Faigi Derman

DIR® Floortime™ Therapist MS, Sp.Ed

Welcome to The Village Therapy Place! I am excited to work with your child and to tell you a bit about my part in this multidisciplinary Village! 

I received my Master’s degree in Special Education from Adelphi University in 2004.  As I was doing my fieldwork in autism, I was introduced to the DIR® Floortime™ theory and methodology. It immediately struck me as the developmental approach that I was seeking and astounded me with its breadth and depth of child development theory and knowledge. Moreover, the therapy was fun and joyful, challenging and effective. 

As part of my DIR® Floortime™ education, I attended intensive ICDL Institute conferences and P.L.A.Y. project trainings as well as Profectum™ workshops. I am fortunate to have worked with clients whose Floortime™ therapy was guided by the founders of DIR® Floortime™, the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan, MD and Dr. Serena Wieder, PhD. I have provided DIR® Floortime™ consultation and therapy in early intervention settings as well as in mainstream, special education, and Montessori schools.  My work has included a wide-ranging population including children with ASD, ADD/ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, selective mutism, apraxia and social anxiety. 

Additionally, I have a strong interest in auditory processing and dyslexia and am certified in the Orton-Gillingham approach.  This methodology has taught me a great deal about how children process and produce sound and informs as well as complements my DIR® Floortime™ therapy. My twenty plus years of extensive work in the field of education has granted me experience to be able to pick up on strengths, note weaknesses and target therapy effectively.

I look forward to partnering with you and your child as he or she climbs the developmental ladder with playfulness, fun, success and joy.