Teaching Children How To Learn

A Very Warm Welcome.

Educational therapy doesn’t have to be scary. With over 25 years of experience teaching children with learning disabilities, ADHD, weak auditory and/or visual processing, poor executive functioning, Asperger’s and autism, Sheri works to provide each child with limitless opportunities for support, structure and success.

What Is Educational Therapy?

Although everyone learns differently, it is estimated that millions of children and adults with average to superior intelligence are experiencing academic difficulties. Educational therapy can help these individuals progress and fulfill their learning potential.

Educational therapy is personalized, remedial instruction for individuals experiencing learning differences and disabilities, including but not limited to, dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, executive function deficit, language, auditory and visual processing deficit.

The primary goal of educational therapy is to foster self-confident, independent learners who understand their learning profiles and can advocate for themselves.

What’s The Difference Between An Educational Therapist And A Tutor?

While a tutor generally focuses on teaching specific subject matter, an educational therapist’s focus is broader. Educational therapists work as a team with parents, teachers, and other professionals concerned with the student’s learning, and focus on remediation by building underlying learning skills.

Educational therapists have extensive training and experience administering academic assessments, developing intervention plans, setting goals, and teaching strategies to address challenges with reading, writing, spelling, math, organization, and study skills.

How Long Does Educational Therapy Take?

Educational therapy is a highly individualized process, and because each person’s needs are unique, the length of time varies based on the goals that are established by the student, parents, and educational therapist.

Educational Therapy Can Benefit Students Who Struggle With:

  • Reading and Writing
  • Completing homework or schoolwork in a timely manner
  • Understanding math concepts or recalling math facts
  • Associating sounds with letters
  • Remembering printed words
  • Understanding what is read or heard
  • Spelling even after much practice
  • Following oral or written directions
  • Expressing ideas orally or in writing
  • Time management
  • Study skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Working independently

Make An Appointment

Are you ready for help? We’re ready to start you on your journey to maximize the developmental, social, emotional, behavioral, and academic potential of your child, teen, and/or family.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

What Others Say About Us

I am a general pediatrician with a special interest in ADHD, spending about 20% of my clinical time caring for ADHD patients. I have known Dr Pontillo since 2005 and have an enormous respect for her clinical skills and insights. She is my “go to” psychologist for more complicated developmental issues and for diagnosis of subtle high functioning disabilities. Dr. Pontillo’s interest in her patients and her ability to clearly delineate developmental problems allows parents to move forward with establishing a treatment plan. She is an invaluable resource to the San Diego Pediatric community.

Nicholas Levy, MD, Medical Director, El Camino Pediatrics, V. Asst Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, UCSD

Dr. Pontillo is an exceptional, and one-of-a-kind child psychologist. I have referred many children of my patients to Dr. Pontillo and she has always given them the best care and attention. Referring a patient to another professional is a big responsibility. I always look for a colleague who is efficient, professional, experienced and one who is able to come up with a clear diagnosis. I keep referring to Dr. Pontillo because of her expertise, efficiency and especially her warm and caring personality that is extremely necessary when dealing with children. I very highly recommend Deborah Pontillo, Ph.D as a child diagnostician, developmental and behavioral specialist, and therapist.

David Kravetz, M.D., Professor of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, UCSD

I’ve been referring my patients to Dr. Pontillo for the past several years with the utmost confidence that she will care and understand their developmental needs. Dr. Pontillo always provided them with a balanced and age appropriate intervention to help not only the child but the family as a whole.

Chrystal de Freitas M.D., Pediatrician Carmel Valley Pediatrics