Answers to the questions families ask most.

Applied Behavior Analysis is a scientific approach to understanding and influencing human behavior. The core idea is that behavior is shaped by its consequences — things that happen after a behavior influence whether that behavior happens again. ABA uses this understanding systematically: therapists identify which behaviors to increase (communication, daily living skills, social interaction) and which to decrease (self-injury, aggression, escape behaviors), then design precise interventions to shift those patterns.

ABA has more rigorous research support than any other intervention for autism spectrum disorder. The research spans decades and hundreds of studies. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Surgeon General, and most major medical bodies.

This doesn't mean ABA is perfect or that it works identically for every child — but it does mean it's the most evidence-based starting point for many families navigating an autism diagnosis.

ABA has strong evidence across a wide range of ages, functioning levels, and presentations. That said, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and we believe in honest conversations about fit.

ABA tends to be most effective when it is intensive enough, individualized enough, and delivered early enough — but those aren't always the circumstances families find themselves in. We evaluate each child individually and will tell you honestly whether ABA is the right fit for your situation. If it isn't, we'll try to point you toward something that is. We're not in the business of enrolling children who won't benefit.

Speech therapy focuses specifically on communication — language, speech, social use of language. Occupational therapy focuses on motor skills, sensory processing, and daily living activities. ABA works on a much broader range of behavior, including communication, social skills, daily living, and behavior management — but does so through a specific methodology: careful observation, data collection, antecedent manipulation, and consequence-based learning.

In practice, ABA and speech/OT complement each other. Many children receive all three simultaneously. The difference isn't competition — it's scope and method. A strong ABA program coordinates with your child's other providers, and Kindaya is committed to that kind of coordinated care.

Yes, and it's worth addressing directly. Historical ABA practices in the 1960s–1980s included aversive techniques — punishment-based methods that were harmful and are now considered unacceptable. Some autistic adults who experienced that era of ABA have spoken out about how damaging it was, and their perspectives deserve to be heard and taken seriously.

Contemporary ABA has changed significantly. The field has largely moved away from punishment-based approaches toward reinforcement-based, child-led, and assent-focused models. Kindaya practices ABA in alignment with current ethical standards: we don't use aversive techniques, we prioritize your child's dignity and autonomy, and we take the autistic community's input seriously as a check on our clinical assumptions.

We believe families deserve honest answers about this history — not reassurance that dismisses legitimate concerns. Our commitment is to be the kind of provider whose practices we'd be comfortable defending in a room with autistic adults, not just in a board report.

If your child has received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and is experiencing challenges with communication, daily living skills, social interaction, or behavior that significantly disrupts their quality of life, ABA may be appropriate.

You don't need to be certain before you call — that's what the assessment is for. A good first step is a conversation with us. We'll ask about your child, your concerns, and your goals, and give you an honest read on whether ABA is likely to be helpful. We'd rather have families call too early than wait until challenges have compounded.

Yes. A formal autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is required before we can begin ABA services and bill insurance.

If your child is in the evaluation process, we're happy to have a preliminary conversation so you're not starting from scratch the day the diagnosis arrives. We can tell you what to expect, what documentation you'll need, and what the intake process looks like — so you're ready to move when the time comes.

Kindaya ABA is a newer practice, which means we currently have more availability than established providers. The typical timeline from your first call to therapy beginning is 4–6 weeks, including intake, insurance verification, and the BCBA assessment.

This is significantly faster than many ABA providers in the region, where waits of 6–12 months are common. We won't promise a specific start date — insurance credentialing and scheduling realities vary — but we move as quickly as we responsibly can.

The initial ABA assessment is conducted by the supervising BCBA in your home. It typically spans 2–3 visits. The BCBA observes your child directly, administers standardized skills assessments, interviews you about your priorities and concerns, reviews any existing diagnostic or evaluation reports, and assesses the environment in which therapy will take place.

The result is a written assessment report and a proposed treatment plan with specific, measurable goals. You review this plan before therapy begins. Nothing is final without your input and agreement.

Goals are set collaboratively — by the BCBA, with significant input from you. The assessment identifies your child's current skill levels, areas of challenge, and areas of strength. The BCBA proposes initial goals based on what's clinically indicated. Then we sit down with you and ask: what matters most to your family right now? What are the things that would make daily life more manageable, more joyful, more connected?

Goals are written to reflect both clinical need and family priority. They're measurable, specific, and reviewed regularly — usually every 3–6 months.

The right number depends on your child's assessment, their goals, their age, your family's schedule, and what your insurance authorizes. Research supports intensive early intervention — often 20–40 hours per week — for young children with significant skill deficits.

But "more hours" isn't automatically better if they aren't implemented well or if your family can't sustain them. Many children do very well with 10–20 hours per week. The BCBA will make a recommendation based on your child's profile and present it to you as a recommendation, not a mandate. Your voice in this decision matters.

There's no universal answer. Some children make rapid progress and transition out of ABA in 1–2 years. Others benefit from longer-term, lower-intensity services across many years.

Progress is monitored through data and reviewed formally at least every six months. We adjust intensity as your child's needs change — more hours during intensive early phases, fewer as skills solidify. Our goal is always to build skills that generalize to everyday life, not to create dependence on therapy.

A typical session is delivered by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who comes to your home. Sessions run 2–3 hours. The RBT follows a structured program written by the supervising BCBA, which includes specific skill programs and behavior plans.

Therapy doesn't look like a classroom — it looks like purposeful play, natural routines, and structured practice woven together. Your child might be working on requesting preferred items, taking turns in a game, following multi-step directions, or tolerating a haircut. The specific content depends entirely on their individual goals. Throughout the session, the RBT collects data that the BCBA reviews to track progress.

An RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) is a trained, supervised staff member who delivers therapy directly to your child. RBTs complete a 40-hour training program and pass a national competency assessment before working with clients.

A BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) holds a master's degree, has completed supervised fieldwork hours, and has passed a rigorous national certification exam. The BCBA designs the treatment program, supervises the RBT, makes clinical decisions, communicates with families, and is responsible for your child's outcomes. At Kindaya, every program is supervised by a BCBA from day one.

In-home ABA is our model. We don't currently offer school-based services. That said, we're happy to coordinate with your child's school team and share relevant data and goals.

Many families run school and home-based ABA in parallel — they complement each other well. If school-based ABA is what you're specifically looking for, we're happy to discuss whether in-home is a good fit alongside it or point you toward providers who specialize in school settings.

An adult must be home during sessions — that's a safety requirement. But you don't need to sit in the room and observe every minute.

That said, parent involvement is valuable. The more you understand about what's being worked on and why, the better you can support your child between sessions. We build parent training into every program specifically for this reason. You are one of your child's most important learning environments — we want to help you use that.

Some initial resistance is normal and expected. New people, new routines, new expectations — that's a lot of adjustment. Our RBTs are trained to spend the first sessions building rapport before pushing hard on any formal programs. Often, early sessions look mostly like play.

Resistance usually decreases as your child builds trust and learns that sessions are predictable and often enjoyable. If significant resistance continues beyond the adjustment period, it's clinical information — it tells us something about the program that needs to change. Resistance isn't a reason to stop therapy; it's a reason to adapt it.

Consistency matters in ABA, and we work to maintain it. We assign primary RBTs to clients and aim to minimize staff changes. That said, real life creates occasional gaps — illness, scheduling conflicts, staff turnover. When substitutions are necessary, we use staff who are familiar with your child's program, not someone new to the file.

If consistency becomes a persistent concern, it's something we'll address directly rather than dismiss. Relationship with your therapist is clinical, not just logistical.

We are currently in the credentialing process with Medi-Cal, Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, and Kaiser Permanente. Credentialing typically takes 3–6 months. We will update this section as credentialing is completed.

For the most current information on accepted plans, call us at (916) 461-5285. All 50 U.S. states mandate insurance coverage for ABA therapy, and most major plans are required to cover it.

ABA therapy is intensive and expensive without insurance coverage — typically $100–$200 per hour, which adds up quickly at 10–20 hours per week. This is why insurance coverage is so important, and why we prioritize credentialing with as many payors as possible.

Private pay is available at Kindaya for families who need it. Rates are discussed individually. If cost is a concern, please call us — we'd rather have the conversation than have you assume it's not possible.

Contact us. We may be able to credential with additional payors based on demand from the families we're hearing from. Your plan may also offer out-of-network benefits that we can help you navigate.

In some cases, we can work with your insurer to establish a single-case agreement — an arrangement where we're authorized to provide services at an agreed-upon rate even outside formal credentialing. We don't promise any of this will work in your situation, but we'll help you explore your options.

We serve families throughout the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities within a 20-mile radius. All services are in-home — we come to you.

Cities we currently serve include Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, Tarzana, Reseda, Northridge, Van Nuys, Burbank, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, North Hollywood, and Glendale. If you're nearby but don't see your city listed, call us — our service area is approximate.

We serve children ages 2–18. Early intervention — typically ages 2–8 — tends to produce the strongest outcomes, and we prioritize early access. We also work with older children and adolescents who can benefit from ABA support.

During the assessment, the BCBA will evaluate whether ABA is clinically appropriate for your child's specific profile, regardless of age.

Kindaya ABA was founded by Hogan Wagner, BCBA. Hogan's background spans behavioral health, human resources, and systems design — and that combination shapes how Kindaya is built.

The clinical work is evidence-based and supervised. The business systems are designed to support staff so they can do their best work. And the culture starts from the belief that families navigating autism deserve better access, better communication, and better care.

Kindaya RBTs complete a 40-hour initial training program aligned with the BACB task list before working with clients. They then pass the national RBT competency assessment.

Ongoing, every RBT receives at least monthly in-person supervision from the supervising BCBA, plus regular data review and feedback between visits. We take supervision seriously — not as a compliance checkbox, but as the mechanism through which quality is maintained. When we say BCBA oversight is a feature of every program, we mean that supervision is meaningful, documented, and consistent.

We're honest about being a newer practice, so we can't yet point to years of outcomes data. What we can tell you is how we're building: deliberately small caseloads so the BCBA can actually know each family; systems designed for communication rather than just compliance; fair compensation for staff because we believe that matters for care quality; and a commitment to honest conversation over sales pitch.

We are not trying to be the biggest ABA practice in the San Fernando Valley. We're trying to be the one you'd recommend to a friend because we actually showed up for your family.

The easiest first step is a phone call or a contact form submission. We'll set up a brief intake conversation — typically 20–30 minutes — where we learn about your child and your situation, answer your questions, and tell you honestly whether Kindaya is a good fit.

If you're ready, call us at (916) 461-5285 or use our contact form.