DIR/Floortime Therapy in New York City

Nurturing Your Autistic Child's Natural Development Through Play-Based Connection

As a parent of an autistic child, you want nothing more than to see them thrive, communicate, and connect with the world around them.

The early years are crucial for development, yet finding the right therapeutic approach that honors your child's unique way of being can feel overwhelming. Traditional therapies often focus on changing behaviors rather than understanding and building upon your child's natural strengths and interests.

DIR/Floortime therapy offers a different path, one that meets your child exactly where they are and builds genuine connection through play and interaction. This relationship-based approach recognizes that meaningful development happens when children feel safe, understood, and engaged with caring adults who follow their lead.

In New York City's fast-paced environment, Everyday Parenting provides a calm, nurturing space where your child can develop at their own pace. Our specialized DIR/Floortime clinicians understand the unique challenges NYC families face and create individualized treatment plans that work within your family's lifestyle while fostering your child's emotional, social, and cognitive growth through joyful, purposeful play.

DIR/Floortime (Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based model) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach specifically designed to support autistic children's development through meaningful relationships and interactive play.

Unlike behavioral therapies that focus on compliance, DIR/Floortime builds upon your child's natural interests and developmental patterns to foster genuine growth in communication, emotional regulation, and social connection.

Our approach begins with careful observation of your child's individual profile, their sensory preferences, processing patterns, and unique ways of engaging with the world. Gil and Ellie, our dedicated DIR/Floortime specialists, work directly with children from birth to 8 years old, meeting them in their natural play environment and following their lead to create meaningful learning opportunities.

Sessions involve getting down on the floor with your child, literally and figuratively, to enter their world and expand it together.

The therapy focuses on building developmental capacities in a specific sequence, from basic attention and engagement to complex thinking and emotional expression. Through back-and-forth interactions during play, children develop crucial skills like joint attention, symbolic thinking, and emotional regulation. Parents are integral partners in this process, learning techniques to continue developmental interactions at home and in daily routines.

What makes DIR/Floortime particularly effective for autistic children is its respect for neurodivergent ways of processing and learning. Rather than trying to eliminate autistic traits, we help children use their unique strengths to build bridges to communication and connection, creating a foundation for lifelong learning and meaningful relationships.

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Key Benefits

DIR/Floortime recognizes that meaningful communication develops when children are emotionally engaged and motivated to connect. Rather than teaching isolated skills, our approach uses your child's natural fascinations, whether it's spinning wheels, organizing objects, or exploring textures, as doorways to interaction and learning.
In New York City, where children are exposed to rich sensory environments from subways to playgrounds, we help your child navigate and use these experiences as communication opportunities. Our clinicians observe what genuinely captivates your child and build upon these interests to encourage back-and-forth exchanges, eventually expanding from simple interactions to complex conversations.
Parents consistently report that their children become more spontaneous communicators, initiating interactions and expressing their needs and feelings more effectively. This natural approach to communication development creates lasting skills that transfer to home, school, and community settings throughout NYC.
Autistic children often experience the world more intensely, and New York City's bustling environment can present unique sensory and emotional challenges. DIR/Floortime helps children develop crucial emotional regulation skills by first understanding their individual sensory and emotional patterns.
Our therapists work with your child to recognize their internal states, understand what helps them feel calm and organized, and develop personalized strategies for managing overwhelming situations. Through gentle, responsive interactions during play, children learn to communicate their emotional needs before reaching crisis points. This approach is particularly valuable for NYC families navigating crowded spaces, noisy environments, and busy schedules.
Children develop confidence in their ability to self-regulate, leading to more successful outings, smoother transitions, and improved family harmony. Parents learn to read their child's cues and provide appropriate support, creating a secure foundation for emotional growth.
Social development for autistic children requires understanding their unique social learning style and building connections gradually through trusted relationships. DIR/Floortime creates a safe foundation for social growth by first establishing strong one-on-one connections before expanding to group interactions.
In NYC's diverse social landscape, this individualized approach helps children develop authentic social skills that work across different cultural contexts and social settings. Our therapists help children understand social cues, develop empathy, and learn to navigate social situations while maintaining their authentic selves.
The approach naturally builds from simple turn-taking in play to complex social problem-solving, preparing children for success in NYC schools and community programs. Families report that their children become more interested in peer relationships, show increased empathy, and demonstrate improved social flexibility in various settings from playgrounds to family gatherings.
Many autistic children have unique sensory processing needs that affect their ability to learn, communicate, and feel comfortable in their environment. DIR/Floortime addresses these needs as a foundational element of development, helping children understand and organize their sensory experiences through purposeful play activities.
Our NYC-based therapists are experienced in helping children navigate urban sensory challenges, from subway sounds to crowded sidewalks, while building internal sensory regulation skills. Sessions incorporate movement, touch, and sensory exploration in ways that feel fun and natural to your child. Children learn to seek appropriate sensory input, communicate their sensory needs, and develop strategies for managing sensory overwhelm.
This sensory foundation supports all other areas of development, as children who feel physically comfortable and organized are better able to engage, learn, and connect with others. Parents learn to create sensory-supportive environments at home and recognize when their child needs sensory breaks or input.
DIR/Floortime recognizes parents as their child's first and most important teachers, providing comprehensive training and support to help families become confident advocates and co-therapists. In New York City's complex educational and healthcare systems, this parent empowerment is particularly valuable for navigating services and ensuring continuity of care.
Our approach includes regular parent coaching sessions where you learn to recognize developmental opportunities in everyday activities, from getting dressed to riding the subway. Parents develop skills in reading their child's cues, extending play interactions, and creating learning opportunities throughout daily routines.
This comprehensive support helps families feel confident in their parenting abilities and equipped to support their child's development between therapy sessions. NYC parents particularly appreciate learning strategies that work in small apartment spaces and busy family schedules, making therapeutic interactions a natural part of family life rather than an additional burden.
DIR/Floortime builds foundational learning skills that support academic and social success in school settings. Rather than teaching isolated academic skills, our approach develops the underlying capacities children need to be successful learners, including attention, engagement, two-way communication, complex thinking, and emotional regulation.
For NYC families navigating competitive school environments, this foundation is crucial for long-term success. Children who participate in DIR/Floortime often show improved ability to follow multi-step directions, engage in creative play, solve problems flexibly, and maintain attention during structured activities. Our therapists collaborate with schools and educational teams to ensure consistency between therapeutic and educational approaches.
The skills developed through DIR/Floortime, curiosity, persistence, social awareness, and emotional resilience serve children well throughout their educational journey, from preschool through higher education. Parents report that their children approach learning with greater confidence and show improved ability to advocate for their own needs in school settings.

Service Catagories

DIR/Floortime Individual Therapy

One-on-one therapy sessions tailored to your child's unique developmental profile and interests. Our specialized therapists, Gil and Elli, work directly with children from birth to 8 years old, using play-based interactions to build communication, emotional regulation, and social connection skills. Sessions are designed around your child's natural interests and energy patterns, ensuring maximum engagement and developmental progress in a supportive, joyful environment.

Parent Coaching and Training

A comprehensive parent education program that teaches you to become your child's co-therapist and strongest advocate. Learn to recognize developmental opportunities in daily routines, extend play interactions meaningfully, and create supportive environments for your child's growth. Particularly valuable for NYC families navigating complex school systems and busy urban lifestyles while maintaining therapeutic consistency at home.

Sensory Integration Support

Specialized focus on helping children understand and organize their sensory experiences through purposeful play and movement activities. Particularly important for NYC children navigating urban sensory challenges, this service helps develop internal regulation skills and sensory awareness that support all other areas of development.

Family-Centered Developmental Planning

A collaborative approach that involves the entire family in supporting your child's development. We work with siblings, grandparents, and caregivers to ensure everyone understands your child's unique needs and can contribute to their growth. Includes coordination with schools, pediatricians, and other service providers to create a cohesive support network for your child's success.

School Transition and Educational Support

Preparation and support for your child's success in educational settings, including preschool readiness, IEP/504 plan development, and ongoing school collaboration. Our team understands NYC's educational landscape and helps families advocate effectively for appropriate services and accommodations that honor your child's learning style.

Our Process

1. Initial Comprehensive Assessment

Our DIR/Floortime journey begins with a thorough developmental assessment conducted by Gil or Ellie, our specialized clinicians. During this 90-minute session, we observe your child's natural play patterns, communication style, sensory preferences, and relationship patterns while gathering detailed information about your family's goals and concerns. We assess your child's current developmental capacities and create an individualized profile that guides all future therapy planning. This assessment takes place in our comfortable, child-friendly therapy spaces designed to help your child feel relaxed and engaged.

2. Personalized Treatment Plan Development

Based on the assessment results, we collaborate with your family to create a customized DIR/Floortime treatment plan that addresses your child's specific needs and builds upon their strengths. This plan includes specific developmental goals, recommended therapy frequency, parent coaching objectives, and strategies for supporting progress at home. We ensure the plan fits realistically within your family's schedule and lifestyle while maximizing therapeutic benefit.

3. Weekly DIR/Floortime Therapy Sessions

Regular therapy sessions with Gil or Ellie focus on building your child's developmental capacities through engaging, play-based interactions. Sessions are conducted at your child's pace and follow their lead while gently expanding their communication, emotional regulation, and social connection skills. Each session includes time for parent observation and coaching to ensure you can continue therapeutic interactions at home.

4. Ongoing Family Support and Coordination

Throughout your child's DIR/Floortime journey, we provide continuous support to your entire family, including coordination with schools, pediatricians, and other service providers. Regular parent coaching sessions help you implement strategies at home, and we're available for consultation as new challenges or questions arise. This comprehensive support ensures consistency across all environments where your child learns and grows.

Our Approach

At Everyday Parenting, our DIR/Floortime approach is grounded in deep respect for each child's unique developmental journey and innate capacity for growth.

We believe that meaningful development occurs through warm, responsive relationships where children feel truly understood and valued for who they are. Our philosophy centers on meeting children exactly where they are developmentally, honoring their individual differences, and building upon their natural interests and strengths to foster genuine connection and learning.

Our methodology involves careful observation of each child's sensory processing patterns, communication style, and emotional regulation needs before designing therapeutic interventions. Gil and Ellie, our dedicated DIR/Floortime specialists, create rich, engaging play experiences that naturally encourage children to expand their developmental capacities. Rather than following predetermined curricula, we follow your child's lead, using their fascinations and motivations as pathways to growth in communication, thinking, and relating.

The relationship-based foundation of our approach means that we prioritize emotional safety and genuine connection above all else. We understand that learning happens best when children feel secure, understood, and joyfully engaged with caring adults. Our therapists are skilled at reading subtle cues, responding sensitively to each child's emotional and sensory needs, and creating interactions that feel playful and natural rather than demanding or overwhelming.

For New York City families, our approach is particularly valuable because it adapts to your real-life context and challenges. We help families integrate developmental strategies into busy urban lifestyles, navigate sensory-rich city environments, and build strong advocacy skills for accessing appropriate educational and community services. Our comprehensive family-centered model ensures that the benefits of DIR/Floortime extend far beyond our therapy rooms into every aspect of your child's daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everyday Parenting Psychology was founded in 2018 by Dr. Layne Raskin and Dr. Jeanette Sawyer Cohen to provide compassionate, evidence-based mental health care for families throughout their parenting journey. Our team of experienced clinicians specializes in supporting the whole family's mental health with particular expertise in autism, child development, and family therapy across New York City and Westchester County.

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DIR/Floortime is relationship-based rather than compliance-focused, meaning we build on your child's natural interests and developmental patterns rather than trying to change their behavior through rewards and consequences. This approach is particularly effective for autistic children because it respects their unique ways of processing and learning while gently expanding their capacities for communication and connection. Unlike other therapies, DIR/Floortime helps children develop genuine skills that transfer naturally to all areas of life.
DIR/Floortime is appropriate for children from birth to 8 years old and can benefit any child who could use support with communication, emotional regulation, or social connection. There's no prerequisite for "readiness"; we meet children exactly where they are developmentally. Whether your child is pre-verbal, highly sensitive to sensory input, or showing early signs of autism, our approach can provide valuable support for their development and your family's confidence.
Absolutely! Parent coaching is a central component of our program because you are your child's most important teacher. We provide comprehensive training in recognizing developmental opportunities in daily activities like meals, bath time, and play. Many NYC parents find that learning these techniques actually makes parenting more enjoyable and less stressful because they understand their child's behavior better and have concrete tools for supporting their development.
DIR/Floortime complements other therapeutic services beautifully because it addresses the foundational capacities that support all learning, attention, engagement, communication, and emotional regulation. We regularly coordinate with other members of your child's team to ensure consistency and maximize progress. Many families find that children make faster progress in other therapies when they're also receiving DIR/Floortime because they're more emotionally regulated and motivated to communicate.
Every child progresses at their own pace, but many families notice improvements in their child's attention, engagement, and emotional regulation within the first few months. More complex skills like spontaneous communication and flexible thinking typically develop over 6-12 months of consistent therapy. We celebrate small steps along the way and help families recognize progress that might not be immediately obvious, such as increased eye contact, longer attention spans, or improved emotional regulation.