Holistic ABA Therapy
ABA Therapy for children , play-based ABA therapy for children
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in-home and in-centre options available
At Willow Tree, we provide ABA therapy that’s rooted in compassion, relationship, and respect. Our approach supports children in developing meaningful, functional skills such as: communication, flexibility, independence, and emotional regulation, in a way that’s skill-based, joyful, affirming, and individualized.
Whether your child has an autism diagnosis, ADHD, or struggles with social, emotional or behavioural challenges, our team is here to help them thrive using play-based, holistic ABA therapy that meets them where they are.
Please see below for:
What is ABA
What is holistic ABA therapy?
Common Goals in ABA therapy
Our ABA Services
Addressing Concerns in ABA Therapy
What is ABA?
It is important to first understand where the term, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) comes from: it is the empirical science of learning and human behaviour, it is the science behind everything we do and learn everyday!
ABA Therapy is the application of this Learning Theory, into an evidence-based approach that helps children (Teens and adults as well) build and strengthen meaningful life skills through positive reinforcement, structured teaching, and individualized support.
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ABA Therapy is NOT just for managing challenging behaviours as many think - Behaviour Analysts and ABA therapists are actually expert teachers that have extensive knowledge on how we learn and communicate!
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ABA is also the foundation for a very well researched cognitive behavioural therapy rooted in positive psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a leading, evidence-based therapy that helps children, teens, and families develop psychological flexibility, which is the ability to stay present, manage difficult thoughts or emotions, and make choices aligned with their values, among other things.
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ABA is not just for children with Autism, anyone and everyone can benefit from ABA. Schools and even workplaces often use ABA principles daily to encourage and support their staffs learning and performance!
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ABA Therapy can be an amazing tool used to teach a variety of skills, but historically this tool has also been used in ways that have caused harm. Scroll to the bottom of this page for details on addressing concerns of ABA therapy. Its important to note that the goal of attending ABA therapy is never about “fixing” your child or them being less Autistic. It’s about helping your child learn the skills they need to connect, express, and grow—with dignity and joy.
What is Holistic ABA Therapy?
Holistic ABA is more than a therapy model—it’s a whole-child, whole-family approach. It’s about building meaningful skills within the context of the child’s life, their environment, and their nervous system, not just teaching isolated skills.
At Willow Tree, holistic ABA means:
Using the science of learning and human behavior to support a child’s emotional well-being, relationships, and regulation—it is not just a focus on behaviour, we are focusing on building skills.
Teaching functional, real-life skills that help children thrive at home, in community, and in their own unique rhythm.
Incorporating strategies from multiple disciplines (like OT, SLP, and mental health) to support the child’s body, mind, and environment as interconnected.
Being neurodivergent Affirming: At Willow Tree, we recognize that neurodivergence is not something to be “fixed” or hidden. Being autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent is a valid, natural way of experiencing the world. We embrace authenticity and celebrate our quirks! Our job is not to change who a child is, but to support them in navigating life with confidence, autonomy, and dignity.
Honouring sensory needs—we don’t work against a child’s instincts, we work with them and help them better understand their needs.
Using play, movement, nature, mindfulness, art and creativity to keep therapy engaging, calming, and developmentally appropriate. We make therapy fun !
Building goals that reflect not just behavior, but connection, joy, and long-term quality of life throughout their teenage and adult life.
Collaborating with families—because your insight, routines, and values are essential to real progress.
Practicing in the real world - we don’t just have therapy in a bubble, we want to get parents involved, practice in home, in school, in the community, with other peers and in the environments that your child needs to use these skills!
Valuing autonomy and consent—always respecting the child’s cues and communication, verbal or not.
Holistic ABA is affirming, ethical, playful, and practical.
It sees the child as a whole human being, and we teach skills that are pivotal in multiple area’s of their lives.
Scroll below for answers regarding common questions about ABA Therapy.
Holistic ABA Services
We know starting therapy can feel overwhelming and we’re here to make it simple, supportive, and transparent from the beginning.
Complete our INQUIRY FORM HERE to receive our 1:1 ABA Additional information package or schedule a free consultation to talk to us over the phone!
Here’s what you can expect:
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After your consultation and intake forms, we’ll match your child with the right Team based on your child’s needs, personality, and goals.
Your child’s team will consist of 2-3 members depending on your hours and goals.
Primary Therapist: this person will work directly 1:1 with your child and implement the therapy program.
Clinical Supervisor: This is your Registered Behaviour Analyst who will develop and supervise the implementation of your child’s ABA program.
Senior Therapist: if your child has over 8 hours a week of services there may also be a senior therapist that provides additional support and supervision on the behalf of the clinical supervisor (essentially an assistant to the supervisor).
We begin with a clinical skills assessment (not for diagnosis) to understand where your child is currently at—socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and functionally.
Together with you, we’ll identify meaningful goals and build an individualized therapy plan tailored to your family and a written report will be provided.
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All goals are created collaboratively with you and grounded in real-life needs and values.
Goals may include communication, flexibility, emotional regulation, independence in routines (toileting, dressing, transitions), safety, or social connection.
Goals are revisited throughout the process and may be adjusted and discussed with your clinical team as needed or as new goals arise.
Some Common Goals include:
Communication and Language Skills
Early Learning Skills: Imitation, Joint Attention, Observational Learning, and more.
Social-Emotional Learning
Emotional regulation and coping strategies
Play skills and social interaction
Friendship and Social Cues
Flexibility and transition support
Building independence in daily routines (toileting, dressing, mealtime, etc.)
Safety awareness and self-advocacy
Executive functioning and attention skills
Navigating sensory sensitivities
Challenging Behaviours
More based on individualzied assessment
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Your child’s sessions will be fun, warm, and engaging.
Therapists use play, routines, and creative strategies to help your child feel safe while learning new skills.
The therapists first goal is to establish a relationship of trust with your child.
Children are never forced to participate—we follow their lead and build trust before anything else.
If trust is established during this session your therapist may also begin some of the clinical assessment.
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Your child will be supported as they are—we don’t teach masking, and we don’t suppress natural ways of communicating or regulating (like stimming).
We respect your child’s autonomy and always respond with empathy and attunement.
We always put the child’s well being first.
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Your therapist will track progress and check in regularly with updates, feedback, and suggestions. They may even setup a parent portal for ease of communication and strategies in home.
Every 3–6 months, we provide a formal progress summary and revisit your goals with you.
You are always welcome to ask questions, make adjustments, or bring concerns forward—we’re a team.
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You’ll be included every step of the way.
We offer optional parent coaching to help you feel confident using strategies at home and to ensure that therapy fits into real life—not just the clinic.
We believe in empowering parents, not pressuring them.
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Sessions may be in-centre, in-home, or in the community at a set location (school, daycare, library, etc.)
Frequency can vary depending on clinical need between 1-4 hour sessions 1-5 days per week.
We aim to keep therapy consistent, we do require families to commit to a minimum of 12 weeks (3 months of service) at their preferred frequency.
However if you are not happy with services you may cancel at any time with notice.
We do our best to be flexible around illness, and vacation however we do have policies around this.
More details will be provided via information package once an inquiry is sent in.
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We ask that families interested in learning more about our services submit an inquiry to receive our additional information package.
We accept OAP Funding
Insurance Coverage may be Eligible
We offer financial aid for families in need
Group ABA rates start at $55/hr
1:1 ABA rates range depending on intensity of services, starting at $75/hr.
Learn more about how we address the concerns around ABA Therapy below
What About the Concerns Around ABA?
We understand that many families have concerns about traditional ABA—and we share them.
ABA has historically been used in ways that were rigid, compliance-focused, or dismissive of a child’s emotional experience.
At Willow Tree, we’re actively working to be part of a better way forward. Willow Tree was founded to be a safe space for neurodivergent youth - with many of our staff members, including our founder identifying as Neurodivegent.
Please see below for further details addressing the concerns around ABA
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We understand that many families have concerns about traditional ABA—and we share them. Willow Tree was created to provide a safe space for neurodivergent youth to embrace their authenticity and learn the skills they need to connect with their passions to live a well rounded life.
ABA has historically been used in ways that were rigid, compliance-focused, or dismissive of a child’s emotional experience, resulting in harm.
There are still clinicians practicing using old school methods that are operating from a “medical model of care” which is ableist - focusing on reducing symptoms of being autistic. This is essentially trying to make kids LESS autistic, and this is absolutely NOT acceptable, and Willow Tree does not support these type of services.
Our team members will happily talk to you over the phone in detail about our approach, and you are welcome to observe your child’s sessions to see for yourself how we work with you child to ensure a neurodivergent affirming approach to services. -
Our ABA is Neurodivergent Affirming, Trauma informed and does not promote ableism
We are play-based and child led.
We do not have kiddos in service sitting at tables for extended period of time - kids learn best through play! So we make therapy fun, and follow their lead.We always get consent, and assent may be withdrawn at any time
If a child does not want to participate, they will never be forced to - it is our duty to ensure children WANT to attend therapy with us. If they do not, we need to change something WE are doing, not the other way around.
We don’t force eye contact or quiet hands.
We support natural communication and autonomy, not conformity.We do not teach or encourage masking.
We don’t stop/ prevent stimming, we actually teach kids to better use it as an effective regulation strategy!
We never use harmful punishment based Interventions, operant “extinction” or restraints.
We use antecedent strategies, positive reinforcement, differential reinforcement and shaping as well as other positive supports when managing challenging behaviours.
We prioritize connection, not compliance.
Learning happens best when kids feel safe and supported. We never teach compliance.We affirm neurodivergence.
Our goal is not to “normalize” your child it’s to help them thrive as they are and embrace their authenticity! Our neurodivergent staff are great role models to help kids feel more comfortable being themselves!We listen to our families
Many of our team members are neurodivergent or have lived experience. We value community feedback and continued learning.
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Our founder Kristin Bain has worked in the field of mental health and child development for over a decade. She is Neurodivergent herself and has used Holistic ABA and Acceptance and Commitment therapy (a psychotherapy derived founded in ABA) to not only help herself, but help hundreds of families live fulfilling, well connected lives.
The goal of holistic ABA therapy is simply to help other live a quality life - never to change who they are!
Kristin created Willow Tree as a safe space for neurodivergent youth to learn the skills they need to connect with their passions, and promote overall wellbeing to live a quality life - ABA is an amazing tool to learn these skills and since it is simply the science of learning -it is around us everywhere we go everyday!