How to Choose a Therapy Centre for Your Child: 10 Questions

When a doctor, teacher or your own instinct tells you your child might benefit from therapy, the next step can feel overwhelming. You type "therapy centre near me" into a search bar and get pages of results. Every centre looks friendly in its photos. How do you tell them apart?

This guide is for parents and caregivers. It explains the main kinds of therapy, then gives ten questions you can ask any centre. Good centres are used to these questions and are glad to answer them.

It is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your child's development, start with your paediatrician.

First, which kind of therapy?

Centres often offer several services under one roof. These are the ones parents ask about most:

Occupational therapy (OT) helps children with everyday skills: holding a pencil, dressing, feeding, handwriting, coordination, attention and managing sensory differences. Many OTs use sensory integration therapy for children who are over- or under-sensitive to touch, sound, movement or other input.
Speech therapy (speech and language therapy) helps with speaking, understanding, social communication, stammering and sometimes feeding and swallowing. If you are searching for speech therapy for kids, an assessment will usually tell you whether the difficulty is with sounds, language, or both.
Physiotherapy supports movement, strength, balance and posture.
Special education gives structured support for learning needs, such as reading, writing and maths difficulties.
Behaviour therapy, including approaches used for autism, focuses on building skills and reducing behaviours that get in the way of daily life.
Play therapy and counselling help children express feelings and cope with anxiety, change or difficult experiences.
Support for ADHD often combines approaches: behavioural strategies, parent coaching, school support, and in some cases medical treatment decided by a doctor.

You do not need to know which one your child needs before you call. A good centre will begin with an assessment and tell you what it recommends and why.

10 questions to ask before you book

1. Who will actually treat my child, and what are their qualifications?

Ask for the therapist's degree, specialisation and years of experience with children of your child's age and need. Also ask whether they are registered with the relevant professional body.

In India, the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) keeps the Central Rehabilitation Register for several rehabilitation professionals, including audiologists and speech-language pathologists and special educators (RCI Act, 1992; RCI). Ask to see the registration number and check it on the official portal. Registration rules differ between professions, so ask each centre what applies to the therapist treating your child.

A good answer: clear qualifications and registration numbers that the centre is happy to show. Be cautious if: the answer is vague, or a "senior therapist" is promised but a trainee delivers the sessions without supervision.

2. What happens at the first visit?

Most good centres begin with an assessment: a conversation about your concerns, observation of your child, and sometimes standardised tests.

A good answer: a description of what will happen, how long it takes, and when you will get the findings, ideally explained to you in person. Be cautious if: a package of sessions is sold before your child has been seen.

3. How will you set goals for my child?

Therapy should aim at something specific. "Improve fine motor skills" is vague. "Write his name legibly on a line in four weeks" is a goal you can see.

A good answer: goals agreed with you, written down, with a starting point, a target and a review date. Be cautious if: nobody can tell you what the goals are.

4. How will I know my child is improving?

This is the question parents most often wish they had asked earlier. Progress should not rely on the therapist's memory or a quick chat at the door.

Ask how the centre records progress, how often you will get an update, and in what form: a written summary, a report, a review meeting.

A good answer: regular reviews and something you can keep and read, such as a progress report or a dashboard. Be cautious if: "he's doing fine" is the only update you ever receive.

5. How are parents involved?

Children practise skills at home, at school and in the playground, not only in the therapy room. The most effective plans usually involve you.

A good answer: home activities explained clearly, a chance to watch or join sessions where appropriate, and time to ask questions. Be cautious if: parents are always kept outside with no explanation.

6. Does the centre work with my child's school and doctor?

If your child sees a paediatrician, a school counsellor or other specialists, good communication saves repetition and avoids mixed messages.

A good answer: willingness to share reports, with your permission, and to coordinate with teachers.

7. What does it cost, and what happens if we miss a session?

Ask for fees per session and per package, what is included, the cancellation and rescheduling policy, and how receipts are given. Ask if you can pay per session or only for a bundle.

A good answer: prices in writing and a clear cancellation policy. Be cautious if: costs change after you begin, or you are pressured to pay for a large package up front.

8. How do you remind families about appointments?

Therapy works best with regular attendance. Many centres now send reminders on WhatsApp, email or SMS, which helps if you are juggling work and school runs.

A good answer: a reminder system you can respond to, and an easy way to reschedule if your child is unwell.

9. How do you protect my child's information?

A therapy centre holds sensitive information: your child's diagnosis, assessments and photographs. India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 puts obligations on organisations that handle personal data, with extra protection for children's data.

Ask who can see your child's records, whether you are asked for consent before photos or videos are taken, and how information is kept.

A good answer: a plain explanation of access, consent and storage. Be cautious if: your child's photos or details are shared on social media or in group chats without your explicit permission.

10. Can we visit and meet the team first?

A visit tells you things no website can: how the staff speak to children, whether the space is calm and clean, and whether your child seems comfortable.

A good answer: a welcome to look around and a trial or introductory session.

Red flags to watch for

Promises of a "cure" or guaranteed results. Therapists cannot guarantee outcomes, and development differs from child to child.
Pressure to decide on the day.
No written plan or goals.
Therapists who cannot explain what they are doing and why.
Discouraging you from seeing a doctor or getting a second opinion.
Sharing your child's information without your consent.

How to compare centres side by side

Make a simple table for the two or three centres you are considering, with one row per question above. Fill it in after each phone call or visit. Notice not only the answers but how they were given: whether the centre was open, patient and specific.

Practical points also matter: distance and travel time (a convenient centre is easier to attend regularly), session timings that fit your child's school, and whether the same therapist will see your child each time.

A note on how modern centres work

Many therapy centres now use software to manage appointments, treatment plans and progress records. For you, that can mean WhatsApp reminders, a written treatment plan with measurable goals, and a progress summary you can read and keep. Slotizen is one such system, built for therapy centres in India. If your centre uses a system like it, ask to see what it records about your child's goals and progress and how that information is protected.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my child needs therapy? Only a qualified professional can tell you after an assessment. If you are worried about speech, movement, behaviour, learning or attention, talk to your paediatrician or your child's teacher, and consider an assessment sooner rather than later. Professional bodies such as Speech Pathology Australia advise seeking an opinion early rather than waiting to see whether a child will catch up on their own.

How long will therapy take? It depends on your child's needs, how often they attend and how much practice happens at home. A good centre will review goals regularly and tell you honestly if the plan needs to change.

Is online therapy an option? Some centres offer online sessions for certain needs, such as parent coaching or some speech and counselling work. Ask the centre which parts of your child's programme suit online delivery.

Can my child have more than one kind of therapy? Yes, many children benefit from, for example, occupational therapy and speech therapy together. Ask the centre how the therapists share goals and updates so the plans support each other.

Take the first step

You do not have to find the perfect centre on the first try. Pick two or three, ask these questions, visit if you can, and trust how you and your child feel there. A centre that explains clearly, listens to you, and shows you your child's progress is one worth staying with.

Sources

Rehabilitation Council of India: Act, 1992 (India Code) and the RCI portal
Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India: Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
Speech Pathology Australia: Late Talkers fact sheet

This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a qualified health professional.