You may hear our team talk about assent. It's one of the most important ideas in how we practice, so here's what it means and why it matters.
Consent vs. assent. Consent is the formal permission a parent or guardian gives for treatment. Assent is the child's own ongoing willingness to participate — moment to moment, in their own way. A young child or a child who doesn't use spoken language can't sign a form, but they absolutely can tell us whether they're a willing participant.
How we listen for it. Assent-based care means watching for the signals your child is already sending. Leaning in, engaging, and choosing to keep going are signs of assent. Pulling away, pushing materials aside, covering ears, or showing distress are signs of assent withdrawal — and that's our cue to pause, adjust, or change course, not to push through.
Why it's a clinical and ethical standard, not a soft add-on. Honoring assent isn't about letting a child avoid everything hard. It's about building learning around trust and motivation rather than pressure. Children learn better when they feel safe and have genuine buy-in — and the relationship is stronger for it. It's also central to where the field has moved: away from compliance-at-all-costs and toward care that respects the person.
What this looks like in a session. Offering choices. Following your child's interests. Making tasks engaging instead of demanding. Reading the small cues that say "I'm with you" or "I need a break." When a child has a say, they're a partner in their own progress.
When we say we're an assent-based, ethics-first practice, this is what we mean — and it's backed by written policy, the same commitment behind our approach to body autonomy: physical guidance stops the moment a child resists. Your child's "yes" — and their "no" — guides the work.
