🌱 What is an Educational Therapist? How to Find one?

🔎 How to Find an Educational Therapist.

A guide for South Africa, Namibia & Botswana

Finding the right support for your child can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re based in Johannesburg, Windhoek, Gaborone, or a smaller town, here are practical steps to help you find a qualified Educational Therapist — But before we do that...

🌱 What is an Educational Therapist?

In today’s diverse and fast-paced educational landscape, not all children learn in the same way — and that’s completely okay. For students who experience learning challenges, emotional blocks, or developmental delays,Educational Therapistsoffer a unique and powerful support system to help them thrive both academically and personally.

🎯 What Does an Educational Therapist Do?

AnEducational Therapistbridges the gap between education and mental health. Unlike traditional tutoring, which focuses primarily on subject content, educational therapy addressesunderlying learning difficultiesand helps build foundational skills for long-term academic success.

Services may include:

• Strengtheningexecutive functioning(e.g., planning, time management, focus)

• Buildingself-confidenceand emotional regulation in academic contexts

• Developing personalizedlearning strategiestailored to the student’s cognitive profile

• Support for Neurodiversity: Empowering Every Learner (like dyslexia, dyscalculia, or ADHD, anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, dyspraxia, and more)

Rather than “fixing” neurodivergent learners, the goal is to understand how they learn best — and support them accordingly.

How Educational Therapy Helps

Educational Therapists play a vital role in supporting neurodiverse learners by:

• Identifying learning strengths and barriers

• Designing individualized intervention plans

• Teaching strategies for organization, memory, and focus

• Building emotional resilience, confidence, and motivation

• Working closely with families and schools for consistent support

📚 Beyond Tutoring: A Holistic Approach

Unlike tutoring that focuses only on academic content, educational therapy addresses how a child learns, not just what they learn. This includes:

• Helping a dyslexic learner decode words more effectively

• Supporting an ADHD student to develop routines and self-regulation

• Assisting a learner with dyscalculia to make sense of math in real-life contexts

Why It Matters in Southern Africa 🌍

Across Southern Africa, there is growing recognition of learning differences, but access to resources remains unequal. Educational therapy, especially when offered online or in flexible formats, makes it possible for children in both cities and remote areas to receive the support they deserve.

🔎 How to Find an Educational Therapist in South Africa, Namibia & Botswana

Whether you’re based in Johannesburg, Windhoek, Gaborone, or a smaller town, here are practical steps to help you find a qualified Educational Therapist:

Search Online Platforms or Consider Online Sessions

For those living in busy cities, online sessions can be a huge time-saver. No traffic, no travel, no rushing between activities — just high-quality support from the comfort of home.

Whether you’re juggling a packed schedule, struggling with transport, or simply prefer a home-based approach, online educational therapy offers flexibility, consistency, and convenience.

In rural or underserved areas, finding in-person support can be challenging — but many educational therapists offer online sessions that are just as effective, especially for older children or teens.

Use platforms that specialize in educational support, such as:

• Global Tutors– offering virtual and in-person academic support across Africa
• Therapists directories (e.g.TherapyRoute.com, or local educational directories)
• Facebook parenting groups in your area
• LinkedIn – search for professionals using keywords like “Educational Therapist”, “Learning Support”, or “Remedial Education”

2. Contact Local Therapy Practices or Learning Centres

There are a growing number of multidisciplinary centres across Southern Africa that offer:

• Educational therapy
• Speech & language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Psycho-educational assessments

Ask specifically if they have educational therapists on their team or can refer you.

Tip: Look for practices in major cities like Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Windhoek, and Gaborone, which often serve nearby regions as well.

3. Ask Your Child’s School or Teacher

Many schools work closely with educational therapists or have internal learning support specialists. Start by speaking with:

• The class teacher or learning support coordinator
• School counsellors or psychologists
• Special needs coordinators (SENCOs)

4. Consult a Psychologist or Educational Assessor

If your child has had a psycho-educational assessment, the psychologist can usually recommend an educational therapist who suits your child’s profile. These professionals often collaborate and share referrals.

Look for therapists with:

• Experience in remote learning support
• Tools for online assessments and intervention
• Clear communication strategies for both parents and learners

🔎 How to Find an Educational Therapist in South Africa, Namibia & Botswana

Whether you’re based in Johannesburg, Windhoek, Gaborone, or a smaller town, here are practical steps to help you find a qualified Educational Therapist:

Search Online Platforms or Consider Online Sessions

For those living in busy cities, online sessions can be a huge time-saver. No traffic, no travel, no rushing between activities — just high-quality support from the comfort of home.

Whether you’re juggling a packed schedule, struggling with transport, or simply prefer a home-based approach, online educational therapy offers flexibility, consistency, and convenience.

In rural or underserved areas, finding in-person support can be challenging — but many educational therapists offer online sessions that are just as effective, especially for older children or teens.

Use platforms that specialize in educational support, such as:

• Global Tutors – offering virtual and in-person academic support across Africa
• Therapists directories (e.g. TherapyRoute.com, or local educational directories)
• Facebook parenting groups in your area
• LinkedIn – search for professionals using keywords like “Educational Therapist”, “Learning Support”, or “Remedial Education”

2. Contact Local Therapy Practices or Learning Centres

There are a growing number of multidisciplinary centres across Southern Africa that offer:

• Educational therapy
• Speech & language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Psycho-educational assessments

Ask specifically if they have educational therapists on their team or can refer you.

Tip: Look for practices in major cities like Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Windhoek, and Gaborone, which often serve nearby regions as well.

3. Ask Your Child’s School or Teacher

Many schools work closely with educational therapists or have internal learning support specialists. Start by speaking with:

• The class teacher or learning support coordinator
• School counsellors or psychologists
• Special needs coordinators (SENCOs)

4. Consult a Psychologist or Educational Assessor

If your child has had a psycho-educational assessment, the psychologist can usually recommend an educational therapist who suits your child’s profile. These professionals often collaborate and share referrals.

Look for therapists with:

• Experience in remote learning support
• Tools for online assessments and intervention
• Clear communication strategies for both parents and learners

Every child deserves to feel smart, capable, and seen for who they are.

Therapy and Tutoring: A Powerful Partnership 🧠❤️

Wheneducational therapyis combined withtargeted subject support, it creates a strong foundation for bothconfidence and achievement. Some learners may start with therapy to build learning strategies, and then shift to tutoring as they grow more independent. Others may benefit from both simultaneously.

And the beauty ofonline supportis that it’s:

• Flexible to fit your family’s schedule

• Accessible from anywhere — fromurban hubs to remote villages

• A safe space for learners who prefer home-based learning environments

Online Tutors for School Support – Building Confidence, One Lesson at a Time

While educational therapists support foundational learning challenges and cognitive strategies, online tutors play an equally important role in helping learners keep up with school subjects, manage their workload, and prepare for tests and exams.

📚 What Online Tutors Can Help With:

• Clarifying classroom content in subjects like Maths, Science, English, Accounting, Business Studies, and more

• Providing structured homework support

• Reinforcing concepts after school to prevent learners from falling behind

• Supporting exam preparation and study techniques

• Offering encouragement and accountability when motivation dips

It’s not just about marks. It’s about helping each child realise:

“Icando this. Iamsmart. Idobelong here.”

Whether you’re based in a major city or a smaller town in South Africa, Namibia, or Botswana, expert support is within reach.

AtGlobal Tutors,we go beyond academic tutoring to offer a holistic learning experience. In addition to our expert subject tutors across all grades and subjects, we provide Educational Therapy for learners who need foundational support, as well as guidance for students with neurodiverse profiles. Some of our team members are also trained in counselling techniques, helping learners build confidence, manage stress, and develop a healthy relationship with learning.

👉Check out our tutorsto explore how we can support your child — academically, emotionally, and personally — every step of the way.