ABA stands for applied behavior analysis. It is a type of therapy that helps improve behaviors and teach new skills. ABA focuses on understanding why behaviors happen and works to increase beneficial behaviors (like communication and social skills) through positive reinforcement while decreasing challenging or interfering behaviors.

During ABA therapy, we work on many different skills depending on the needs of your child. These might include any combination of communication skills, social skills, self-care skills, pre-academic skills, functional play skills, and/or emotional regulation.

We primarily focus on early intervention (below 5 years of age) but do serve children into adolescence.

Depending on your child’s needs, we can provide services in our Oakland clinic, in your child’s daycare or school, or in your child’s home or community.

Parents are an integral piece of the therapy team, as you have the most knowledge about your child. As a primary caregiver for your child, active and consistent participation in therapy is a critical component of your child’s success in ABA therapy. Most often, this takes the form of regular communication and collaboration with your clinical team, as well as practicing skills with your child as directed by your clinical team.

We are currently in network with most major privatized insurance companies (AdventHealth, Aetna®, Blue Cross®, Blue Shield®, Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth® Health Services, Humana® Home Health Care Services Company, Optum, United Healthcare®, Orlando Health, and Tricare®.) We also accept the Step Up For Students Scholarships and work with families for private pay services.

When working with your child, your therapist will work through play and will strive to ignite your child’s motivation. The therapist may start a game and pause to prompt your child to communicate or follow a simple instruction. Additionally, therapists work through natural routines, such as snack time and toileting, to help your child be as independent as possible.

Yes, most insurance companies require a referral for ABA therapy.

ABA therapy is intensive and is usually delivered in multi-hour sessions for three to six months at a time. ABA therapy can also be delivered through parent coaching, which involves the therapists working directly with the parent instead of the child and is typically delivered between one to two hours per week.

Therapy sessions range depending on the level of intensity your child needs. These therapy sessions are delivered most commonly on a daily/weekly basis.

When your child participates in ABA therapy, the end goal is to help your child achieve as much independence as possible. This includes making strides in communication, coping skills for frustration, and increasing developmentally appropriate skills to help them interact with their peers in the community.

ABA therapy is highly recommended for children with autism,but this is not exclusive to autistic children. ABA therapy helps children with delays as well as neurotypical children, and even adults.

In ABA therapy, a master’s level clinician is required to oversee your child’s program. This person is known as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). They have been trained in the science of behavior and have passed a board exam to ensure competence within the science.

In ABA therapy, your child will be seen by a treatment team. The direct care staff who will work with your child daily include Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT). These RBTs are trained by a behavior analyst and supervised by the BCBA while working with your child. An additional therapist will monitor goal progression, ensuring your child is working with multiple people.

Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping your child develop the skills they need to perform daily activities for their age (i.e., handwriting, dressing, and using scissors). A pediatric occupational therapist can also support your child in developing their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, sensory processing and integration, visual-perceptual skills, hand-eye coordination, and emotional regulation.

We primarily focus on early intervention (below 5 years of age) but do serve children into adolescence.

Services are available in our clinic.

There are key ways you can support your child in therapy! Actively participating in sessions will allow you to learn the strategies that your occupational therapist is using so that you can implement these techniques at home with your child. You play a vital role in helping your child through consistency and practice at home. Keeping open communication with your child’s therapist allows you to stay informed about your child’s progress, goals, and any challenges that may arise.

We are currently in network with United Healthcare®, Cigna Healthcare, and Aetna®. We also accept the Step Up For Students Scholarship and work with families for private pay.

An occupational therapy session follows a structured, but flexible format that supports your child’s individual needs, developmental level, and goals. When working with your child, your therapist will utilize play-based strategies and follow your child’s motivation. Activities vary depending on the areas being addressed, but therapy often involves activities that keep your child engaged.

A pediatric occupational therapist can work with your child in the following ways:

• Developing hand/finger strength and coordination for writing, buttoning, and using utensils (fine motor skills)
• Enhancing coordination, balance, and strength for running, jumping, and climbing (gross motor skills)
• Sensory processing and integration
• Self-care skills (i.e., dressing, feeding, grooming, toileting)
• Visual-perceptual skills that improve your child’s ability to read and write
• Emotional regulation
• Hand-eye coordination
• Adaptive equipment training

Yes, most insurance companies require a referral from your pediatrician for occupational therapy.

Occupational therapy sessions are typically 30-60 minutes and are usually recommended for three to six months at a time.

Occupational therapy sessions can be recommended 1-3 times per week. These recommendations are based on a formal evaluation.

When your child participates in occupational therapy, the end goal is helping your child be more independent in completing daily activities, building strength/coordination to complete fine motor/gross motor tasks, improving coordination, and developing the ability to manage their emotions. The goal is for your child to participate fully in activities at home, in school, and in the community..

Coordinated care includes a treatment team. The idea of the multidisciplinary model is the ability for all your child’s providers to work alongside each other, allowing for the goals targeted in each therapy to be reinforced across the child and family routines.

When providers work together on shared goals for the child, the child receives repeated exposures and is able to reach those goals more quickly. Additionally, the child understands these new skills are required in all aspects of their life, giving them the ability to demonstrate them in a variety of environments.

Providers can meet together to share progress and skills learned. They also share helpful information about their success to help the other providers get the same response across different therapies.