You have questions.
Here are real answers.
If your child was recently diagnosed, you're probably sorting through a lot of information — much of it confusing, some of it conflicting. This page explains exactly what ABA therapy is, how it works at CBAT, and what the first weeks actually look like for your family.
What is ABA therapy, exactly?
Applied Behavior Analysis is the most studied approach to autism therapy available. That's not marketing language — it's the reason insurance companies cover it, and the reason pediatricians recommend it. ABA is built on one core idea: behavior is learned, and with the right support, it can change.
In practice, that means a therapist works directly with your child — not in a group, not on a screen — to build skills that genuinely matter to your family. Communication. Self-care. Getting through a school day. Managing a moment that used to end in a meltdown.
ABA does not try to make your child neurotypical. It tries to give them more tools. The goals come from you as much as from the clinician.
The first two weeks — honestly.
A lot of providers talk about "the process" without telling you what Tuesday looks like. Here's what actually happens when you start at CBAT.
Before your child's first session, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) conducts an initial assessment. This takes more than one meeting. The BCBA observes your child directly, talks with you about what you're seeing at home, and uses standardized tools to get a clear picture of where your child is today — not where a checklist says they should be.
From that assessment, we build an individualized treatment plan. It is specific. It has measurable goals. And it is written for your child, not a category your child happens to fit.
Therapy sessions begin after the plan is in place. Your child will work primarily with a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) — a trained therapist who delivers sessions under direct BCBA supervision. The BCBA reviews data regularly, adjusts the program when something isn't working, and checks in with you as a parent throughout.
From your first call to your child’s first session.
Most Houston families are in active ABA therapy within 4 to 8 weeks of contacting us. Here is exactly how it works — no vague timelines, no surprises.
One Call — Tell Us What’s Hardest
You talk to a real person, not a form. We ask about your child — their age, diagnosis, what’s been difficult, what you’ve already tried. If we’re the right fit for your family, we say so. If we’re not, we’ll point you somewhere that is. There’s no commitment involved in calling.
Insurance Verified — Before You Commit to Anything
We contact your insurer directly and confirm your ABA therapy coverage in writing — deductible, copay, authorized hours, and out-of-pocket maximum. You’ll have clear numbers before your child ever starts a session. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Texas Medicaid, Texas Children’s Health Plan, Tricare, Aetna, Cigna, Ambetter, and more.
BCBA Assessment — Your Child’s Individualized Plan
Once insurance authorizes care — typically 1 to 3 weeks after approval — your child is assessed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) licensed in Texas. The BCBA observes your child, gathers information from you directly, and writes a treatment plan built around your child’s actual goals: communication, daily living skills, behavior, social skills, or school readiness. You review and approve every goal before therapy begins.
Therapy Begins — With Ongoing Data and Parent Coaching
Your child’s Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) delivers one-to-one ABA sessions — in your home, at our Houston center, or both. Every session is documented. Your BCBA reviews the data regularly, adjusts the plan when needed, and meets with you at least twice a month through structured parent training. Progress is measured from day one. Nothing is guesswork.
How ABA builds lasting change.
Growth
Every child grows at their own pace — and that's exactly how we plan for it. Through individualized goals and consistent data-driven sessions, CBAT supports steady, measurable growth so each milestone becomes a foundation for the next.
Communication
Finding your voice — in any form — changes everything. Our therapists build functional communication whether a child uses words, pictures, an AAC device, or sign language. We work toward what your child needs to express: requests, feelings, connection with the people they love.
Independence
CBAT works on the daily living skills that add up to a fuller life — getting dressed, preparing food, moving through community spaces with confidence. We set these goals with you, because what independence means to your family matters more than what a curriculum says it should look like.
Learning
ABA is at its core a science of learning. We break skills into manageable steps, use positive reinforcement to build momentum, and continuously review data to refine the approach. Every session should move your child closer to mastering something that matters.
Success
Success looks different for every child — and we don't define it for you. A first word, a school morning that went smoothly, a friendship. CBAT measures progress by what is meaningful to your family. We celebrate those moments, because they're the whole point.
We probably take your insurance.
CBAT accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Texas Medicaid, Texas Children's Health Plan, Tricare/TriWest, WellPoint (Amerigroup), Superior Health Plan, Ambetter, Cigna, Aetna, and MultiPlan/PHCS/Claritev. Additional plans are being added. Coverage depends on your individual plan and prior authorization, which is why we verify benefits for every family before services start — at no cost to you.
If your plan isn't listed or you're not sure what you have, call us. We'd rather spend five minutes on the phone with you than have you spend a week wondering.
Check If We Take Your Insurance