There is a high demand for anything and everything that is suffixed with the word “Therapy”/ Counselling. They come in beautiful packages at an exorbitantly high price on a family in terms of money, time and energy. Yes, it is indeed economics and let’s face it.

Dear Parents/Caregivers/Clients

Get SMARTER! Whether the help is sought for those who are neurotypical/Neurodivergent for an Adult or a child, we should have by now realized that we know ourselves and/or our children the best.

Most of us have come across the term SMART goals. We are all aware of how goals should be

#S pecific, #M easurable, #A ttainable, #R elevant and #T ime Bound.

Well, the job of setting these goals in on the professionals but they will not be able to do so without constant consistent and honest feedback and information from you. Your experiences and knowledge about your situation is most crucial in designing an effective program.

How can you choose a SMART Professional and how can you be a SMARTER caregiver/client/parent

SMART Professionals

•S : Seeks your Support in setting the program for you or your child. Includes you in the program as the Team Leader while they play the role of facilitator

•M : Measures progress in you/your child periodically and revises the program accordingly

•A : Are Accountable and Answerable to any question that you might have about you/your child or the program and will be able to convince you with answers. Helps your home routine too and is not just concerned with how the one you are seeking support for is performing.

•R : Respects you and your child at all times as an equal partner in the program. They are aware that it is your right to know what happens during therapy/counselling.

•T :Transfers skills to you and ensures you become an empowered person and their role in your family becomes progressively unnecessary. Takes into consideration your family commitments, your energy and time and sets a home program that you can manage. However, this will depend totally on your timely feedback.

SMARTER clients/caregivers/parents

•S : Sets their priorities right – They keep communication as top of their priority. Functional independence too is prioritized. At the end of the therapy/counselling session know why exactly you sought therapy in the first place and check if you feel enriched , empowered and enabled to move forward with confidence.

•M : Makes sure you are not kept guessing of what is going on. You need to be aware of what is being told, why is it being told and how you can follow it up on your own.

•A : Asks questions till they get clarity on the goals and also the home program.

•R : Reads a lot and keeps learning from anyone and everyone and is up to date. R is also for finding time to Relax as part of their daily Routine.

•T : Takes responsibility of the home program given and will be consistent in follow up too. Will also take responsibility of giving prompt feedback to the professionals if any method is not working in the way it is expected to work.

•E : Expects progress and never gives up hope and knows when to let go and when to hang on. ‘E’ is also for their understanding that it is not going to be Easy but it is going to be worth it

•R : Rights based approach and attitude is maintained. They know that they and their child too has a right to a dignified life, a right to safety and education and all other rights that any child has.

In the face of any discrimination they will raise their voice and be the voice for their child and not step back until justice is served.