Operationalizing Family Coaching in Pediatric Rehabilitation: Evidence-Based Strategies

Overview

This is an evidence-informed course from the Canadian Physiotherapy Association that equips pediatric rehabilitation therapists with practical coaching strategies for working with families of children facing neurodevelopmental challenges. Hosted by Deborah Titlebomb and Patty Thomas, experts in early childhood neurodevelopmental physiotherapy, this course emphasizes shifting from an expert-driven model to a learner-driven coaching approach that values caregiver knowledge and fosters empowerment.

Through video demonstrations, roleplay, and structured frameworks, participants learn how to implement coaching behaviors in clinical practice, improving caregiver confidence, child outcomes, and family-centered care.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the principles of a coaching model in pediatric rehabilitation and its distinction from traditional expert-driven approaches.

2. Operationalize coaching behaviors using the five-step framework: Engage, Observe, Demonstrate, Practice/Reflection/Feedback, and Commitment to Action.

3. Foster caregiver-led goal setting to enhance participation, confidence, and skill acquisition.

4. Recognize the limitations of the “writing reflex” and apply reflective strategies to encourage experiential learning.

5. Implement gradual, intentional practice to adopt coaching behaviors sustainably in clinical settings.

6. Incorporate family-centered care, motor learning theory, and therapeutic alliance principles into daily pediatric rehabilitation practice.

Audience

This course is designed for:

• Pediatric physiotherapists and occupational therapists working with children with neurodevelopmental conditions

• Early childhood rehabilitation specialists seeking practical coaching tools

• Clinicians aiming to adopt family-centered and evidence-based coaching practices

• Students or new graduates in pediatric rehabilitation looking for structured frameworks to engage families

Why This Course Matters

Traditional pediatric rehabilitation often relies on therapist-directed solutions, which may limit caregiver engagement and reduce long-term outcomes. This course empowers therapists to:

• Shift to a learner-driven, family-centered coaching model

• Improve caregiver confidence, competence, and satisfaction

• Enhance child outcomes by actively involving caregivers in problem-solving and goal-setting

• Bridge the gap between theory and practice using a structured, evidence-informed coaching framework

• Reduce the risks of ineffective “fix-it” approaches, promoting reflective and experiential learning

By operationalizing coaching into clear, actionable steps, therapists can consistently integrate family-centered care into daily practice while addressing the challenges of real-world clinical scenarios.

About the Presenters

Debra Teitelbaum MScPT (McGill University), has more than 30 years of experience as a physiotherapist (most of it at the Alberta Children’s Hospital) working with very young children with neurodevelopmental issues and their families. Debra’s main source of satisfaction comes from building caregiver competence and confidence in their own skill set to support their children and their goals. She is currently working on a joint Alberta Children’s Hospital and Western University research project building coaching competency in therapists.

Patti Thomas is a Physiotherapist with the Early Childhood Rehabilitation team at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary focusing on transdisciplinary neurorehabilitation for children aged 0 to 5.  Patti obtained a Bachelor of Kinesiology from Dalhousie University in Halifax before moving out west to pursue a physiotherapy degree at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. For the past eleven years, Patti has worked in pediatrics both in the community setting in Melbourne, Australia and in various clinic roles at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary.