The Timing Therapy Exercise Every Therapist Needs
Timing therapy is an approach to re-syncing the brain's timing circuits. Research has shown that when we regularly practice timing precision, we can repair out-of-sync timing circuitry in the brain, which in turn increases brain and body functionality in a significant way.
Key elements of timing therapy include:
The beat: It should match the natural rhythm of the activity.
The tempo: A comfortable clapping speed for most people is about 54 beats per minute (BPM). However, a typical child with ADHD will be more comfortable at a slightly higher tempo (try 63 BPM).
Precision: Keeping an imprecise beat or not caring about the beat will not produce desired results.
Feedback: The most powerful forms of timing therapy provide sensory feedback on how well the beat is being maintained.
Much of the research in timing therapy has been done in conjunction with the Interactive Metronome. Studies show that children with ADHD who did 15 hours of tapping and clapping exercises using the Interactive Metronome made 30% gains in their executive-function skills. This includes attention skills, working memory, motivation ability to plan and problem-solve, as well as the ability to stay organized.
Want to implement timing therapy with your clients and see similar results, but don't have the funding to purchase equipment? Teresa Garland, MOT, OTR has a method for you. By combining a metronome and a ball, you can get the same sensory feedback for under $2.
Master the simple method in under four minutes.
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This blog is based on the writing of Teresa Garland, MOT, OTR. Check out her award winning book Self-Regulation Interventions and Strategies: Keeping the Body, Mind & Emotions on Task in Children with Autism, ADHD or Sensory Disorders.
Dr. Sue Johnson was an author, clinical psychologist, researcher, professor, popular presenter and speaker and a leading innovator in the field of couple therapy and adult attachment. Sue was the primary developer of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which has demonstrated its effectiveness in over 30 years of peer-reviewed clinical research.
The founding director of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT), Dr. Johnson authored numerous books and articles including Attachment Theory in Practice: EFT with Individuals, Couples and Families (2019), The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Creating Connection (3rd edition, 2019), and A Primer for Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) (2021).
Sue trained behavioral health providers in EFT worldwide and consulted to the over 75 international institutes and affiliated centers who practice EFT, including Veterans Affairs and the US and Canadian militaries. She was a Distinguished Research Professor at Alliant University in San Diego, a Professor, Clinical Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and a Professor Emeritus, Clinical Psychology, at the University of Ottawa, Canada.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Sue Johnson had employment relationships with University of British Columbia, Campbell & Fairweather Psychology Group, Alliant International, University Ottawa, Couple and Family Institute, and the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy. She received royalties as a published author. Dr. Johnson received a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She had no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Sue Johnson served on the editorial board for the American Journal of Family Therapy (AJFT) and the journal Couple and Family Psychology: Research & Practice.
