DIRFloortime
DIR’s comprehensive, individualized approach supports children who are diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. This model focuses on the building blocks of healthy development. The therapeutic intervention is called Floortime, it focuses on creating emotionally meaningful learning exchanges based upon the child’s interests and passions and support developmental growth.
At Innovative Music, the principles of DIR and Music Therapy can be woven together to maximize developmental potential. Using music and the elements of music (e.g., tempo, rhythm) along with child’s interests, musical and non-musical ideas are utilized as the foundation of MusicFloortime sessions. This can include adding music to the child’s favorite play schemas, movements, and verbal ideas, as well as specialized songs and interactive music-making experiences.
DIRFloortime can provide:
◈ opportunities for pretend play, music making, and exploration.
◈ an avenue for building your child’s initiative and intent therefore increasing communication and sense of self.
◈ an outlet for interaction and engagement leading to increased social abilities.
DIRFloortime deepens engagement and attention while supporting your child’s interests and ideas.
DIRFloortime is child-centered, always following your child’s lead.
Services and support provided:
For Families
⟐ Individual DIRFloortime sessions for children and adolescents.
⟐ DIRFloortime sessions for both the child and parent/caregiver.
Primary focus is on supporting the parent/caregiver in learning and utilizing music and musical elements in in DIRFloortime, through live supportive coaching.
Interested in DIRFloortime for your child?
For Professionals
⟐ Supervision and coaching for Music Therapists who want to gain a better understanding of the DIRFloortime model and how to integrate it into their music therapy work.
⟐ Supervision and coaching for therapists, educators, and other healthcare professionals who want to integrate music into their DIRFloortime work.
Interested in supervision and coaching services?
DIRFloortime sessions, supervision, and coaching are offered in New York City (Murray Hill, 30th and Park Avenue)
Supervision and coaching are also available online via Skype or Google.
Stacey Hensel, MA, MT-BC, LCAT, NRMT has spent the last 10 years working at one of the premier schools that exclusively utilizes DIRFloortime with a diverse population of individuals from ages 4 -21. During this time she was a member of numerous treatment teams that directly consulted with Dr. Stanley Greenspan. She has completed the Expert Level of DIR Training through The Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL). Throughout her ten year career at Rebecca School, Stacey has been integrating DIRFloortime into her clinical practice and has been receiving direct clinical supervision from Dr. Gil Tippy, co-founder of the book, “Respecting Autism” with Dr. Greenspan.
Stacey has presented on the topic of DIRFloortime and Music Therapy at numerous conferences, including Regional Music Therapy Conferences, the European Music Therapy Conference, National and local NYC ICDL conferences, and the Young Child Expo in NYC. Stacey has also created a training program for parents and caregivers on how to follow their child’s musical interest and integrate into Floortime sessions with music and musical elements (e.g., affect, tempo, dynamics).
Learn more about Stacey…
Stacey is professional, effective, and a truly great music therapist. I have known her for more than 10 years as the Senior and Supervising music therapist at The Rebecca School, where I have directly supervised her in my role as Clinical Director. I could not recommend her more highly.
– Gil Tippy, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist, is an Expert DIRFloortime Provider and Teacher, and Author of Respecting Autism with Stanley Greenspan, MD.
Learning first occurs as a part of emotional interactions;
it involves the split-second initiatives that children take
as they try to engage other people, interact with them,
communicate and reason with them.