Mental Health Blog

Introduction Who spends the most direct time helping a child practice communication, daily living, social, and learning skills during ABA therapy? In many programs, that professional is a behavior technician. According to BACB data, there were 246,109 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) at the end of 2025, of which 82,681 were newly certified in 2025. This guide covers the role, supervision,

Introduction: Why Should Autism Care Support the Whole Child? Autism care should never focus on a diagnosis alone, because every child has their own way of learning, communicating, feeling, playing, and responding to the world around them. A whole-child autism care model considers the entire child’s development such as behavior, communication, sensory needs, emotional regulation, daily living, family routines and

What if therapy could help your child ask for a break, get ready for school, or handle a change in plans with greater confidence? CDC estimates have recently concluded that approximately one child in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism, and there is a need for effective, individualized supports. Modern ABA emphasizes the acquisition of skills in

A child’s day is full of small skills that can feel big: getting dressed, holding a pencil, brushing teeth, sitting through class, eating different foods, or calming the body after a hard moment. Occupational therapy supports children in developing everyday life skills in a real-life context. In California, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people develop, improve, or restore

Could your child’s repeated words be more than “copying”? Many families are first introduced to echolalia when a child echoes questions, cartoon lines, songs or phrases from activities in everyday life. Echolalia can feel confusing at first. A parent may ask, “Do you want juice?” and the child may repeat, “Do you want juice?” instead of answering yes or no.

Often parents will wonder why their Child’s ABA therapy session isn’t just table work and not toys, snack, playground, or routines. This method is known as Natural Environment Teaching or NET. Natural Environment Teaching is an ABA method that builds skills during real-life moments. Communication skills could include asking for bubbles, turn taking on a swing or dressing themselves. The

Understanding Reinforcement Schedules in ABA Therapy Learning a new skill can feel exciting for a child, but it can also feel confusing when expectations are not clear. Reinforcement schedules are part of the ABA therapy that increases predictability in learning. In 2026, ABA remains one of the most widely recognized behavioral approaches used in autism care. CDC defines Applied Behavior

A child’s voice is not only about words. It is how they ask for help, share joy, make friends, and feel understood. Many families begin seeking Speech Therapy in Glendale when there is something that seems more difficult than it should be. A child may speak very little, have difficulty articulating some sounds, repeat words, feel frustrated when asking for

A bright grocery store may seem normal to one child, but for an autistic child, it can feel like walking into a room full of flashing signs, loud colors, moving people, and lights that will not turn off. Research shows that sensory differences are very common in autism. It is very common for 90 percent of autistic people to have