Experiences in Integrated Therapy

Stephen J. Hernandez, Ariella Haskell 
(School of Education, Hofstra University, USA)

Abstract: This study investigates the provision of integrated therapy in a special education preschool environment. Integrated therapy involves the provision of therapeutic intervention in the context of a naturalistic classroom environment and is in contrast to the more traditional model of therapeutic intervention commonly called pull-out therapy. While research shows that integrated therapy leads to enhanced educational and therapeutic intervention provided to children with special needs, it requires increased organizational capacity to generate and perpetuate collaboration amongst providers. Results indicated that the skills of team members dominate the characteristics of staff as they are engaged in collaboration and integrated therapy. These skills include what one might call “good team member skills” as well as those attributes more reflective of a person’s ability to interact well with others. The study concludes with the perspective that the presence of a collaborative ethic within an organization brings about significant enculturation of collaboration into the team work process.

Key words: collaboration, integrated therapy, early childhood special education