the student’s education. Background information about the student is gathered, and assessments may be administered to ascertain the student’s strengths and weaknesses. This information is used to create the student’s unique learning profile and develop an action plan for their educational therapy.