What Is ABA Therapy?
Every child deserves to communicate, connect, and grow with confidence. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a proven, compassionate approach that helps children develop the skills they need to thrive.
ABA therapy uses evidence-based teaching strategies to help children learn communication, social skills, self-care, and emotional regulation. For families in Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, and Keller, we bring expert ABA therapy directly to your home—where your child will actually use these skills every day.
How ABA Therapy Helps Your Child
We focus on building skills that make a real difference in your child's daily life:
Communication
From first words to full conversations, we help children express their needs, wants, and feelings effectively. Whether your child is nonverbal or working on advanced language skills, we meet them where they are.
Social Skills
Building friendships, sharing, taking turns, understanding social cues—we teach the skills that help children connect with peers and family in meaningful ways.
Daily Living Skills
Self-care routines like dressing, eating, brushing teeth, and toileting. We break these tasks into manageable steps that build your child's independence.
Learning & Play
Academic readiness, following instructions, problem-solving, and learning through play. We make learning engaging and fun while building crucial skills.
Emotional Regulation
Understanding and managing emotions, coping with changes and transitions, and developing healthy ways to express feelings—reducing challenging behaviors naturally.
Family Routines
Making mealtimes, bedtime, morning routines, and outings smoother and more enjoyable for the whole family. We help create consistency that reduces stress.
Why Families Choose ABA Therapy
✓ Backed by Decades of Research
ABA is supported by over 60 years of research and is recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General, the CDC, and major medical organizations as the most effective intervention for autism. It's evidence-based, which means it works—that's why insurance covers it.
✓ Personalized to Your Child
No two children are alike. We design each program around your child's unique strengths, interests, and goals—not a one-size-fits-all checklist. We use comprehensive assessments like the VB-MAPP to understand where your child is and create a personalized roadmap for growth.
✓ Skills That Work in Real Life
In-home ABA therapy means your child learns in the environment where they'll actually use these skills. From the kitchen to the playroom to the backyard, we teach in natural settings so skills generalize to school, family gatherings, and community outings.
✓ Progress You Can Track
We collect data every session to ensure your child is making meaningful progress. If something isn't working, we adjust quickly. You'll always know how your child is doing, what we're working on, and what comes next.
✓ Positive, Play-Based Learning
We use positive reinforcement—finding what motivates your child (bubbles, dinosaurs, music, high-fives) and using that joy to teach new skills. Learning happens through play and natural interactions, not drills and demands.
"Every child works directly with a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with a master's degree and years of experience—not an entry-level technician."
How ABA Therapy Works
Teaching Strategies That Work
We use a variety of proven ABA techniques, tailored to what works best for your child:
- Natural Environment Teaching (NET): Learning through play and daily routines. Your child learns while playing with toys, during snack time, or while helping with chores—making therapy natural and fun.
- Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Breaking complex skills into small, achievable steps. Like teaching a recipe one ingredient at a time.
- Task Analysis: Deconstructing multi-step tasks (like brushing teeth or getting dressed) into manageable pieces.
- Prompting & Fading: Providing support when needed, then gradually removing it as your child gains independence.
Every strategy is personalized to your child's learning style and your family's goals.
Wondering if ABA is right for your child? Let's talk—schedule a free consultation →
What Makes Little Steps Different?
Most ABA providers use Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) with 40 hours of training to work with your child. At Little Steps, every session is led by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a master's degree and 2,000+ hours of supervised experience. No hand-offs. No turnover. Just expert care from day one.
Learn About Our Approach →Who Will Work With Your Child?
Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)
BCBAs are highly trained professionals who design and oversee ABA programs. Requirements include:
- Master's degree in behavior analysis, psychology, or related field
- 1,500-2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience
- Passing a rigorous national certification exam
- 30 hours of continuing education annually
At Little Steps: Your child works directly with a BCBA every session. You get the highest level of expertise from the start.
Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs)
Most ABA providers use RBTs to implement therapy. RBTs complete 40 hours of training, pass a competency assessment, and renew certification annually. While RBTs can be effective, they're entry-level providers, and high turnover is common at large clinics.
The impact on families: When your child's therapist leaves, your child has to start over with someone new, disrupting progress and trust.
The Little Steps Difference
We don't use the RBT model. Every family in Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller, and surrounding areas gets a BCBA directly. That means no turnover, consistent care, and the confidence that a master's-level professional is guiding your child's progress every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions About ABA Therapy
Does insurance cover ABA therapy in Texas?
Yes! Texas law requires most insurance plans to cover ABA therapy for autism. We work with Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, BCBS, and many others. We handle the insurance paperwork and verification so you can focus on your child.
How do I know if my child needs ABA therapy?
ABA therapy can help if your child has communication delays, challenges with social interactions, difficulty following routines, frequent tantrums or meltdowns, or a recent autism diagnosis. The best way to know is to schedule a free consultation where we can discuss your specific concerns.
What's the difference between ABA and speech therapy?
Speech therapy focuses specifically on communication and areas such as articulation, language processing, and speech mechanics. ABA includes much of this and also addresses behavior, learning readiness, social skills, daily living skills, and more. We work closely with speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy providers to ensure a comprehensive and effective treatment approach across all skill domains,
Will ABA change my child's personality?
Absolutely not. Quality ABA therapy doesn't try to make your child "normal" or erase who they are. Our goal is to help them communicate their needs, manage overwhelming situations, and build independence so they can live life on their terms. Your child's personality, interests, and uniqueness remain intact.
What areas do you serve?
We serve much of the Dallas/Fort-Worth region approximately 15 miles from Grapevine. This means we can provide in-home ABA in Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Coppell, Irving, Arlington, Flower Mound, Lewisville, North Richland Hills, Watauga, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, and surrounding areas!
How long does ABA therapy take to work?
Most families see progress within the first 2-3 months. Some skills develop quickly (like requesting favorite items), while others take longer (like complex conversations or self-regulation). The timeline depends on your child's starting point, the number of hours per week, and the specific goals you're working toward.
Can ABA therapy be done at home in Grapevine?
Yes! In-home ABA therapy is often more effective because your child learns skills in the environment where they'll actually use them. We serve families throughout Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Flowermound, and Irving, bringing expert therapy directly to your home.
What's the difference between clinic-based and in-home ABA?
Clinic-based ABA requires driving to a center where therapy happens in a dedicated room. In-home ABA brings the therapist to you—your child learns in their natural environment, there's no commute, and parents can observe and participate in every session. Skills learned at home transfer more easily to everyday life.
What happens in the first ABA session?
The first few sessions focus on assessment and building rapport. We observe your child, talk with you about your concerns and goals, identify what motivates your child, and begin designing a personalized program. This is a no-pressure exploration—you're not committing to anything yet. We're just getting to know your family and determining how we can help.
Is ABA therapy only for children with autism?
While autism is the most common reason families seek ABA, the principles work for any child with behavioral or learning challenges—ADHD, developmental delays, learning disabilities, and more. ABA is simply the science of teaching, and it's used in schools, sports, and many other settings beyond autism intervention.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you're in Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, or nearby, and you're looking for ABA therapy that truly supports your child and family, we'd love to talk.
Schedule Your Free Consultation →No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a conversation about your child's needs and how we can help.