Discovering Gifts, Exploring New Ways

We all have gifts and abilities. Sometimes we need specific support in order to unwrap our strengths and to discover constructive ways to face our challenges in learning.

Unwrap and Learn Educational Therapy is a specialized service for academic intervention with deep respect for the whole person. It strives to help students discover their gifts and explore new ways to learn through a personalized, client-centered, goal-based educational process. 

Dr. Maria-Cecília de F. C. Buckley offers consultation, workshops and direct academic intervention for students of different age groups who may experience challenges with learning or executive functioning. Some students might need remediation or compensatory education. Some might be gifted and diagnosed as "twice exceptional”. She also offers consultation and workshops for parents and professionals.

Maria-Cecília finds the variety of abilities and gifts present in different groups of learners both intriguing and engaging, so she enjoys working with persons of different ages and with various strengths and challenges. She believes we are all a unique combination of talents and weaknesses, and that we are all called to grow in self-awareness and to become lifelong learners. Learning happens best when we enjoy it, when we trust our inner capacity and when we are fully alive. Her approach takes into account the particular way each person learns, the influence of the learner’s environment, how he/she feels about her/his learning, what he/she enjoys and prefers, and what she/he wants and needs to accomplish. The sessions often include activities that are stress-reducing, fun and enjoyable for the student, such as mindfulness exercises, movement and games.

Educational Therapy is a strength based educational approach that offers children and adults with learning challenges a wide range of intense, individualized interventions designed to remediate learning problems.The main goal and purpose of Educational Therapy is to optimize learning, with the recognition that emotions, behaviors and learning are intertwined. An Educational Therapist has extensive and rigorous training in the psychology of learning disorders, assessments, and strategies, including knowledge of specific disabilities.

While a tutor generally focuses on teaching a specific subject matter, an Educational Therapist's focus is broader. Educational Therapists collaborate with all the significant people concerned with the student's learning. They focus not only on remediation, but also on acquiring and developing underlying learning skills to help clients become more self-aware, self-reliant, efficient learners. 

• formal and informal educational assessment; 
• synthesis of information from other specialists, and from parents/guardians; 
• development and implementation of appropriate intervention programs; 
• strategies for addressing social and emotional aspects of learning; 
• formation of supportive relationships with the individual and with those involved in his or her educational development
• facilitation of communication between the individual, the family, the school, and involved professionals. 

• Academic achievement (e.g. reading, writing, vocabulary development, grammar, morphology, mathematics, study skills, homework, handwriting)
• Executive functions (e.g. planning, organization, time management, self-regulation)
• Non-academic and social-emotional aspects of learning (e.g. self-awareness, discovery of strengths and challenges, self-advocacy skills, self-esteem, and motivation)

How to proceed with Educational Therapy?

The usual path starts with sending a message through this website (Contact Dr. Buckley). It includes a complimentary conversation, and if it seems that Educational Therapy is a good fit for the needs, there will be an interview session for gathering important information in order to establish goals and procedures (fees apply). Educational Therapy sessions begin after a contract and initial goals are established. The goals are updated as a client’s needs evolve and change.

How are the goals established?

The goals, strategies and activities flow from knowledge acquired during interviews, in depth interpretation of psycho-educational evaluation reports, continuous observation and dialogue with the client and/or family of the client. 

Where can I find more information on Educational Therapy?

The website of the Association of Educational Therapists has helpful information for parents and professionals interested in learning about the benefits of Educational Therapy. It also offers state-of-the-art webinars that deal with relevant issues in education.