Cheerful Helpers Therapeutic School

This preschool-kindergarten program is for children, ages 3-6, with high-functioning autism, aspergers, attachment disorders, developmental delays, and processing, learning and emotional difficulties. The developmental, relationship-based treatment approach is accomplished through a combination of educational, sensory-motor, communication, psycho-dynamic and family systems interventions. The children attend school five days per week, in small language-rich classes, with a 1:2 staff: student ratio and a dedicated multi-disciplinary team of special education teachers and therapists. All parents participate in family therapy, as well as a weekly parent group that includes classroom observation. School-based occupational and speech therapy are also provided as needed.

Cheerful Helpers is both a private and a fully certified Non-Public School (NPS). SARC available by contacting info@cheerfulhelpers.org.


Brief Evaluation and Intervention Group


The B.E.I.G. program is designed for parents and their children ages 2-5, who are having difficulties such as impulsivity, limited attention span, separation anxiety, relationship difficulties and/or delays in communication, socialization and play. The children are seen with their parents in small playgroups twice a week, and, once a week in individual family sessions during this short-term intensive early intervention program. The focus is on expanding social-emotional language and increasing interactive play and parenting skills. A defining feature of this program is the ongoing observation and dialogue between clinicians and parents throughout the process of assessment, intervention and referral.

Regional Center vendor #PD2124


Family Counseling Services


Therapeutic counseling services provide support for families struggling with the emotional and behavioral difficulties of a child with significant developmental, social, or emotional challenges. Documentation for medical insurance claim submission can be provided.

Regional Center vendor #PD2124


The Socialization Group

This program focuses on 3-6 year-old children and their relationships with peers and family. The children meet twice a week in a small playgroup; and the parents meet once a week for a psycho-educational support group that includes observation and discussion. Children typically attend this socialization group while remaining enrolled in a school program. The major goals are to help children manage difficult emotions, communicate effectively, relate in a pleasurable way and learn to play with other children. The child’s increasing abilities to regulate emotions and interact positively with others become the tools for continuing in the less structured environment of the neighborhood school.

Regional Center vendor #PD2126


The NICU Program

Through parent workshops and ongoing support groups where the baby is an active participant, we help infants and families process the experience of how their lives are evolving and changing in the NICU and beyond. Infants and families transition from crisis mode to stabilizing mode while parents expand skills to recognize, understand and respond to their babies through a calm relationship-based approach.


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