PTE Bremen

The main topics of the PTE:

• School problems and school anxiety
• Reading/spelling difficulties and dyslexia
• Mathematical learning difficulties and dyscalculia
• Attention deficit disorders
• Learning at home / Coping with homework stress
• Parent seminars and parent workshops
• Teacher training

Reading and writing – everyone can do that, right?! PTE helps with reading and writing difficulties and dyslexia

The PTE therapy concept for treating dyslexia was developed in collaboration with school psychologists and is based on the latest empirical research. We place great importance on ensuring the quality of our work through progress and final assessments.

Our thorough initial assessment allows us to identify the child's strengths and weaknesses. This means that therapy is initially focused not on the current school curriculum, but on the child's individual level. In this way, we can provide the child with positive experiences and a love of learning from the very beginning, which usually relieves not only the child, but also the entire family and school system, and brings the child's strengths back into focus. The child can regain self-confidence and develop a new, stable sense of self-worth. An important component of the therapy is addressing the specific symptoms, i.e., reading and writing. Studies have shown that therapeutic interventions are most successful when they directly address the symptoms.

Through all senses and physical engagement, the child experiences new, effective strategies to compensate for difficulties in reading and writing. At the heart of this approach is a method that helps children break words down into syllables and isolate sounds. Other essential components of our program include teaching thinking and spelling strategies, targeted memorization training, and effective reading support in various areas.

We place great importance on regular parental support and guidance. This takes the form of individual parent meetings and parent seminars. Thanks to our multimodal support approach, initial motivating successes are usually achieved within a short time.

Finding a way out of the numbers jungle! PTE helps with math difficulties and dyscalculia

The PTE therapy concept for treating dyscalculia is based on current scientific findings. We place great emphasis on ensuring the quality of our work through progress and final assessments. Our thorough initial diagnostic evaluation allows us to identify each child's strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, the therapy is not based on the current school curriculum, but rather on the child's individual level, upon which a personalized therapy plan is developed.

We compare a child's development and acquisition of mathematical understanding to a house: If the foundations are damaged or there are gaps in the lower floors, the entire building cannot be stable. Therefore, addressing gaps in pre-numerical skills, but above all, building a solid understanding of cardinal numbers and subsequently a solid understanding of operations, is central to RS therapy.

The focus is always on providing positive experiences and fostering a love of learning and math, as motivation is crucial for the success of the therapy. Strengthening self-confidence and reducing fear of failure are also core components of the therapy. This approach not only relieves the child but also benefits the entire family and school system, allowing the child's strengths to shine through. The therapy utilizes all the senses in a communicative interaction with the therapist, including verbalizing calculation methods and thought processes aloud.

The teaching method employs mathematically and didactically sound and structured visual aids that contribute to the development of mental images. The process of translating between different levels of representation—that is, between the action-oriented (e.g., arithmetic chain), pictorial (e.g., dot patterns), and symbolic (e.g., 13) levels—is continuously monitored.

We place great importance on regular parental support and guidance. This takes the form of individual parent meetings and parent seminars. We also encourage communication with the school and the subject teacher. Thanks to our multimodal support approach, initial motivating successes are usually achieved within a short time.

Phillip fidgets and Lieschen dreams! PTE helps with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

The therapy concept of the Educational Therapeutic Center is based on the latest findings in scientific research. Following a comprehensive, interdisciplinary diagnostic assessment, a specific therapy plan is developed for the child and their family. All involved parties are informed about the disorder ADHD and its effects on experience and behavior.

In a specific skills training program based on behavioral therapy principles, the child learns fundamental skills such as attentive listening, accurate retelling, and delaying their reactions. For affected adolescents, practicing self-monitoring is a key component of the skills training. Teaching work strategies and learning techniques aims to help them better manage assigned tasks (e.g., doing homework or studying for a test). Specialized parent training provides concrete parenting support and teaches the basics of structuring the daily environment.
Therapy is always closely aligned with current conflicts and the concrete everyday experiences of the child, adolescent, and their parents. The pedagogical-therapeutic facility can offer expert guidance and behavioral observation to support medication treatment (which must always be initiated and monitored by a physician) and, if necessary, can competently refer clients to specific therapists (e.g., occupational therapists) through close collaboration with relevant specialist agencies.

Homework arguments? It doesn't have to be that way! PTE helps with homework stress

The "Video-Based Learning and Homework Analysis" helps parents and children precisely where they are otherwise left to their own devices: at home! The new method focuses on the individual parent-child relationship and quickly leads to a more relaxed approach to homework and learning.

School has barely started, and many students are already poring over their homework. Just as many parents are doing their best to help their children with their studies and academic challenges. But the hoped-for success isn't always achieved. Despite diligent studying, half the material seems to have vanished by the time the test rolls around. Many parents complain that the atmosphere during study sessions is tense because their children are procrastinating or simply don't want to learn. Parents and children then become irritable and ultimately feel helpless. Often, it's assumed that parents and children should somehow instinctively know what learning is and how to do it. But that's simply not the case!

Learning is a skill that must be learned! And it is a skill that can be learned! Video-based learning analysis is an extremely effective method for achieving rapid and noticeable progress precisely where parents and children are otherwise left to their own devices: at home!

The root cause of daily homework conflicts often lies in the sticking points of the parent-child relationship. Video-assisted homework and learning analysis is an excellent tool for identifying these individual sticking points. For example, what happens just before the mother "loses it" because the child is stalling on a math problem and refuses to continue? Or what's behind a child constantly saying, "This is too hard" or "I can't do it!"

After a brief telephone consultation, parents and children come to the PTE (Parent-Child Therapy Center), where they are video-recorded under guidance. Qualified learning therapists analyze these videos and then review the key scenes with the parents. Parents are usually very relieved when they can see for themselves exactly what the problem is and what they can do about it. It is important that the parents then receive very concrete suggestions that are so practical they can be implemented immediately at home. The situation at home will then improve significantly within just one to two weeks.

Parent seminars and parent workshops

Experience has shown that the success of supporting children depends crucially on parental involvement. For this reason, parent education plays a vital role at the PTE (Psychological Training Center). Particularly with regard to specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or ADHD, it is essential to inform parents about the condition and provide them with support in their daily interactions with their children. This is achieved through regular individual parent consultations as well as parent seminars.
The PTE offers parent seminars and workshops on the following topics:

• Reading/spelling difficulties and dyslexia
• Mathematical learning difficulties and dyscalculia
• Attention deficit disorders
• How does thinking get into the brain?
• That's enough now – setting boundaries helps parents and children
• Ways to greater serenity
• Homework for parents – what parents should know about learning
• We are a strong team – parents and children learn together

Upon request, we are happy to hold the parent seminars and parent workshops at your school.