ABA & Behavioral Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a scientifically validated approach to understanding behavior and how it is affected by the environment.

At its core, ABA focuses on identifying why a person behaves the way they do and uses evidence-based strategies to increase helpful behaviors while reducing those behaviors that may be harmful or interfere with everyday life skills.

While often recognized as the gold standard for supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), ABA is a versatile science used across many fields to help people develop new skills, improve communication, confidence and achieve greater independence.

Our Approach: Compassionate, Naturalistic ABA

At the Children’s Therapy & Learning Center, we believe that therapy is most effective when it doesn’t feel like work for the child. Our practice utilizes Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) to meet children where they are. Unlike traditional desk-based drills, we follow your child’s lead – using their favorite toys, daily routines, and natural interests.

By embedding learning into play, we help children gain skills that stick because they are learned in the context where they actually matter.

Our Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) capitalize on each child’s preferences to create engaging, motivating, and sensory-based experiences. We combine research-based science with a heart-centered approach to help every child thrive, building their independence and self-esteem, one breakthrough at a time.

Signs Your Child May Benefit from ABA Therapy

  • Limited Joint Attention: Not looking at an object when you point to it, or not looking back at you to share an interest in a toy.
  • Lack of Functional Play: Using toys in repetitive or non-functional ways (e.g., spinning the wheels of a car for a long period rather than driving it).
  • Lack of Response to Name: Often appearing as though they have selective hearing when their name is called.
  • Intense Transitions: Extreme distress when moving from one activity to another (e.g., leaving the park or ending bath time, etc.).
  • Difficulty with Group Instructions: Struggling to listen or follow directions given to a whole class or team rather than one-on-one.
  • Social Isolation: Difficulty engaging in cooperative play with peers or standing on the periphery of the playground.
  • Rigid Routines: Requiring things to be done in a very specific order and/or experiencing inflexibility and significant meltdowns if a rule is broken.
  • Communication Gaps: Being able to speak, but struggling to use language to hold a conversation or ask for help when frustrated.
  • Impulse Control: Difficulty waiting for a turn or staying in a designated area (sitting at a desk, standing in line, etc.)
  • Emotional Regulation: Cries, whines, hits, pushes, yells, kicks, screams or throws objects when they don’t get their way or if they are told no.
  • Safety Awareness or Self-Injurious: Has limited safety awareness and/or presents with self-injurious behaviors.
  • Struggles with Executive Functioning: Difficulty planning or completing multi-step tasks, such as getting ready for school or finishing a chore.
  • Social Misunderstandings: Missing unspoken social rules, sarcasm, or non-verbal body language, which may lead to peer conflict.
  • Safety Awareness Challenges: Lacking a sense of stranger danger or fails to recognize environmental hazards (like traffic).
  • Limited Independence: Relying heavily on parents or caregivers for basic self-care tasks (toileting, grooming, or simple meal prep) that peers are doing independently.
  • Emotional Regulation: Frequent big emotions that the child feels unable to manage, leading to withdrawal or aggressive outbursts.

Our ABA Core Values: The Promises We Keep

These six pillars guide every decision we make, every session we lead, and every goal we set with your family.

Connection Over Compliance

We prioritize the relationship between the therapist and the child above all else. We believe that real learning only happens when a child feels safe, seen, and truly connected to their team. We don’t demand obedience. We invite engagement.

Naturalistic & Joy-Led

Growth should happen in the kitchen, at the park, and on the playroom floor — not just at a desk. We follow your child’s naturalistic interests and use play as the primary vehicle for learning. If they’re having fun, they’re learning!

Assent-Based Approach

In our clinic, your child’s voice, whether verbal or non-verbal, always matters and we pay close attention to their body language and cues. We use an assent-based approach, meaning we treat no as a meaningful form of communication. We don’t just look for a verbal agreement; we look for joy and active interest. By respecting your child’s right to withdraw or refuse, we build a foundation of trust and safety that makes learning more effective and meaningful.

Neuro-Affirming Advocacy

We view neurodivergence as a natural part of human diversity. Our goal is to support your child’s unique way of experiencing the world, not to fix it. We honor sensory needs, respect personal boundaries, and celebrate the authentic self.

Families as Partners

You aren’t just on the team — you are the team captain! We don’t just work with your child — we partner with your entire family. We believe in radical transparency and collaborative goal-setting. We know that you are the most important person in your child’s life, and for therapy to be successful, it has to work for your home and your lifestyle.

Empowerment through Autonomy

We teach skills that give children a voice and the power of choice. From functional communication to self-advocacy, we are dedicated to helping your child become the most independent and confident version of themselves.

FAQ

Absolutely! Our goal isn’t to change your child’s personality or “mask” who they are. We celebrate their quirks and interests. We simply want to give them the tools to communicate their needs and navigate the world with less frustration. We use a strengths-based approach, meaning we build on what your child already loves.

Hardly ever! Because we specialize in Naturalistic ABA, therapy happens where life happens. That might be on the living room floor, in the backyard, or even at the grocery store. By working in these natural environments, the skills your child learns are immediately useful in their real world.

You are the HEART of the team. While we bring the behavioral expertise, you bring the expertise on your child. We don’t just “take over” for an hour; we work alongside you, sharing strategies so that that you feel empowered to support your child’s growth during the 90% of the week when we aren’t there.

Our “loving-first” philosophy means that if a child is distressed, we stop and reassess. We focus on pairing, which is the process of building a joyful, trusting bond between the therapist and the child before we ever ask them to work on a challenging skill. If it doesn’t feel like play, we aren’t doing it right.

No; unlike other companies in the Treasure Valley, The Children’s TLC does not require families to commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week. We recognize that families are busy and that every child is unique. Our goal is to create a sustainable, effective plan that is right for you and your child — not meet a corporate quota.