Neurodevelopmental Therapy in Michigan | Counseling & Psychology

Neurodevelopmental Therapy in Michigan helps your brain and body learn better ways to move, balance, and do daily tasks. If walking feels hard, your child misses milestones, or a stroke or injury changed how you move, you are not alone—and you deserve clear answers. Neurodevelopmental Therapy (often called NDT) uses hands-on guidance, practice, and real-life activities to improve control and confidence. It is used for kids and adults with movement and muscle tone challenges, including conditions that affect the brain and nerves.

This service is for people who feel stuck: “I know what I want to do, but my body won’t do it.” It is also for families who want safer transfers, fewer falls, and better feeding, sitting, standing, or walking. Our goal is simple: help you move with more ease and function at home, school, work, and in the community.

Signs You Might Benefit

Neurodevelopmental Therapy focuses on how the nervous system controls movement. You might benefit if you notice any of these signs:

• Delays in milestones (rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking) or your child uses “work-arounds” that seem inefficient.
• Muscle tone changes such as stiffness (spasticity), tightness, or low tone that makes it hard to hold posture.
• Poor balance, frequent falls, or fear of falling.
• Weak trunk control (slumped sitting, trouble holding head up, fatigue in upright positions).
• One side working less (hand not opening, dragging a foot, neglecting one arm after stroke).
• Difficulty with daily skills like dressing, bathing, toileting, handwriting, play, stairs, or getting in and out of a car.
• Problems with coordination (clumsy movements, trouble catching/throwing, difficulty changing directions).
• Feeding or oral-motor challenges that affect safe, comfortable eating (when appropriate and within the clinician’s scope).

Benefits Patients and Families Often Notice

• Safer movement with fewer trips and falls.
• Better posture and alignment for sitting, standing, and walking.
• Improved hand use for grasping, releasing, and two-hand tasks.
• More independence with daily routines and mobility.
• Less strain for caregivers through safer transfers and easier positioning.
• Better confidence in school, sports, work tasks, and community activities.

Evidence-Based Approach

Neurodevelopmental Therapy is not “one-size-fits-all.” It is shaped by current science on motor learning and brain change (neuroplasticity). The NIH describes neuroplasticity as the brain’s ability to change and adapt through experience and practice, which is a key reason therapy can help after injury or with developmental challenges (National Institutes of Health, n.d.).

How We Choose the Right Plan

We start by looking at the whole picture: strength, tone, balance, sensation, vision, attention, safety, fatigue, and what you need most at home. Then we pick the best tools for your goals. We also track progress with clear measures so you can see what is improving.

Common Modalities and Clinical Reasoning

• Task-specific training: We practice the exact skills you need (like sit-to-stand, stairs, reaching, or walking). This supports motor learning because the brain learns best from meaningful, repeated tasks (Kleim & Jones, 2008).
• Hands-on facilitation and guided movement: When needed, the therapist uses skilled touch to help the body feel a safer, more efficient pattern—then fades help as you gain control.
• Postural control and alignment work: Better alignment can reduce extra effort and help arms and legs move more freely.
• Balance and gait training: Includes stepping strategies, weight shifting, turning, uneven surfaces, and fall-prevention planning.
• Strengthening and endurance: Carefully chosen exercises to support function, not just “getting stronger.”
• Stretching and tone management: Education and positioning strategies that may reduce stiffness and improve comfort.
• Home program coaching: Short, realistic practice plans that fit your day and build carryover.

We coordinate with your care team as needed (primary care, neurology, orthopedics, school teams, or speech/OT). If we see red flags—like sudden weakness, new severe headaches, or fast changes in function—we help you get medical care right away.

Michigan Licensing Standards and Patient Safety

In Michigan, physical therapists and occupational therapists must be licensed by the state and practice within defined standards of care. Your plan of care is based on professional evaluation, documented goals, and ongoing reassessment. We also follow HIPAA privacy rules and use evidence-based clinical decision-making to keep care safe, ethical, and goal-focused.

What to Expect

Your First Visit (Intake)

Your first appointment is a full evaluation. We will listen carefully to your story and your goals. Then we assess movement, balance, posture, coordination, range of motion, strength, and functional skills.

• Medical and therapy history review
• Parent/caregiver input (for pediatric visits)
• Safety screening (falls, pain, dizziness, fatigue)
• Baseline measures to track progress over time

During Ongoing Sessions

Sessions are active and focused on real skills. You may practice transitions (floor to stand), walking, stairs, reaching, or play-based movement for kids. We often use simple equipment, everyday objects, and the clinic space to build skills that transfer to home.

• Hands-on support as needed, then less assistance as control improves
• Repetition with purpose (practice that matches your goals)
• Caregiver training for positioning, transfers, and home practice
• Progress checks to adjust goals and keep therapy efficient

Home Practice (Without Overwhelm)

Home programs should be doable. We keep it simple—often 5–15 minutes a day. The focus is on quality and consistency, not perfection. We will show you what to do, how it should feel, and how to make it easier or harder.

Insurance

Many patients use insurance for Neurodevelopmental Therapy in Michigan, depending on diagnosis, plan rules, and medical need. Coverage can vary for pediatric and adult therapy, and for PT vs. OT services. We can help you understand benefits before you start.

Costs You May See

• Copay: A set amount you pay per visit.
• Deductible: The amount you may need to pay before insurance starts covering services.
• Coinsurance: A percentage you pay after the deductible.
• Visit limits or authorization: Some plans require approval for a certain number of visits.

Mental Health Parity and Rehab Benefits

Neurodevelopmental Therapy is a rehabilitation service, not psychotherapy. However, some plans follow parity-style rules that aim to make coverage fair and consistent across types of care. If you have trouble getting approved, we can provide documentation of medical necessity, functional limits, and progress measures to support your plan of care.

If you prefer, we can also discuss private-pay rates, superbills (when available), and flexible scheduling options.

FAQ

Is Neurodevelopmental Therapy only for children?

No. NDT principles can help both children and adults. It is commonly used for pediatric conditions like cerebral palsy and developmental delay, and for adult neurologic conditions like stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other disorders that affect movement and control.

How long does it take to see results?

It depends on your diagnosis, how long symptoms have been present, and how often you can practice. Many people notice small wins in the first few weeks, like easier transfers or better balance. Bigger goals—like smoother walking or improved hand use—often take longer and need steady practice.

Will therapy hurt?

Therapy should not feel sharp or unsafe. You may feel muscle work or mild soreness, like after exercise. We adjust the plan based on pain, fatigue, and your comfort. Your voice matters—tell us what you feel so we can keep sessions safe and effective.

What research supports this type of therapy?

Modern neuro rehab is built on motor learning and neuroplasticity. The NIH explains that the brain can change with experience, which supports repeated, meaningful practice (National Institutes of Health, n.d.). Core principles of experience-dependent brain change are also described in peer-reviewed work on neuroplasticity and skill training (Kleim & Jones, 2008). We use these principles, plus standardized measures and skilled clinical reasoning, to guide treatment.

References

• Kleim, J. A., & Jones, T. A. (2008). Principles of experience-dependent neural plasticity: Implications for rehabilitation after brain damage. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 51(1), S225–S239.
• National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Neuroplasticity. NIH resources on brain health and neuroscience. https://www.nih.gov/