DIR® Floortime Therapy

WHAT IS DIR® ?

DIR® is the Developmental, Individual-differences, and Relationship-based model (pronounced saying each letter as an initialism: D.I.R.). DIR provides a foundational framework for understanding human development and learning and how each person individually perceives and interacts with the world differently. It outlines the critical role social-emotional development has on overall human development starting at birth and continuing throughout the lifespan. The model highlights the power of relationships and emotional connections to fuel development. DIR® is rooted in the science of human development and can sound technical at times, but it is also simple. It is a pathway to promote healthy development in a respectful manner that builds connections, understanding, love, communication, and engagement.

The objectives of the DIR® Model are to build healthy foundations for social, emotional, and intellectual capacities rather than focusing exclusively on skills and isolated behaviors.

• The “D” describes development from the perspective of the individual, where they are and where they are headed. Understanding the unique developmental process means allowing space for each person to be respected and guided in their own personal developmental journey.
• The “I” describes the unique ways each person takes in, regulates, responds to, and comprehends the world around them.
• The “R” describes how relationships fuel our development. Humans are social beings and relationships are a key to our development. DIR harnesses the key affective (emotional) aspect of these relationships to promote development. Understanding DIR® can help us promote healthy development in everyone, but it is especially powerful in helping children on the autism spectrum or with other developmental or emotional challenges.

What is the difference between DIR® and Floortime and how are they related?

DIR® is a comprehensive framework for understanding human development and DIR® Floortime (aka Floortime) is the application of the DIR® framework into practice. Some think of DIR® as the philosophy and DIR® Floortime as the way to put this philosophy into action. DIR® gives us the understanding of how development happens and DIR® Floortime gives us ways to promote that development.

Floortime (also known as DIR® Floortime) is an approach used to promote an individual’s development through a respectful, playful, joyful, and engaging process. It uses the power of relationships and human connection to encourage the development of the capacities for self-regulation, engagement, communication, shared social problem solving, and creative, organized, and reflective thinking and reasoning. It is based on the DIR® model for human development. It is used worldwide by teachers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, mental health professionals, parents, and many others that are caring for individuals with developmental challenges or other related needs. It is an evidence-based approach to promoting human development that is used with individuals of all ages... especially children on the autism spectrum.