When a parent tells you, “My child is struggling in school,” you can send them somewhere specific.
Therapeutic Tutoring helps students whose academic problems are tangled up with anxiety, attention or frustration. Sessions combine skill-building with emotional and executive function support, under the clinical direction of a licensed psychologist. We contact every referred family within one business day.
Refer a Patient Get the Family HandoutWhen to Think of Us
Refer for therapeutic tutoring when you hear
- “Homework is a nightly battle” or “takes hours and ends in tears”
- Stomachaches, headaches or avoidance tied to school or tests
- “She’s smart, but her grades don’t show it”
- A diagnosis of ADHD, dyslexia or another learning difference, with school still a struggle
- “Regular tutoring didn’t work”
- “He says he’s stupid” or gives up after one mistake
Consider evaluation or other care first when
- Vision, hearing, sleep or other medical contributors have not been ruled out
- ADHD, a learning disability or anxiety is suspected but not yet assessed
- There are signs of depression, significant mood change or safety concerns
- Problems are mainly behavioral or social rather than academic
For assessment, families can request a school evaluation or a private psychological evaluation. For counseling, see individual and family therapy.
Fits the ADHD treatment plan. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ clinical practice guideline for ADHD treats educational interventions and individualized instructional supports as a necessary part of any treatment plan for school-age children. Therapeutic tutoring complements school-based supports such as IEPs and 504 plans by building the executive function, academic and coping skills students need to use them. See ADHD tutoring.
How We Work Alongside Your Care
- We don’t diagnose or prescribe. Medical decisions stay with you. If we notice something that may need medical attention, we encourage the family to contact you.
- We share what we see, with family consent: observations about attention, work completion, frustration and anxiety across sessions can be useful when you are monitoring treatment.
- We coordinate with schools, IEP and 504 teams, and any therapist or evaluator involved.
- We address both sides of the struggle in the same session: the skill gap in reading, writing or math, and the anxiety or avoidance around it.
The program is clinically directed by Dr. Alan S. Jacobson, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 25 years of experience. Learn about the research behind therapeutic tutoring.
Three Ways to Refer
1. Hand the family our handout
Print the one-page handout below for your exam rooms or front desk. The QR code takes families straight to a free consultation.
2. Send the referral yourself
Email hello@therapeutictutoring.com or call (617) 680-5488 with the family’s contact information, with their permission. We’ll reach them within one business day.
3. Point them to our site
Families can book a free consultation online, or start with our 2-minute Learning + Emotions Check.
Our fees page explains costs, FSA use and Foundation-supported seats. For other professionals, see our pages for neuropsychologists and evaluators and other referral partners.
Printable Family Handout
Struggling in School? There’s Help That Treats the Whole Problem.
Your child’s doctor suggested Therapeutic Tutoring. Here is what it is and how to get started.
What it is
Therapeutic tutoring combines academic help with support for the worry, frustration, attention and organization problems that often come with school struggles, in the same session. It is clinically directed by a licensed psychologist.
It may help if your child
- Fights, cries or shuts down over homework
- Has ADHD, dyslexia or another learning difference
- Gets stomachaches or worries a lot about school
- Is bright, but grades don’t show it
- Didn’t improve with regular tutoring
What to expect
- A free consultation to talk about your child’s needs
- A plan that fits your child, coordinated with school
- Sessions of 30 to 90 minutes, in person or online
- Updates to your child’s doctor, with your permission
Cost
$110 to $125 per 30 minutes. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) can be used. Not billed to insurance. A limited number of reduced-cost seats are available.
Book a free consultation: scan the code or visit therapeutictutoring.com
Call: (617) 680-5488 · Email: hello@therapeutictutoring.com
In person in greater Boston and San Diego · Online nationwide
Questions From Pediatricians
What is therapeutic tutoring?
Therapeutic tutoring combines academic instruction with psychological strategies for anxiety, attention, motivation and executive function in the same session. It is designed for students whose school difficulties are not only about content, such as a child with dyslexia who has become anxious about reading, or a student with ADHD who knows the material but cannot get assignments started or finished. The program is clinically directed by a licensed psychologist and coordinates with schools, families and the child’s other providers. Learn more about how therapeutic tutoring works.
Which patients are a good fit for a referral?
Strong candidates are school-age patients with academic struggles that come with emotional or behavioral strain: homework battles, school-related stomachaches or avoidance, low academic confidence, or ADHD and learning differences that remain a problem despite school supports. Students who did not improve with traditional tutoring are also a good fit. If a learning or attention problem is suspected but has not been assessed, an evaluation is usually the best first step, and therapeutic tutoring can follow. Patients with significant mood concerns or safety risks need appropriate mental health care first.
How does therapeutic tutoring fit with ADHD treatment?
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ ADHD guideline describes educational interventions and individualized instructional supports as a necessary part of treatment for school-age children, alongside medication and behavioral approaches. Therapeutic tutoring supports that educational piece by teaching planning, task initiation, organization and self-monitoring on real schoolwork, while addressing the frustration and anxiety that often come with ADHD. It complements school-based plans rather than replacing them. With family consent, we can share observations about attention and work completion that may be useful as you monitor treatment.
Will you keep me informed about my patient?
Yes, with the family’s written consent. We can send a brief update after the first several weeks describing the plan and early progress, and share observations about attention, work completion, frustration or anxiety that may be relevant to the child’s care. We will also encourage families to contact you if we notice anything that may need medical attention. If you prefer to receive updates only when something changes, let us know and we will follow your preference. We never diagnose or make medication recommendations.
How much does it cost, and is it covered by insurance?
Therapeutic tutoring costs $110 to $125 per 30 minutes, with sessions of 30 to 90 minutes depending on the child’s age and needs. It is not billed to health insurance, but Flexible Spending Account funds can be used, and a limited number of Foundation-supported seats lower the cost by 25% for families with financial need. Every family begins with a free consultation, and package options are discussed only after the first session. Families can review full details on our fees page.
Give Families a Clear Next Step
Refer a patient or print the handout for your office. We contact every family within one business day.
Refer a Patient Contact Us
