Supporting Children with Dyslexia through Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Emotional Wellness Parenting

By Komalavalli Parthasarathy-Special Educator, Madras Dyslexia Association
March 5, 2025

Children with dyslexia often face emotional challenges that extend beyond their struggles with reading and spelling. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is emerging as a powerful approach to support their emotional well-being, building confidence and resilience alongside academic skills. Tailored to address the specific needs of children, CBT offers tools to navigate anxiety, low self-esteem, and frustration, empowering them to thrive in both school and life.

What is CBT?
CBT is a structured, time-limited therapy that focuses on the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. By identifying and reframing negative thought patterns, it helps individuals develop healthier perspectives and coping strategies. Widely used to address anxiety, depression, and stress, CBT can also be adapted to support learning-related issues, making it an invaluable resource for children with dyslexia.

How CBT helps children with Dyslexia
Dyslexia impacts a child’s ability to read and spell accurately and fluently, often leading to academic struggles that affect their emotional well-being. Many children with dyslexia experience feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and social withdrawal. CBT targets these challenges by fostering positive thinking and emotional regulation.

Various researches conducted globally have led to the conclusion that CBT has helped in significant improvements in reading, managing anxiety, enhancing self-esteem and in improved emotional well-being.

Key areas of focus include:

• Building Self-Esteem: Dyslexic children may see themselves as less capable than their peers. CBT helps challenge negative beliefs such as “I’m stupid” and replace them with affirmations like “I’m learning in my own way.”
• Managing Anxiety: School-related tasks, such as reading aloud, can provoke significant stress. CBT introduces relaxation techniques and cognitive reframing to alleviate these fears.
• Enhancing Emotional Regulation: Frustration is common when tasks feel overwhelming. CBT equips children with strategies to identify triggers, understand their emotions, and adopt healthier responses.
• Improving Social Skills: Fear of embarrassment often leads to social withdrawal. CBT incorporates role-playing and social skills training, helping children interact more confidently with peers and adults.

CBT techniques tailored for Dyslexia
CBT for children with dyslexia integrates creative, child-friendly techniques to suit their developmental needs:

• Psycho-education: Teaching children about dyslexia in an age-appropriate way helps them understand it as a unique learning style, not a deficit.
• Cognitive Restructuring: Encouraging children to replace negative thoughts with constructive ones, such as shifting “I’ll never be able to read” to “I can improve step by step.”
• Behavioural Interventions: Setting achievable goals and celebrating progress can motivate children and boost their confidence.
• Relaxation Techniques: Introducing mindfulness exercises and breathing techniques helps children manage stress during challenging tasks.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Teaching children to break tasks into manageable steps fosters a sense of control and accomplishment.
• The Thought Diary: This CBT tool helps children identify and challenge negative thoughts. Using visual aids and simple language, it encourages them to reflect on their emotions and adopt positive perspectives.

Elaborating on the Thought Diary
The Thought Diary is a cornerstone of CBT for children with dyslexia, offering a structured way to explore and transform their thinking patterns. It consists of the following steps:

1. Identify Triggers: Children are encouraged to write down situations that cause them distress, such as reading aloud in class or struggling with a spelling test. Visual aids, like drawings or emojis, can help younger children communicate these triggers effectively.
2. Record Automatic Thoughts: They document their immediate thoughts in these moments, such as “I’ll never get this right” or “Everyone is better than me.” This step helps them become aware of unhelpful thought patterns.
3. Explore Feelings: Children describe their emotions, like embarrassment or frustration, and rate their intensity on a scale of 1 to 10. For younger children, feelings can be represented with emojis or colours to make the process engaging.
4. Challenge Negative Thoughts: With guidance, children question the accuracy of their thoughts. For example, “Is it really true that everyone thinks I’m bad at reading?” This step helps them develop a more balanced perspective.
5. Replace with Positive Thoughts: They are encouraged to reframe negative thoughts into constructive alternatives, such as “I’m making progress” or “Mistakes help me learn.” Writing down these positive thoughts reinforces their impact.
6. Track Outcomes: Finally, children reflect on how their new thoughts influenced their emotions and actions. For instance, they might note feeling less anxious and more willing to try reading aloud.

The Thought Diary can be tailored to suit each child’s age and abilities. For younger children, it might involve stickers or drawings, while older children can use written entries. Rewards for completing entries can also help sustain motivation and engagement.

The role of Parents and Teachers
CBT is most effective when supported by a child’s environment. Parents and teachers play a crucial role in reinforcing the strategies learned in therapy.

• Parent Training: Educating parents about CBT techniques enables them to provide constructive feedback, model positive thinking, and create a supportive home environment.
• Teacher Collaboration: Training educators to use CBT-compatible approaches, such as positive reinforcement and reframing challenges can foster a more inclusive and encouraging classroom atmosphere.

CBT offers numerous benefits for dyslexic children, including improved emotional well-being, enhanced academic engagement, and stronger social skills. However, it’s important to tailor the approach to each child’s developmental stage and address any coexisting challenges, such as ADHD or anxiety disorders. Consistent practice and collaboration between therapists, parents, and teachers are key to achieving lasting results.

By addressing the emotional and psychological hurdles of dyslexia, CBT helps children build resilience and self-confidence. When combined with academic interventions, it transforms how children perceive themselves and their abilities, paving the way for a brighter, more confident future. For children with dyslexia, CBT isn’t just a therapy—it’s a pathway to empowerment.