At FOCUS Therapy, a multidisciplinary pediatric therapy clinic in Fort Myers, Florida, we believe in the power of collaboration. That belief is at the heart of co-treatment sessions — a dynamic and highly effective approach where two therapists from different disciplines (such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and ABA therapy) work with a child at the same time.

When a child is developing skills across multiple areas—like communication, motor planning, sensory regulation, and behavior—co-treatment can be a game-changer. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about synergy. When therapists come together, their combined expertise can create a powerful, unified path toward your child’s goals.

What Is a Co-Treatment Session?

A co-treatment session involves two therapists working with your child simultaneously — typically for a 50-60-minute session. These sessions are thoughtfully planned in advance and guided by shared goals, individualized treatment plans, and consistent communication between therapists.

Rather than each therapist working in isolation, they join forces in real time to:

• Integrate skills across disciplines.
• Reinforce consistent strategies and expectations.
• Reduce sensory or behavioral barriers to learning.
• Create a more engaging, functional, and motivating environment.

When Is Co-Treatment Recommended?

Co-treatment is not the default, but it’s an incredibly effective tool when used strategically. Our therapists may recommend co-treatment when:

• A child has overlapping goals across two therapy domains (e.g., motor planning and speech production).
• One area of development (like sensory regulation) is blocking progress in another (like expressive language).
• A child needs real-time support from one therapist to participate effectively in another’s treatment.
• We’re working on daily living or functional tasks (e.g., feeding, dressing, toileting) that benefit from a combined therapeutic approach.
• A child shows better engagement or reduced anxiety when two trusted therapists collaborate in a single, predictable setting.

Common Co-Treatment Combinations and How They Help

1. Speech Therapist + Occupational Therapist

This is one of the most common co-treatment pairings. Children who struggle with communication often also face challenges in sensory regulation, fine motor control, or oral motor coordination—areas an OT can help with.

Example:
A child working on feeding therapy might benefit from having both a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and OT present. The SLP focuses on oral motor skills, safe swallowing, and feeding behaviors, while the OT supports posture, utensil grasp, and sensory regulation to tolerate new textures or tastes.

2. Occupational Therapist + ABA Therapist

This combination works well for children who struggle with behavioral regulation and sensory or motor planning challenges. The ABA therapist provides structure, motivation, and reinforcement strategies, while the OT focuses on the physical or sensory components of the activity.

Example:
If a child is working on toothbrushing skills, the OT helps with the motor steps and sensory sensitivities, while the ABA therapist structures the routine, reinforces cooperation, and tracks progress using behavioral data.

3. Speech Therapist + ABA Therapist

This pairing is especially useful for children with autism who are using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) or working on functional communication training (FCT). The ABA therapist supports behavioral readiness and motivation, while the SLP focuses on language goals and AAC device use.

Example:
During a play-based session, the ABA therapist might prompt and reinforce requesting behaviors, while the SLP helps the child use their AAC device to request preferred toys or make comments.

What Co-Treatment Sessions Look Like

Here’s a glimpse of what a co-treatment session might involve:

• Joint Planning. Therapists meet beforehand to identify shared goals and define roles.
• Integrated Activities. They engage the child in meaningful, goal-directed play or routines. For example, while one therapist guides motor sequences, the other encourages language to describe actions.
• Seamless Transitions. If the child becomes dysregulated or needs behavioral support, one therapist can respond while the other keeps the activity moving forward.
• Parent Feedback. After the session, both therapists share observations and strategies for carryover at home.

Benefits of Co-Treatment

• Faster skill generalization. Skills practiced in a co-treatment context often generalize more quickly to real-life situations.
• Improved engagement. Children often enjoy the energy and variety of co-led sessions.
• Unified strategies. Therapists reinforce the same expectations and techniques, which helps reduce confusion and inconsistency.
• Holistic support. A child isn’t just working on one isolated skill—they’re learning how to function more successfully as a whole person.

Is Co-Treatment Right for Your Child?

Every child is unique, and not every child needs co-treatment. Our therapists will always assess your child’s needs, treatment goals, and personality to determine whether this approach is appropriate—and how often it should be used.

Sometimes co-treatment is a short-term boost, especially when a child hits a plateau or is learning a particularly complex skill. Other times, it may be part of a long-term strategy, particularly for children with multiple developmental diagnoses.

Let’s Collaborate for Your Child’s Success!

At FOCUS Therapy, our Fort Myers speech therapists, occupational therapists, and ABA professionals don’t just work under the same roof—we work together to support your child’s growth. Co-treatment sessions are one way we bring that teamwork to life.

If you’re curious about whether your child could benefit from a co-treatment session, we’re happy to discuss it with you!

FOCUS offers Fort Myers speech therapy, as well as pediatric ABA therapy, occupational therapy, and ADOS testing. Call (239) 313.5049 or Contact Us online.

Additional Resources:

Joint Guidelines for Therapy Co-Treatment Under Medicare, ASHA

More Blog Entries:

ABA for Self-Advocacy: Helping Children With Autism Express Their Needs