Your first 30 days as a parent on TherapyConnectData

Download the TherapyConnectData mobile app (iOS or Android), or open the web dashboard. Sign up with your own email — there's no separate "parent" sign-up; the platform doesn't care whether you're a clinician or a parent.

Create a single client profile for your child. Fill in name, date of birth, and the 2–3 top concerns you'd want any new therapist to know about. Don't try to be exhaustive — the profile is something you'll keep updating, not something to perfect on day one.

Open the program library and search by what your child is working on right now — not what you wish they were working on, not the long-term goal. Pick 3, no more. Three is enough to keep sessions varied without overwhelming you.

Good first picks usually include:

• One program focused on something they're already pretty good at — gives you data showing things that work
• One that's just slightly above their current level — your real teaching target
• One they love or find motivating — keeps the session fun

Each program in the library comes with a short description, the SD (the cue or instruction you'll give), the expected response, and any prerequisites. You can edit any of these once you've added the program to your child's plan — they're starting points, not contracts.

Aim for 5 short sessions in your first 7 days. Don't make them long — 10–15 minutes is plenty. The point of week one is to build the habit of opening the app and tapping through trials, not to log hours.

For each session: open your child's profile, tap the program, and record each trial as correct, incorrect, or prompted. The app does the math; you just tap. If something interesting happens — a meltdown, a surprise win, a refusal — write a one-line note on the session.

By the end of week two you'll have ~10 sessions logged. Open each program and look at the chart. Three patterns to watch for:

• Climbing line — accuracy is going up. Keep going. Consider adding a slightly harder variation.
• Flat line — accuracy isn't moving. Most common cause is the SD or the cue is off, or the reinforcer isn't motivating. Edit the program and try a small change.
• Sawtooth — bouncing up and down. Usually means the program is being run differently in different sessions. Tighten your protocol.

You don't need to be a clinician to read these patterns — they're the same patterns clinicians look at. The data does the work; your job is to react to it.

At the 4-week mark, take 30 minutes to decide what stays and what changes:

• If a program is mastered (consistently above ~85% across sessions), retire it and add a new program from the library that builds on it.
• If a program is stuck (flat or sawtooth for 3+ weeks), don't keep grinding. Either modify the SD/reinforcer significantly, or pick a different program from the library that approaches the same skill differently.
• If everything is climbing, you're allowed to add a 4th program — but stay disciplined. More programs ≠ better outcomes.

Repeat this loop monthly. Most parents find their natural rhythm is 3–5 active programs at any time, with 1–2 changes per month.

Self-led use of TherapyConnectData is a real thing. It's also not a substitute for clinical care in every situation. Reasonable triggers to bring in a clinician:

• Your child is doing or saying things that worry you and you can't tell whether it's developmental, behavioral, or medical
• You've tried 3+ programs targeting the same skill and nothing is moving
• You're heading into a school IEP or evaluation and want a second pair of eyes on your data
• A behavior is dangerous (to your child or others) and needs an in-person assessment

Booking a 1:1 consultation is straightforward — you'll come prepared because you have actual data instead of just impressions, which is half the value of the consultation right there.