24/11/2025
For parents, one of the most crucial responsibilities is choosing the right therapy center for your children especially with limited slots available. Whether your child needs ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) Behavior Therapy, Educational Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech and Language Therapy, itโs important to make sure the services provided are qualified, ethical, and evidence-based.
โ
For ABA/Behavior Therapy:
The center must have a licensed Behavior Analystโan IBA, BCBA, or QBA. An assistant behavior analyst should not be the one running the program. A licensed Behavior Analyst must supervise the case.
- A Behavior Analyst and a Behavior Therapist are NOT the same. Some centers give their therapists the title โBehavior Analystโ even without proper credentials. A true Behavior Analyst has at least a Masterโs degree or has completed a certified Behavior Analysis program.
- A Behavior Therapist should be certified as an IBT, RBT, or ABAT, or have at least completed a 40-hour ABA training but still must be under supervision of a credentialled Behavior Analyst.
โ
For Speech and Language Therapy:
The therapist must be a registered Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with a PRC license or an equivalent license abroad. The title โspeech therapistโ is not enough. check for the license.
- An SLP and a Speech Therapy Assistant/Facilitator are NOT the same. Implementors should never handle therapy alone and must be under the direct supervision of a licensed SLP.
- A legitimate SLP has completed a degree in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Disorders. Do not allow unqualified individuals to handle your childโs communication goals.
- Always ask for the NAME of the licensed SLP. This should be transparent and readily provided.
โ
For Educational Therapy:
The Educational Therapist should have a background in Special Needs Education, Allied Medical Health, Psychology, and related fields โ ideally with training in therapeutic and individualised instruction. Itโs not enough to just have a tutorโeducational therapy is NOT tutoring.
- Educational Therapy is NOT the same as Academic Tutoring. Tutors focus on helping a child with school content. Educational Therapists work on underlying learning processes, such as attention, memory, comprehension, language processing, executive function, and self-regulation.
- Look for individualised goals and strategies tailored to your childโs specific learning profile. Educational therapy should be holistic, targeting both emotional and cognitive growth, not just academic skills.
- Ask if the therapist uses evidence-based strategies (e.g., phonics-based reading instruction, multi-sensory methods, cognitive-behavioral supports, orton gillingham). Avoid generic worksheets or one-size-fits-all programs.
- Supervision matters. If the educational therapist is in training, there must be a qualified and experienced supervisor overseeing the program.
- Always ask for the therapistโs qualifications and the name of the supervisor, if applicable. Parents have the right to know who is working with their child and how they are being guided.
โ
For Occupational Therapy:
The Occupational Therapist must be PRC-licensed in the Philippines, or hold an equivalent license abroad. The title โOccupational Therapistโ is protected by lawโno one should be practicing OT without a license.
- OT is not the same as playtime. A legitimate OT session uses purposeful, evidence-based activities to address fine motor skills, sensory integration, self-care, regulation, coordination, and functional independence.
- If the child is being handled by an aide or Occupational Therapy Assistant/Implementor, they must be under the direct supervision of a licensed OT. Assistants should never provide therapy independently.
- A qualified OT has a degree in Occupational Therapy, has passed the national licensure exam, and engages in ongoing learning to keep up with best practices in pediatric OT.
- Ask whether the OT follows a developmentally appropriate and child-centered approach, and whether goals are individualised to your childโs needsโnot just a checklist of activities.
- Always ask for the full name of the licensed OT assigned to your child. Parents are entitled to transparency and professional accountability.
Letโs stand for ethical, professional, developmentally appropriate and research-informed evidence-based therapy services for the children.
โผ๏ธKnow your rights.
โผ๏ธAsk questions.
โผ๏ธAdvocate for quality.
- Philippine Regulatory Commision
๐ฑ https://online.prc.gov.ph/Verification?
