Who can benefit from MATCH?
MATCH was designed for children and teens ages 6–17 who are experiencing one or more of the following:
- Anxiety, fears, or excessive worry
- Depression, sadness, irritability, or withdrawal
- Trauma-related stress
- Anger, defiance, or disruptive behavior
- Difficulty managing emotions
- Problems at home, at school, or in relationships
- Multiple concerns that overlap or change over time
An EOM therapist will help determine whether MATCH is appropriate for your child and family.
Why is MATCH described as “modular”?
MATCH includes a collection of treatment strategies called modules. Each module focuses on a particular skill or concern.
Instead of requiring every child to follow the same sequence, the therapist selects and organizes the modules that best fit the child’s current needs. If those needs change, the treatment plan can change too.
How is MATCH different from traditional therapy?
Many treatment programs focus on only one diagnosis or require every child to follow the same steps in the same order. MATCH provides structure without using a one-size-fits-all plan.
Your therapist will use regular feedback to identify:
- What is improving
- What continues to be difficult
- Which skills should be practiced further
- Whether a different treatment strategy is needed
- When your child may be ready to complete treatment
What will MATCH look like for our family?
MATCH generally includes regular therapy sessions involving your child, their caregiver, or both. Some appointments may focus primarily on your child, while others may involve caregivers learning and practicing strategies.
Depending on your child’s needs, treatment may include:
- Understanding and managing emotions
- Coping with anxiety and fears
- Increasing healthy and enjoyable activities
- Processing traumatic experiences safely
- Improving communication and problem-solving
- Strengthening positive behaviors and relationships
- Creating consistent routines, expectations, and consequences
Will caregivers participate?
Yes. Caregiver participation is an important part of MATCH.
Caregivers are the people most likely to see how a child is doing between sessions. Your observations help the therapist understand what is improving and where additional support may be needed.
You may also learn strategies for responding to behavior, supporting emotional regulation, encouraging brave behavior, and helping your child practice new skills at home.
Will my child attend sessions alone?
Some sessions may involve your child individually, while others may include one or more caregivers. At times, the therapist may meet primarily with the caregiver, especially when treatment is focused on behavioral concerns.
Who attends each session will depend on your child’s age, treatment goals, and the skill being taught.
Is there homework?
MATCH includes between-session practice, not traditional school-style homework.
Your therapist may ask your child or family to practice a skill, track emotions or behavior, complete an activity, or try a new strategy at home. Practicing in everyday life helps new skills become more useful and lasting.
Activities will be realistic, age-appropriate, and connected to your family’s goals.
How often will we meet?
Most families meet with their therapist once per week. The exact frequency and length of appointments will depend on your child’s clinical needs, treatment plan, therapist recommendations, and insurance coverage.
Consistent attendance is important because MATCH builds skills over time and uses weekly progress to guide treatment.
How long does MATCH take?
MATCH is designed to be completed when your child has met the agreed-upon treatment goals, rather than continuing indefinitely.
Many families participate for approximately 20–30 weeks, although treatment may be shorter or longer depending on:
- The child’s needs and number of concerns
- Progress toward treatment goals
- Attendance and participation
- Caregiver involvement
- Practice between sessions
- Insurance authorization or coverage
Your therapist will regularly review progress and discuss where your child is in the treatment process.
How will we know whether MATCH is working?
At the beginning of treatment, you, your child, and your therapist will identify the concerns that are most important to your family and establish clear goals.
You and your child may complete brief check-ins about emotions, behaviors, and progress. These are not tests. They help the therapist understand what is working and make informed decisions about what to focus on next.
What if my child has more than one concern?
That is one of the primary reasons MATCH was developed.
A child may experience anxiety and behavior problems, trauma and depression, or concerns that shift during treatment. MATCH allows the therapist to address more than one area without requiring your family to end one treatment program and begin another.
Sometimes behavior that looks like defiance may also be connected to fear, sadness, trauma, or difficulty managing emotions. MATCH helps the therapist consider the whole child.
Is MATCH appropriate for children with ADHD or autism?
Having ADHD, autism, or another diagnosis does not automatically exclude a child from MATCH.
However, MATCH is not designed as the primary treatment for ADHD, autism, or other developmental conditions. It may be used to address related anxiety, depression, trauma, or behavioral concerns when clinically appropriate.
Your therapist will help determine whether MATCH, another treatment approach, or a combination of services would best meet your child’s needs.
When might MATCH not be the right fit?
MATCH may not be the primary treatment when a child:
- Needs immediate crisis stabilization
- Requires a higher level of care
- Has an active safety concern that cannot be safely managed in outpatient treatment
- Needs specialized treatment for a condition outside the MATCH model
- Has needs that cannot be effectively addressed through outpatient therapy
If MATCH is not the right fit, the EOM team will discuss other treatment options or appropriate referrals with your family.
Is MATCH right for your child?
You do not need to figure that out alone. An EOM therapist can learn more about your child, answer your questions, and help determine whether MATCH is an appropriate treatment option.
Contact us to get started!
