Frequently Asked Questions

Kikstart Rehabilitation offers online occupational therapy, speech therapy, and special education for children and adults across India. Below are the questions families ask most often before starting therapy.

General Questions

What is Kikstart Rehabilitation?

Kikstart Rehabilitation is an inclusive online therapy platform serving individuals and families living with visible and invisible disabilities. We offer occupational therapy, speech therapy, and special education, delivered via secure video sessions to homes across India.

Where is Kikstart based? Can I access it from anywhere in India?

Kikstart is a PAN-India online platform. You can access all our services from anywhere in India, with no travel required. Sessions are available in English, Hindi and other Indian languages.

Who are the therapists at Kikstart?

Kikstart’s care is delivered by a team of Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, Special Educators and Psychologists.

How is online therapy different from in-person therapy?

Online therapy at Kikstart is delivered through secure video sessions. For many needs it works well, and it has real advantages: your therapist can often see you or your child in your own home environment, where daily challenges actually happen, and there is no commute and no waitlist to reach a specialist, wherever you live.

Occupational Therapy

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy helps people of all ages develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and meaningful activity. For children, this includes self-care (such as dressing and eating), school skills (such as handwriting and attention), and emotional regulation. For adults, occupational therapy supports daily function and independence, including after neurological events. Occupational therapy also plays an important role in mental health, building routines, managing stress and sensory overload, and rebuilding confidence in everyday roles. For neurodivergent teens and adults, this extends to life skills such as time management, organization, self-advocacy, and navigating work or study environments in ways that suit how their brain actually works. At Kikstart, all of this is delivered online by our therapy team.

Which conditions does Kikstart’s occupational therapy programme cover?

Kikstart’s occupational therapy supports: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, developmental delays, learning difficulties, handwriting and fine-motor challenges, picky eating and feeding difficulties, and neurological conditions such as stroke, brain injury and dementia. We also address the functional impact of mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, low mood, burnout and stress-related difficulties that make routines, self-care, work or study hard to sustain. Both children and adults are served.

Does my child need an occupational therapy assessment before starting sessions?

An initial assessment is recommended before a therapy programme begins. It helps the therapist understand your child’s specific needs and set goals. Your free 15-minute introductory call is the first step, where you can discuss whether a full assessment is right for your situation. Assessments at Kikstart are conducted online through structured observation and parent-reported tools.

Is online occupational therapy effective for autism?

Online occupational therapy can be very effective for children with autism, particularly for sensory integration, daily-living skills, and parent coaching. Delivering it online lets the therapist observe your child in their natural home environment, which often makes goals more relevant to everyday life.

Speech Therapy

What speech and language conditions does Kikstart’s speech therapy cover?

Kikstart’s online speech therapy supports: speech delays in children, stammering and stuttering, language development difficulties, communication difficulties, oral-motor and feeding challenges, articulation difficulties, and language support for children with autism or ADHD. Speech therapy is provided online by Kikstart’s speech therapist.

At what age can a child start speech therapy?

Speech therapy can begin as early as 12 months if a developmental concern is identified. Starting early often supports better progress. If you are concerned about your child’s speech development at any age, a free introductory call with our team will help you understand the next steps.

Special Education

What does Kikstart’s special education support cover?

Kikstart’s online special education support helps with learning, academic and classroom-specific difficulties, including specific learning disabilities (such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia), attention and focus challenges in a learning context, and individualised academic strategies for children with autism or ADHD. Special education is provided online by Kikstart’s special educator.

How is special education different from occupational therapy or speech therapy at Kikstart?

Special education focuses specifically on learning, academic skills and classroom participation, for example reading, writing, numeracy and study strategies. This is different from occupational therapy, which addresses daily-living, sensory and functional skills, and from speech therapy, which addresses communication and language. Many children benefit from more than one service together; your free introductory call will help you understand which combination is right for your child.

Mental Health Support (Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy)

If you are in crisis or need immediate support, call Tele-MANAS (14416), a government helpline initiative or KIRAN (1800-599-0019), available 24×7.

Does Kikstart help with mental health, including depression, anxiety or PTSD?

Yes, for both children and adults. Kikstart supports mental health through two complementary routes that often work together: our Mental Health Occupational Therapy team, and our psychology team, which provides counselling and psychotherapy support. Depression, PTSD, anxiety and caregiver burnout are among the concerns we work with. The table below shows, at a glance, how the occupational therapist and the psychologist each help and how their roles differ. This is planned, supportive therapy, not emergency or crisis care; if you or someone you know is in crisis, please see the note above.

What is Occupational Therapy in Mental Health?

Occupational therapy in mental health focuses on how a condition affects your ability to do the everyday things that matter to you: your daily routines, self-care, sleep, work, study, and relationships. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, a Mental Health Occupational Therapist works with you to rebuild the routines, habits and functioning that conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD or burnout have disrupted, using approaches such as routine restructuring, sensory regulation strategies, and a graded return to valued activities. It complements psychology and counselling, which focus more on the internal experience of thoughts, emotions and past events; many people benefit from both together.

Occupational therapist and psychologist in mental health: How the two roles differ

Many people benefit from both, working together.
	Mental Health Occupational Therapist	Psychologist (Counselling & Psychotherapy)
Core question	What has this condition stopped you from doing, and how do we get it back?	What are you feeling and thinking, and where did these patterns come from?
Unit of work	Daily occupations: routines, self-care, sleep, work, study, parenting, leisure, community participation.	Internal experience: cognition, emotion, behaviour, relationships, meaning.
Where it happens	In the doing. Sessions are built around real tasks in real environments: the kitchen, the desk, the school morning.	In the conversation. Structured therapeutic dialogue and reflection.
Problems people come to us with	I get through the workday and have nothing left. I know what I should be doing, but I can’t make myself start. My sleep has collapsed. School mornings end in tears. Certain sounds and crowded places send me over the edge. I’ve recovered physically but I haven’t got my life back. I’m capable at work and can’t manage a bill or a laundry basket.	I can’t stop worrying. I feel low and I don’t know why. I keep reliving what happened. I’m angry all the time and I don’t recognise myself. I can’t get past this loss. The same thing keeps happening in every relationship. My child is anxious and won’t tell me what’s wrong.
Typical assessments	COPM (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure), Model of Human Occupation screening, Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile, activity and time-use analysis, fatigue and sleep diaries.	Clinical interview, standardised psychometrics, cognitive and personality assessment, diagnostic formulation.
Techniques used	Occupational and activity analysis with grading. Routine and habit restructuring. Sensory modulation (sensory diet, calming and alerting input, sensory kits). Self-regulation frameworks (Zones of Regulation, co-regulation, interoception work). Energy management and pacing using the 4 P’s: prioritise, plan, pace, position. Sleep-routine and circadian restructuring. Executive-function scaffolding (visual schedules, task chunking, external cueing, timers). Graded return to work, school or valued activity. Environmental and sensory modification of home and workspace. Life-skills training: cooking, money management, travel, self-care. Caregiver coaching.	Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and cognitive restructuring. Behavioural activation. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. DBT skills: distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness. Trauma-focused approaches including EMDR and TF-CBT. Motivational interviewing. Solution-focused brief therapy. Play and expressive therapies for children. Parent behavioural training. Mindfulness-based interventions. Family and couples work.
Often helps with	Depression that has flattened routine and self-care. Anxiety that has shrunk what a person will attempt. PTSD with sensory and hyperarousal triggers embedded in daily environments. Caregiver burnout. Adjustment after illness, injury or diagnosis. Autistic and ADHD burnout. Occupational collapse: the person who is “fine” until you ask what they actually did this week.	Low mood, grief, stress and worry. Trauma processing. Self-esteem and identity. Relationship and family difficulty. Life transitions. Emotional patterns that repeat across contexts.
Who it’s for	Children, adolescents and adults.	Children, adolescents and adults.
At Kikstart	Delivered by our Mental Health Occupational Therapy team.	Delivered by our psychology team.

Mental Health Occupational Therapist

Core question

What has this condition stopped you from doing, and how do we get it back?

Unit of work

Daily occupations: routines, self-care, sleep, work, study, parenting, leisure, community participation.

Where it happens

In the doing. Sessions are built around real tasks in real environments: the kitchen, the desk, the school morning.

Problems people come to us with

I get through the workday and have nothing left.
I know what I should be doing, but I can’t make myself start.
My sleep has collapsed.
School mornings end in tears.
Certain sounds and crowded places send me over the edge.
I’ve recovered physically but I haven’t got my life back.
I’m capable at work and can’t manage a bill or a laundry basket.

Typical assessments

COPM (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure), Model of Human Occupation screening, Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile, activity and time-use analysis, fatigue and sleep diaries.

Techniques used

Occupational and activity analysis with grading.
Routine and habit restructuring.
Sensory modulation (sensory diet, calming and alerting input, sensory kits).
Self-regulation frameworks (Zones of Regulation, co-regulation, interoception work).
Energy management and pacing using the 4 P’s: prioritise, plan, pace, position.
Sleep-routine and circadian restructuring.
Executive-function scaffolding (visual schedules, task chunking, external cueing, timers).
Graded return to work, school or valued activity.
Environmental and sensory modification of home and workspace.
Life-skills training: cooking, money management, travel, self-care.
Caregiver coaching.

Often helps with

Depression that has flattened routine and self-care.
Anxiety that has shrunk what a person will attempt.
PTSD with sensory and hyperarousal triggers embedded in daily environments.
Caregiver burnout.
Adjustment after illness, injury or diagnosis.
Autistic and ADHD burnout.
Occupational collapse: the person who is “fine” until you ask what they actually did this week.

Who it’s for

Children, adolescents and adults.

At Kikstart

Delivered by our Mental Health Occupational Therapy team.

Psychologist (Counselling & Psychotherapy)

Core question

What are you feeling and thinking, and where did these patterns come from?

Unit of work

Internal experience: cognition, emotion, behaviour, relationships, meaning.

Where it happens

In the conversation. Structured therapeutic dialogue and reflection.

Problems people come to us with

I can’t stop worrying.
I feel low and I don’t know why.
I keep reliving what happened.
I’m angry all the time and I don’t recognise myself.
I can’t get past this loss.
The same thing keeps happening in every relationship.
My child is anxious and won’t tell me what’s wrong.

Typical assessments

Clinical interview, standardised psychometrics, cognitive and personality assessment, diagnostic formulation.

Techniques used

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and cognitive restructuring.
Behavioural activation.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
DBT skills: distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness.
Trauma-focused approaches including EMDR and TF-CBT.
Motivational interviewing.
Solution-focused brief therapy.
Play and expressive therapies for children.
Parent behavioural training.
Mindfulness-based interventions.
Family and couples work.

Often helps with

Low mood, grief, stress and worry.
Trauma processing.
Self-esteem and identity.
Relationship and family difficulty.
Life transitions.
Emotional patterns that repeat across contexts.

Who it’s for

Children, adolescents and adults.

At Kikstart

Delivered by our psychology team.

Who provides mental health support at Kikstart?

Mental Health Occupational Therapy is delivered by our therapy team. Counselling and psychotherapy support is delivered by our psychology team. On your free introductory call we will help match you with the right support, or the right combination of both, for your situation.

An adult's hand helping guide a child's hand toward a plate of roti, during a Kikstart occupational therapy feeding-support session

Booking and Pricing

How do I start therapy at Kikstart?

Start with a free 15-minute introductory call. This helps you share your concerns, understand our services, and find the right therapist and programme for your situation. There is no commitment required. Book your free call →

How much does online therapy cost at Kikstart?

Session fees vary depending on the type of therapy, duration, and programme structure. Pricing is discussed during your free introductory call and in the intake process. Kikstart is committed to making quality therapy accessible; contact us to discuss your situation and the options available.

How long is each therapy session?

Session length varies by service type and client needs. Standard sessions typically run 45 to 60 minutes. Your therapist will recommend a structure based on your assessment. For young children, shorter and more frequent sessions may work better.

What technology do I need for online therapy sessions?

You need a device with a camera and microphone (a smartphone, tablet, or computer) and a stable internet connection. Sessions run on a secure video platform, and no special software is required; the session link is sent before each appointment. For occupational therapy sessions involving activities, your therapist will advise on simple materials to have at hand.

Is my information kept confidential?

Yes. Your sessions and personal information are kept confidential. We handle your personal and health data in line with our Privacy Policy and India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. We do not share your session information without your explicit written consent, except where the law requires it, for example where there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else.

Is Kikstart registered with RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India)?

Kikstart Rehabilitation LLP is a registered Limited Liability Partnership in India. RCI registration applies to individual practitioners in specific rehabilitation disciplines, not to platforms or organisations. If you would like to know more about our team’s qualifications and experience, book a free introductory call and we will be glad to talk you through them.

Still have questions? Contact our team or book a free consultation.

Disclaimer

Occupational therapy, speech therapy, special education and rehabilitation are established, evidence-based disciplines with a substantial body of peer-reviewed research behind them, and our qualified therapists practise them to a high standard. This page is educational: it is not an individualized diagnosis or treatment plan for your situation, and our therapists do not prescribe medication. Every person’s path is different, so outcomes depend on individual needs, goals and engagement, and we describe how therapy can help rather than promising a specific result.

Kikstart provides planned, ongoing therapy, not emergency or crisis care. We do not handle acute cases, medical emergencies or mental-health crises, including active suicidal risk; these need immediate, specialised care, and we will always point you to it rather than delay it. If you or someone you know is in crisis or immediate danger, please contact your nearest emergency services.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kikstart Rehabilitation