About Us | Changing Tree Child Development Centre

ChennaiMogappair East

Our Story

Welcome to Changing Tree

Changing Tree was started to help children who have learning difficulties and struggle to cope with their academics. We conduct assessments to find each child's strengths and weaknesses. Once we identify their areas of difficulty, we use a multisensory approach to overcome those challenges and help them cope well academically.

We focus on children with special needs, as well as children from mainstream schools who face difficulties in language, reading, spelling, communication, understanding and writing. Our philosophy centres on activity-based learning and learning through play.

Here, children are given one-to-one attention and a conducive environment for learning. We build good rapport and sustain friendly relationships with each child. We make sure children enjoy learning and help them grow at their own pace.

Merlin Rathna Priya J

Counselling Psychologist · Remedial Therapist & Trainer

Parenting Coach · Mindfulness Meditation Practitioner
Director, Changing Tree CDC · Founder, CREDENCE

WICCI TN State President PG Counselling Psychology Certified SLD Specialist Counsellors Council of India Bharathiya CPA Member

Our Founder & Director

Meet Merlin Rathna Priya J

Merlin Rathna Priya J is a well-versed Counselling Psychologist, Remedial Therapist and Trainer. She is a Parenting Coach and Trainer, and a Mindfulness-Meditation Practitioner. She holds the position of Tamil Nadu State President of the Special Needs Council of WICCI.

She has a varied educational background — a Post-Graduate in Counselling Psychology, and Certified in Specific Learning Disability. She is a member of the Counsellors Council of India and Bharathiya Counselling Psychology Association.

She is currently the Consultant Remedial Trainer and Process Coordinator at Jeypore School, Jaipur, and Consultant Trainer and Assessor at Read, Right Read Readily, Mumbai.

She has been working in the remedial education field for a decade — constantly working with children with LD, ADD, ADHD, ASD, slow learners and underachievers. She has done full-time remediation as well as part-time pull-out sessions for children from mainstream schools.

Merlin founded CREDENCE — an active pan-India WhatsApp and Facebook community for professionals across India to collaborate and promote inclusive education. Her goal is to reduce the number of children being pushed to special schools by creating adaptive learning strategies within mainstream education.

To pursue her passion, she started Changing Tree Child Development Centre, registered under the Government of India. "As a place to learn and grow, Changing Tree makes a positive impact on many children and their parents."

Roles & Key Contributions

Trained parents, teachers and graduates on strategies and intervention models for children with learning disability. Worked as a trainer at Srishti Special School for 3+ years.

Mentor to undergraduate and postgraduate students of Madras University for case studies and guided their field work with children with learning disability.

Administers both formal and informal assessments for children with learning difficulties and special needs.

Conducted many workshops for parents on parenting strategies, stress management and emotional stability.

Involved in parental counselling as well as individual student counselling sessions.

Founder and Admin of CREDENCE — a pan-India professional group for remedial and special educators promoting inclusive education throughout India.

Our Vision & Mission

Creating Awareness,
Driving Change

🎯 Our Vision

To create a world where every child — regardless of their learning style or ability — is included, valued and empowered within mainstream education. We envision a society where learning difficulties are understood, not stigmatised, and where every child has access to the support they need to grow and succeed.

🌱 Our Mission

Our mission is to create awareness about learning difficulties among teachers and parents in the mainstream education system — working strenuously to reduce the rate of children being pushed to special schools. We do this by creating adaptive strategies, conducting workshops, and building a pan-India community of professionals committed to inclusive education.

Work With Us →

🌳

Inclusive Education

Promoting inclusion of children with learning difficulties within mainstream school systems rather than pushing them to special schools.

💡

Awareness & Training

Creating awareness about learning disability and difficulties among teachers, parents and institutions across India through workshops and training.

🤝

CREDENCE Community

A pan-India professional network working together to share effective intervention strategies and promote inclusive education nationwide.

🎯

Adaptive Strategies

Streamlining slow learners and underachievers in mainstream setups by creating adaptive and conducive learning styles and strategies for every child.

Changing TreeChild Development Centre