Questions we hear
every week.

ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis. At its core, it's a way of teaching skills by breaking them into small, clear steps — and tracking what's working so the plan can change when needed.

In practice, that means a therapist sitting with your child, working on whatever is hardest right now. Communication. Morning routines. Keeping it together in a loud room. Making a friend. The goals come from your child's actual life, not a generic checklist.

Every session produces data. The BCBA reviews it, adjusts the plan, and tells you what changed and why. You're never left guessing.

ABA is most often recommended for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It works across a wide range of abilities — from children who are non-speaking to kids who are fully verbal but struggling socially or with self-regulation.

We serve children ages 2 through 18. The best way to know if it's a fit is a direct conversation with our team. We'll be honest with you — if we think another service or a different provider is a better match, we'll say so.

No. Most families reach us within a few months of a diagnosis — sometimes before they've even received the written report. That's exactly the right time. The earlier therapy begins, the more time your child has to build skills during the years when the brain is most receptive to change.

You don't need to have anything figured out before you call us. That's what the first conversation is for.

It's a fair question and we'd rather answer it directly than pretend it hasn't come up.

Older forms of ABA — particularly those used decades ago — were often rigid, focused heavily on eliminating behaviors rather than building skills, and didn't center the child's experience. Legitimate criticism of those approaches is well-documented.

Modern ABA has changed significantly. At CBAT, therapy is child-led where possible, built around your child's interests, and never uses aversive techniques. The goal is not to make your child appear neurotypical. It's to help them communicate, build independence, and do more of what they want to do. We're happy to walk you through our approach in detail before you make any decisions.

Goals are built around your child's individual needs — nothing is templated. Common focus areas include:

• Functional communication (words, AAC devices, picture exchange)
• Daily living skills — getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating at the table
• Managing transitions and unexpected changes
• Reducing self-injurious or aggressive behavior
• Social skills — taking turns, joining a conversation, reading social cues
• School readiness and academic support

Your BCBA will assess your child first and work with you to prioritize what matters most to your family right now.

Call us at 832-753-3105 or fill out the intake form. Someone from our team will reach out within one business day. That first call is just a conversation — no forms to sign, no commitment, no pressure.

We'll ask about your child, answer your questions, verify your insurance, and tell you honestly what to expect and when.

Yes — for insurance to cover ABA services, your child will need a documented ASD diagnosis from a licensed psychologist or developmental pediatrician. Most plans won't authorize services without it.

If your child is still in the evaluation process, go ahead and call us. We can get your file started, answer your insurance questions, and be ready to move quickly once the diagnosis is in hand. Waiting until everything is finalized usually just adds to the delay.

The honest answer: it depends on your insurance. The authorization process typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from the time we submit, which we do on your behalf. Some plans move faster.

Once authorization comes through, we schedule the assessment within 1 to 3 weeks. Most families are in sessions within 4 to 8 weeks of their first call with us. We keep you updated throughout — you won't be left wondering where things stand.

That's determined by your child's assessment, not a standard package. Recommendations generally range from 10 hours a week on the lower end to 30 or more for children with higher support needs.

Your BCBA will go through the assessment results with you and explain the recommendation — including the reasoning behind it. Insurance authorization is based on that recommendation, and we handle the submission.

The assessment is conducted by a BCBA and typically takes a few sessions. The clinician will observe your child directly, ask you detailed questions about your child's daily routines, communication, behavior patterns, and what's hardest right now.

At the end of the assessment, the BCBA walks you through the findings and the proposed treatment plan — every goal, and why it's there. You'll have the chance to ask questions and give input before anything is finalized.

We are in-network with the following plans:

We are actively adding new plans. If yours isn't on the list, call us — it's worth checking. If we're not in-network, we'll tell you that clearly and help you figure out your options.

We do this for you. Once you contact us, we reach out to your insurer directly to confirm that ABA therapy is covered under your plan, what your deductible and copay look like, and whether prior authorization is required.

Before your child starts a single session, we'll give you a clear picture of your expected out-of-pocket cost. No surprises at billing.

That depends on your specific plan — deductible, copay, and whether you've met your out-of-pocket maximum for the year all factor in. We can't give you a number before we verify your benefits, but we will give you a real number before services begin.

The initial consultation with our team is free. Insurance verification is free. There's no cost until your child is actively in services.

Yes. We accept Texas Medicaid and Texas Children's Health Plan (CHIP). ABA therapy is a covered benefit under both, and we handle the authorization process on your behalf. Call us to confirm your child's specific plan and we'll take it from there.

If a claim is denied, we handle the appeals process. Many initial denials are overturned on appeal when clinical documentation is submitted correctly — and that's our job, not yours.

If your plan genuinely doesn't cover ABA, we'll let you know what your options are, including private-pay rates. We won't leave you without a clear answer.

Your child's sessions are delivered by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) — a trained, supervised therapist who shows up consistently and builds a real relationship with your child over time. The same therapist works with your child as much as possible. Continuity matters.

Overseeing everything is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) — a master's-level clinician licensed by the state of Texas. The BCBA designs the treatment plan, reviews the session data regularly, adjusts goals when needed, and is your direct point of contact for any clinical questions.

More involved than you might expect. Parent coaching is written into every treatment plan at CBAT — it's not optional and it's not extra. At least twice a month, your BCBA meets with you to go through what the therapist is working on and how to carry those strategies into the rest of the day.

What your child learns in a session has to work at dinner, in the car, at grandma's house. That doesn't happen without you. We treat you as part of the team because you are.

Every session is documented. Your BCBA reviews that data and brings you into it — not just "things are going well" but specifically: here's the goal we set, here's where your child started, here's where they are now.

Progress isn't always linear. Some goals move quickly, others take longer. When something isn't working, we change the approach — that's what the data is for. You'll never be the last to know.

We start by understanding why the behavior is happening. Every behavior serves a function — it communicates something your child can't yet say in another way. When we understand the function, we can teach a replacement behavior that meets the same need more effectively.

CBAT does not use punishment, aversive techniques, or anything designed to cause discomfort. Our approach is always to build skills, not to suppress behavior without addressing the reason behind it.

Yes. If your child is non-speaking or has limited verbal communication, we work with whatever system supports their voice — picture exchange (PECS), high-tech AAC devices, sign language, or a combination. We don't have a preference for one over another; we use what your child responds to. If a dedicated AAC evaluation is needed, we'll help you coordinate that.

We offer three settings, and most families use more than one:

• In-Home ABA — a therapist comes to your home and works with your child in the environment where skills need to stick. Good for morning routines, mealtime, transitions, and siblings.
• Center-Based ABA — structured one-to-one sessions at our center on Huffmeister Road in Houston. Purpose-built rooms, sensory-friendly design, and other children around for social practice.
• After-School Social Skills Groups — small groups for school-age kids, focused on conversation, turn-taking, and making connections.

Our therapy center is at 9525 Huffmeister Road, Houston, TX 77095 — in the Cypress/northwest Houston area. If you're coming from Katy, Cypress, Jersey Village, or the Energy Corridor, we're a straightforward drive.

For in-home therapy, we serve Houston and the surrounding communities including Katy, Cypress, Spring, and Tomball. Call us if you're unsure whether your area is covered.

It happens. Our staff is trained for it, and no one panics. We have quiet rooms and decompression spaces. The therapist and BCBA manage it together, document it, and use it to inform the plan going forward.

If you're at a drop-off, we'll always communicate with you about what happened during the day — not to alarm you, but because you should know. If something significant happened, we'll call.

The first visit is low-pressure on purpose. We're not testing your child or putting them through tasks they've never done. The BCBA is mostly observing, playing, and getting to know your child while gathering information. Your child doesn't need to perform.

Bring anything that helps your child feel comfortable — a favorite toy, a snack, whatever your family uses. We want the first impression to be a good one.

Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Therapy sessions can be scheduled based on your family's availability — morning, after-school, and some Saturday slots may be available depending on staffing. Ask us when you call.

It varies significantly by child. Some families are with us for one to two years, others longer. The goal is always to build enough independence that intensive therapy is no longer needed — and we work toward that from the first session.

Progress is reviewed regularly. When your child meets their goals, we reduce hours. When they're ready to transition out of ABA — to school-based services, community activities, or simply on their own — we plan that transition with you so there's no cliff.