You have read the program pages. You have watched the videos. But as a parent, you are probably still holding the one question nobody seems to answer plainly: what actually happens once we get there?

If you are considering an intensive therapy week for a child with autism, ADHD or a related challenge, knowing the rhythm of the week ahead can make the decision feel far less overwhelming. Here is what a one week intensive looks like at the Melillo Center for Developing Minds in New York, founded by Dr. Robert Melillo, from the first morning to the flight home.

Before you arrive

A one week intensive runs Monday through Friday, so most families plan a travel day on either end. A little preparation goes a long way. Gather your child’s previous evaluations and therapy notes, pack copies of prescriptions and insurance cards, and bring a few comfort items from home. If you are traveling internationally, it is worth seeing your child’s doctor at least a month before you leave.

Monday: day one is all about testing

The week does not start with activities. It starts with measurement. On day one, the clinical team runs a full functional evaluation, measuring dozens of functions including visual and auditory processing, balance, touch, body awareness and cognitive function. Each result is compared against age based norms.

The testing is shaped around your child’s age, because the Center works with everyone from infants to adults. Many formal tests are not practical for children under five, so for the youngest patients, parent history, checklists and hands on examination carry more of the weight. Your knowledge of your child is part of the evaluation.

Monday through Friday: two visits a day

Once testing is done, the plan is built from what the results show, not from a set curriculum. From there, the week settles into a steady rhythm of two therapy visits a day, with a full medical team running the program.

Between visits, the team explains what they are doing and why. By the end of the week, you should be able to say out loud which function each activity is working on. Many parents say that explanation is the piece they have been missing for years.

If your child will not cooperate

This is the worry that keeps so many moms up at night. Maybe your child kicks, screams or runs from the room. Maybe you have been turned away somewhere before. Please hear this: you are describing a child this team sees every week. A hard first hour does not disqualify anyone. If your child can only manage part of something on Monday, the team adjusts on Tuesday. The schedule bends around your child, not the other way around. Bring your child exactly as they are.

Friday: what goes home with you

Most descriptions of an intensive stop on Friday, but this is where the real work at home begins. Every family leaves with a personalized home program, the equipment needed to follow it, and written and video instructions covering how often, how long and how intensely to use it. For younger children, parents are trained directly on carrying out the activities.

After you get home

Support continues through an online portal, where families log progress daily and message the doctors directly. A question on a Tuesday night does not have to wait for the next appointment. Most patients are reevaluated every 12 weeks, and families who traveled a long distance typically return every six months for a new measurement and an updated plan.

The intensive also runs alongside the therapies, school services and medical care your child already has. Nothing here asks you to pause any of it.

Choosing the right program

If you are comparing options and searching for the best autism intensive program in the United States, ask every program three questions. What gets measured before anything starts? Who builds the plan? What support exists after we go home? You can learn more about the clinician behind this approach on Dr. Robert Melillo’s about page.

The week is a beginning, not the whole story. Knowing what each day holds can help you walk in feeling prepared rather than anxious.