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A Few Tips on Finding the Right Therapist in the Philippines



The task of finding an occupational or speech therapist can be a lengthy and unnerving process. After all, when your doctor recommends your child to undergo therapy, there are so many doubts and questions that go through your mind on top of the responsibility of finding the right occupational or speech therapist.


Here at Brightminds, each child who walks through our door becomes part of our family, so we only want to offer the best kind of therapy we can give to them. One of our center’s goals is also to spread awareness and guidance on how to find the suitable therapist who will complement your child’s specific needs, so here are a few tips you can us if you are in search of an occupational or speech therapist for your child:


1. Ask for the therapist’s license or accreditation number.


As of August 2017, there are more than three thousand licensed occupational therapists in the Philippines, but a large percentage of them are already working abroad, so just to be sure that your therapist is licensed by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), don’t be afraid to ask for your OT’s license number and full name. You can verify this number through PRC’s website (http://www.prc.gov.ph) by clicking the Verification of Licenses link under the eServices section of the site.


In the Philippines, speech therapists are certified by the Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists. They are required to have at least 6 months of work experience and must be a graduate of the four accredited universities in the Philippines:


  • University of Santo Tomas

  • University of the Philippines

  • Cebu Doctors’ University

  • De La Salle Health Sciences Institute


2. During your child’s occupational therapy or speech therapy evaluation, do not be afraid to ask questions.


The progress of your child is a team effort, and majority of the time, the therapist will give you instructions to carry over the activities at home. The more you are informed about your child’s development and the more you know about the methods and techniques that you can apply at home, the more you are able to help your child.


3. Make sure that the therapist who evaluated your child is the one who handles his or her therapy or endorses your child to a licensed or certified therapist after the evaluation.