Contact

Why Evidence-Based Practices Matter: A Parent’s Guide to Making Informed Choices

When your child is struggling with emotion regulation, with learning, or with socialization, it’s natural to want to act quickly. You want to help, and you want to choose the right professional, the right therapy, or the right strategy as soon as possible. No parent intentionally chooses an ineffective approach; however, we live in a time where there’s an overload of information and misinformation. Some of it is incredibly helpful, while other advice may be outdated, untested, or even misleading. Many clinics, professionals (and social media influencers) claim their approach is “scientifically proven” or “evidence-based”, yet their opinions and intervention methods may vary drastically from each other, which makes it even more confusing for families and individuals trying to navigate the diagnostic and intervention pathway. Participating in approaches that are “popular” or “trendy” but not actually empirically validated can delay progress, cause frustration, take a financial toll, or in some cases, even be harmful.

As a clinical psychologist, I created this guide to help parents and caregivers navigate the complex world of evidence-based practices. By understanding what “evidence-based” really means, parents can avoid unproven or potentially harmful approaches and choose treatments that are backed by solid research and clinical expertise.

What are Evidence-Based Practices?

Colorful Venn diagram showing the three pillars of evidence-based practice: best scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values, overlapping to form EBP in the center.

Evidence-based practices are approaches that have been carefully tested through research and shown to be effective. These practices are not based on trends, personal opinions, or anecdotal success stories alone—they are backed by science. This means researchers have studied them in controlled ways, across different settings and populations, and have found consistent, reliable results.

When choosing an intervention, it’s important that it’s supported by strong research (see details below). It should also be informed by clinical experience (check out my guide on this) and be a good fit for your child and family. All three components matter. An approach isn’t truly evidence-based if it only feels right for the family and/or only based on clinical opinion but lacks solid research backing. 

Good Research, Bad Research: Climbing the Evidence Ladder

Let’s break this down into two things that matter most: quantity and quality.

1. Quantity Matters

One study is not enough. Just because one small study showed good results, a few families shared a success story and/or a professional has used it with some success, this does not mean the approach is evidence-based.

To earn that title, there needs to be multiple studies, independent researchers (i.e., not just the creators of the method!), across time,  showing consistent, positive results.

2. Quality Matters

Diagram illustrating the hierarchy of scientific research, with expert opinion and case studies at the bottom and systematic reviews at the top

Research studies can be thought of as a ladder or pyramid, with different “rungs” representing levels of evidence. The higher you go, the stronger and more trustworthy the evidence generally is. At the bottom rung, we have anecdotes, personal stories, and case studies. While these can be powerful, they don’t prove that the “treatment”  works for everyone. They can be good for generating ideas for future research, but not for making treatment decisions. Often times in social media, personal stories gain the most traction despite being considered “low quality” evidence.

As we climb higher on the research ladder, we have observational and correlational studies. These studies look at relationships but cannot prove cause and effect. These studies are helpful to show that there might be a relationship between a certain approach and outcome, but have not shown that the outcome is a direct result of the approach.  For instance, imagine you start wearing a new pair of shoes and soon after, your foot pain gets better. You might think, “These shoes fixed my pain!” But really, the pain was already improving on its own over time—your body was healing naturally. Some people may be convinced that their new shoes lead to a decrease in pain and may recommend these shoes to their friends, not realizing that it was another factor (i.e., time) that lead to the improvement of symptoms.

The highest level of evidence  are systematic reviews. Systematic reviews summarize all high-quality studies on a topic to give a big picture of what works.

How Can You Tell If Something Is Evidence-Based?

1. Look for Systematic Reviews

If you’re comfortable doing a little digging, try searching Google Scholar with the name of the intervention + “systematic review.” These reviews summarize all the research on a particular treatment and give you the big picture.

For autism-specific interventions, check out:
The National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAEP)

2. Check Trusted Professional Guidelines

Look to organizations like:

    • Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS)

    • The American Psychological Association (APA)

    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    • The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

    • Your provincial or local health authorities

If an intervention isn’t mentioned or recommended, that’s a good reason to ask questions.

A Few Important Things to Keep in Mind

1. Ask questions—even if something sounds convincing and especially if there is a large financial contribution.

If someone recommends a method that isn’t listed in professional guidelines, or can’t explain the research behind it, that’s a sign to dig deeper. It is important to wonder why a clinician or a clinic supports a certain intervention when larger hospital and research settings have not yet adopted this approach.

2. Evidence-based doesn’t mean “one-size-fits-all”

What works for one group might not work for another. For example, Tylenol is great for treating fevers, but it won’t help with regulating insulin levels. Similarly, a therapy might be effective for kids with a diagnosis of level 3 autism and accompanying cognitive impairments but not with a diagnosis of level 1 autism and a gifted profile. Always check if the research matches your child’s specific needs and background.

3. The way a therapy is delivered matters

Even the best treatment won’t work if it’s delivered poorly. If your child isn’t making progress, it doesn’t always mean the approach itself is ineffective—it might mean the provider isn’t the right fit, or the treatment plan needs adjusting. The patient (family) experience is key and the provider should be a good fit with your family and with your goals.

Look for professionals who:

    • Have the appropriate training (i.e., do a quick google search on your professional and their educational background)

    • Are open to collaboration and feedback

    • Regularly track your child’s progress

 

Final Thoughts: Trust Science and Your Gut

Evidence-based practices give you a solid foundation to build from. They don’t guarantee success, but they do give your child the best chance at meaningful, safe, and lasting outcomes.

And remember: It’s always okay to ask questions, seek second opinions, and advocate for your child.