Welcome
Clearwater provides home, office and community-based applied behavior therapy, specializing in supporting young children and adolescents with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental or behavioral disorders. Led by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with more than 20 years of hands-on experience, Clearwater is committed to fostering a nurturing and supportive environment. Our goal is to empower both caregivers and children, ensuring that everyone involved feels understood and equipped to handle the ups and downs of the journey together.
At Clearwater, we utilize evidence-based, ABA treatment and teaching methods that prioritize naturalistic and non-escalating approaches to teaching in an effort to help young minds grow and develop essential skills. We recognize the unique challenges faced by families and caregivers as they navigate the complexities of treatment, and we are here to offer support every step of the way through training and guidance.
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Our Services
What We Offer
San Diego Regional Center Early Start and Behavior Programs
Children who show developmental delays, early signs of Autism or who have or are at risk for delays or behavior health diagnosis (e.g. ASD, etc.) without insurance coverage can access services through SDRC.
https://www.sdrc.org/apply
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Early Start ABA - Children 0-3 years of age, showing significant delays in one or more areas of development, can receive 2-10 hours per week in addition to 2 hours per week of parent consultation without a diagnosis. Services address communication, social skills, cognition, and daily living skill development in addition to addressing behaviors if present.
Intensive ABA - Children 3 years an older with qualifying diagnosis (e.g., ASD, etc.) and without health insurance coverage, can receive 2-10 hours per week and 2 hours per week of parent consultation. Services address behaviors and related developmental or coping skills deficits.
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ABA Consultation - Children 0-3 or 3 years and older, with a qualifying diagnosis and no health insurance coverage can qualify for weekly to monthly parent or caregiver consultation services for 6-12 months. Services address behaviors, related developmental or coping skills deficits and how caregivers can support these areas on-going.
Insurance Funded ABA Treatment
Children with a qualifying Autism diagnosis and health insurance coverage for ABA therapy services.
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In partnership with Finni Health, Clearwater provides evidenced based, ABA comprehensive or focused programs in the home or community settings through various insurance networks. Services range from 4-30 hours per week of direct treatment provided either solely by a BCBA or as a tiered approach utilizing RBTs for direct treatment and BCBAs for supervision and parent training. Treatment goals target communication, social-emotional development, cognitive and play skills, daily adaptive skills like dressing or hygiene routines and behavior reduction.
What we can do for your child
Improve communication and reduce behaviors
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The ability to talk about one's environment and describe desires and request them is supported through structured and naturally occurring activities. Children are presented with opportunities to hear and learn the name or characteristics of various items during planned play or structured naming activities. As well, contrived and captured opportunities to use approximations, words, or sentences to request desired items or interactions are presented throughout sessions and one of the biggest focuses of most programs. This includes the use of communication devices or applications.
Often, the presence in behaviors is reduced or eliminated when growth in communication replaces the need to engage in them. This strategy of teaching functional communication based on the identified reason for a beahivor is used for all types of behaviors including tantrums, hitting, running away and self injurious actions. This and planned prevention strategies lessen the need to engage in a behavior, building resilience through reinforcement of attempts at change, all within the limits of a child's abilities or expected growth.
Develop complex social, play, and emotional regulation skills
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Social interactions include both actions and communication and are taught through careful opportunities to engage in actions like sharing, taking turns, and acting out themed pretend play routines. This also includes conversational communication where children are taught how to comment and ask questions based on another person's interest or statements. The ability to engage in independent or social purposeful and imaginative play is taught through exploration and modeling, and directly through play with a peer or clinician.
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Emotional regulation is taught as well, utilizing visual materials including naming facial expressions, identifying the cause and remedy to various emotions and practicing strategies that are known to calm and regulate feelings of frustration and loss. This also includes perspective taking and social flexibility.
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When possible, these skills are practiced in community based or social group activities so they can be supported in these less controlled settings.
Increase independence with daily living tasks
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Whether it is dressing, meal time activities and food selection, sleep habits, or hygiene tasks, careful shaping and guidance can achieve at or near age level completion of these tasks and routines. When tasks are broken down into manageable chunks, ares of need are quickly identified and focused teaching can be implemented.
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Sleep routines are often a tricky area to tackle and require careful and consistent application of a sleep diet or plan that will be developed with family members who likely have to implement strategies at late hours of the night.
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Often behaviors can interfere in the completion of these skills and routines, and require careful analysis to understand how the task or motivation can be modified for successful completion. Parents are supported in-person and during parent consultation on how to analyze these situations and achieve task completion with reinforcement and supported follow through.
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FAQs
Common Questions
Is behavior therapy suitable for children with autism?
Yes, behavior therapy can be highly beneficial for children with autism, helping them develop essential skills and cope with challenges. Our specialized techniques create a supportive and nurturing environment for their growth, attempting to avoid repetitive teaching and escalating behavior intervention strategies
What is the duration of behavior therapy sessions?
Behavior therapy sessions typically last around 60-120 minutes, but the duration can vary based on the specific needs and progress of the child, and referred and authorized service amounts. Services also can take place 1-5 days per week based on need and availability. Programs may last 6 months to 2 or more years but may be age limited (e.g, SDRC 0-3 programs). Treatment planning is updated every 6 months with on-going recommendations made adjusted as needed.
What can I expect in sessions?
After an assessment, the first several behavior therapy session will consist of play and exploration to establish rapport. Slowly small demands and pauses in activity will occur to prepare for longer periods of learning. After several weeks, sessions will include more structured separation of learning and rapport maintenance or play. Learning will cover each goal and include materials ranging from toys or interesting games to specific learning items like picture-cards or matching and sorting sets. Sometimes challenging behavior can occur but, staff are equipped with the skills to create a teachable moment that minimizes escalation.
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Parents are also supported during weekly or monthly parent-centered sessions. These sessions include discussion of parent concerns, review of parent goals and their application, observation and in-the-moment support, and planning for future sessions. Parents will be provided exercises to perform with their child in-outside sessions as well.