01
Not compliance training
Sessions follow the person's assent and interests. If someone is distressed, we pause and work out what needs to change. Participation is willing, with communication and choice built into care.
Our services
ABA care for everyday life.
Personalized support for children, teens, and young adults ages 2–25 in Albany and across the East Bay. Every program is led by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and shaped around the person's communication, interests, and goals.
What is ABA therapy?How we get started →
Meaningful goals. Practice in everyday moments.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the framework we use to understand learning and build practical skills. Your BCBA gets to know the person receiving care, chooses goals with them and their support team, and reviews progress to guide the next steps.
The plan follows the person, not a fixed curriculum. Activities, pace, and support are adjusted to their strengths, preferences, and willingness to participate.
Support that grows with you.
Life changes, and priorities change with it. We support ages 2–25 with goals chosen around the person receiving care—not age alone.
Early learners
Play, making choices, communicating needs, and getting comfortable with everyday routines. Activities follow each learner's interests, with caregivers involved in the plan.
School-age children
Asking for help, moving between activities, participating in shared interests, and practicing routines at home. Goals reflect the child's priorities and the situations their family wants support with.
Teens & young adults
Self-advocacy, planning, communication, and practical daily-living skills. The person's own goals and preferences guide the work, with support from the people they choose to involve.
These are examples, not fixed programs or promised outcomes. Your BCBA helps determine appropriate goals and settings based on individual needs, authorization, and availability.
Addressing real concerns
What ABA at Animate is not.
People and families bring important questions about ABA. Here is how we approach ethical, individualized care at our practice.
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Not scripted or one-size-fits-all
Every program is built from scratch after a BCBA assessment. Goals come from getting to know the person, their priorities, and their support needs.
03
Not about changing who you are
Ethical ABA targets skills that improve the person's quality of life. We don't suppress harmless autistic traits or set goals simply to make someone easier for others to manage.
How care works
Three things, done well.
A clear structure under every program, with your BCBA connecting the pieces.
01
BCBA assessment & plan
Your analyst gets to know the person receiving care, identifies meaningful goals with them and their support team, and reviews an individualized plan before sessions begin.
02
1:1 therapy sessions
A consistent Registered Behavior Technician delivers the program in-home or in-center, with close, ongoing BCBA oversight, not a rotating cast.
03
Caregiver coaching
Caregivers and chosen support people learn strategies that connect sessions with daily routines, meals, and community activities.
What we work on
Skills that open up everyday life.
These are examples to discuss with your BCBA, not a checklist everyone must complete. Together, we choose goals that matter in daily life.
Communication & language
Building the ability to request, respond, and connect, whether through speech, signs, or devices.
Daily living skills
Dressing, mealtime, toileting, and routines that build independence and confidence at home.
Social skills
Practicing communication, shared activities, and relationships with peers and family in ways that fit the person's interests.
School readiness
Attending, following directions, and group routines that prepare your child for classroom settings.
Play & engagement
Following the learner's lead to expand play, shared interests, and enjoyable learning.
Behavior support
Understanding the why behind challenging behavior and teaching safer, more effective alternatives.
In-home or in-center
We'll help you choose the right setting.
Your BCBA helps identify an appropriate setting based on goals, support needs, authorization, and availability. Our Albany Early Learner Center is designed for young learners; in-home care serves families across the East Bay.
At home
In-home therapy
Practice communication, daily routines, and other agreed goals in familiar surroundings. Caregiver coaching connects the session with life at home.
In Albany
Our Early Learner Center
Our Albany center offers individualized teaching, play, and activities with peers for early learners, based on their needs.
Coverage
Wondering if you're covered?
We currently accept Kaiser Permanente, Contra Costa Health Plan, and the Regional Center of the East Bay. Have a different plan? Ask us about a single-case agreement approved by your insurer.
KP
Kaiser Permanente
In-network
CC
Contra Costa Health Plan
In-network
RC
Regional Center of the East Bay
Regional center funding
Let's talk about the support you're looking for.
Tell us about your goals, your questions, and the person seeking services. Our clinical team will help you understand the next step.