At Action Behavior, we provide evidence-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our clinically excellent ABA therapy services take place in bright, playful centers designed for growth and learning.
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ABA therapy service lines:
Center-based ABA therapy takes place in engaging environments where children build communication, independence, social, and school readiness skills through individualized support.
- Available nationwide
- Center-based therapy: 18 months–8 years
This continuation-of-care program supports children who attend school part- or full-time but could benefit from additional help. Sessions strengthen social flexibility, organization, and following directions.
- Available in Arizona, Colorado, & Texas
- ABC Academy: 5–12 years
ABC at Home brings skilled therapists into your child's familiar environment to teach skills that fit naturally into daily routines, with added flexibility and more frequent Family Guidance.
- Available in select Texas markets
- ABC at Home: 18 months–13 years
What is ABA therapy?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a research-backed therapy that uses the science of learning to help autistic children build functional skills for everyday life. At Action Behavior Centers, our Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBAs®) set individualized goals in collaboration with families, and Registered Behavior Technicians® (RBTs®) deliver therapy through positive reinforcement, structured teaching, and natural learning opportunities.
Every child learns differently, so sessions are tailored to fit each child's unique needs and learning style. RBTs work with children to break new skills into small, achievable steps, adjusting their approach based on data collected every session.
What are target behaviors in ABA?
In ABA therapy, a target behavior is any skill or behavior that a child is working on during sessions. Some target behaviors are skills we want to build, like asking for help, making eye contact, or taking turns. Others are behaviors we want to reduce, like aggression or self-injury.
Target behaviors are drawn from the individualized goals that families set with their child's BCBA, so therapy always reflects what matters most to your family. In every case, the focus is on teaching children more effective ways to communicate and interact so they can thrive at home, school, and in the community.
Our clinicians focus on two core goals during ABA therapy:
1. Understanding behavior
We look at why a behavior is happening. What is the child trying to communicate, gain, or avoid? Once we understand the function of a behavior, we can teach a more appropriate way for the child to meet the same need.
2. Teaching new skills
We assess each child's current abilities and work with families to build personalized goals around communication, social interaction, self-care, and school readiness. Often, target behaviors stem from a missing skill, so as children learn more effective ways to communicate and interact, those behaviors frequently decrease on their own.
ABA is both a science and highly individualized. Some autistic children respond best to structured tools like token boards and visual schedules, while others thrive in play-based environments. Our BCBAs and RBTs tailor each child's program to fit their unique strengths, needs, and learning style.
How a child becomes eligible for ABA therapy
A child needs a formal autism diagnosis to start ABA therapy and use insurance benefits for care. If your child doesn't have an autism diagnosis yet, our online screening tools and professional evaluations for children ages 18 months to 6 years can help guide your next steps.
An autism diagnosis is the first step, but insurance plans also look for evidence that ABA treatment is medically necessary, such as addressing specific needs like safety, communication, or social skills, and progress can be tracked over time through clear, individualized goals. This might require a referral from your pediatrician.
The ABA therapy referral process, the eligibility questions, the insurance paperwork—none of it has to be something you figure out alone. Our teammates are here to handle the details so you can focus on your child. We don’t have waitlists, so you can get started right away.
What ABA therapy methods does ABC use?
Our ABA therapy providers use two teaching strategies: Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT) and Natural Environment Teaching (NET). Both methods are used to help children build meaningful skills in ways that fit their learning style and individualized goals.
Discrete Trial Teaching
DTT breaks down new skills into small, manageable steps, each involving a prompt, the child's response, and positive reinforcement. The process repeats until the skill is learned and may include table work, matching games, imitation practice, and other targeted tasks. DTT works especially well for introducing new concepts or teaching step-by-step routines.
Natural Environment Teaching
NET uses a child's natural environment and play to teach important skills in real-life context. While children lead the experience, RBTs create learning opportunities in the moment based on preselected goals, targeting skills like appropriate play, name recognition, sharing, and motor skills through activities the child already enjoys.
How does ABA therapy help autistic children?
ABA therapy helps children diagnosed with ASD develop meaningful and functional skills that they can apply to their everyday lives. Parents also receive Family Guidance to support the generalization of these skills across different settings and with different people.
Communication skills
Speaking, using gestures, making eye contact, understanding others
School readiness skills
Pre-academic skills like imitation, matching, and categorization
Behavior support
Reduce unsafe behaviors (aggression, self-injury, property destruction) by teaching safer, more effective ways to get needs met
Social skills
Turn-taking, initiating conversations, engaging in play with peers, building relationships
How we build a child's ABA therapy treatment plan
No two autistic children are the same. Some may need support building communication skills, while others may work on reducing repetitive or self-injurious behaviors. That's why our BCBAs conduct a comprehensive assessment and work with families to set individualized, measurable goals based on each child's unique strengths and needs.
After the evaluation, your child's BCBA will identify areas for skill development and share strategies families can use to apply those skills in everyday life. Every goal is practical, tailored to your family, and built for real life.
Examples of ABA therapy goals may include:
Increase the use of spoken words to request a toy from five to 10 times a day
Initiate playing with peers at least three times during the day
Follow prompts during a handwashing routine in four out of five opportunities
Identify 10 new common household objects by name
Establishing a baseline and tracking ABA therapy progress
Before therapy begins, your child's team establishes a baseline for each goal, a starting point to measure real progress against. RBTs collect data every session, and your child's BCBA reviews it regularly, adjusting the plan as your child grows or as new needs come up.
Each child works with a dedicated treatment team, one BCBA supervisor and up to nine RBTs, a smaller caseload than most ABA therapy centers. That structure means your child's team gets to know them well, and progress notes reflect a clear, ongoing picture of how they're doing rather than a snapshot from someone new each session.
What does a typical day of ABA therapy look like?
At Action Behavior Centers, ABA therapy is a fun, interactive experience for autistic children and their families. Before working on a child's specific goals, our team takes time to make sure your child feels comfortable by building rapport and discovering their favorite toys, games, and what makes them laugh. Each team includes one BCBA supervisor and nine RBTs, a smaller caseload than most ABA therapy centers, so every child gets the individualized attention they deserve.
Step 1
Your child's BCBA completes an initial evaluation and sets individualized goals in collaboration with your family before therapy sessions begin.
Step 2
You bring your child to your local ABC ABA therapy center in the morning. During check-in, you meet your child's therapist in the lobby, so you know exactly who's starting the day with them.
Step 3
After the therapist welcomes your child, they head to their assigned room or play area for the first session of the day. A typical day may include building skills such as asking for a toy, matching pictures, or cleaning up after themselves.
Step 4
Throughout each session, therapists track progress toward your child's individualized goals. For example, a child who responds to their name 20% of the time might reach 50%, then 80%, as their team uses different teaching methods over time.
Step 5
Your child rotates between therapists on their team to support skill generalization, learning to use new skills across different people, places, and situations, not just in a single therapy setting.
Step 6
At the end of the day, families pick up their children at a designated time. We verify the ID of anyone picking up to confirm they're on the approved list, so your child's safety is protected every step of the way.
Step 7
BCBAs regularly reassess goals as your child reaches milestones or new needs come up, adjusting the plan accordingly. We celebrate every milestone moment!
Will my child be sitting at a table all day during ABA therapy?
No way! We create an exciting environment for learning. While sitting at a table may support school readiness, most learning happens through movement, play, and exploration, including our "Eats and Crafts" spaces, Circle Time, and sensory rooms.
How are parents involved in ABA therapy?
Families play a vital role in the success of any ABA therapy program. Every child’s treatment includes twice-a-month Family Guidance sessions led by your child’s Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
During these sessions, BCBAs work directly with families to:
- Set 2–4 personalized goals that reflect what’s most meaningful in your home life
- Share evidence-based strategies to help with real-life challenges, like potty training, sibling relationships, or transitions
- Teach the principles of ABA in a practical, approachable way
- Empower parents with tools and techniques to reinforce learning outside of therapy
Coordinated care, all in one place
The best outcomes happen when everyone is on the same page. With your permission, your child's BCBA will coordinate with their full support team, including pediatricians, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and other providers, so all diagnoses and goals are considered in their individualized plan.
We also maintain a list of approved speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapy providers who can deliver sessions at our centers during the therapy day, so your child can receive multiple therapies in one familiar place. Families are always welcome to choose their own outside providers, and we'll coordinate with them, too.
How ABC coordinates with all your child's care providers
How much does ABA therapy cost?
ABA therapy is covered by most private health insurance plans. We’re in-network with many of the country’s largest insurers. Insurance can be tricky to navigate, so ABC’s insurance specialists will check your benefits, explain your options, and take care of the paperwork for you.
How to get started with ABA therapy
If your child already has an autism diagnosis and you want to get started with ABA therapy, you can contact us to schedule a tour.
If your child has many of the early signs of autism and does not yet have a diagnosis, we offer the following diagnostic support services:
No-cost online screening tools
Schedule an autism assessment near you
Action Behavior Centers provides the ADOS-2 and Initial Diagnostic Evaluations (IDEs) for children ages 18 months to 6 years. Contact us to learn about the autism diagnostic support services available in your area.
Help your child thrive with ABA therapy.
Complete our online interest form to get matched with a center. We will be in touch soon!
Frequently asked questions about ABA therapy
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When is the best time for my child to begin ABA therapy?
How do we use positive reinforcement in ABA?
How long are ABA therapy sessions?
How do you measure progress in ABA therapy?
Can ABA therapy be done after school or on weekends?
