ABA the SmallTalk Way
We’re not just adding ABA to SmallTalk. We’re bringing the SmallTalk philosophy to ABA therapy.
SmallTalk Pediatric Therapy is excited to introduce Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), coming soon to our family of services. Built on the same evidence-based, family-centered, and play-based approach that has guided our speech and occupational therapy programs for over 20 years, our ABA program will bring a new level of coordinated care to San Diego families.
Our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Behavioral Technicians (BTs) won’t work in silos. They’ll collaborate closely with speech and occupational therapists, sharing insights, coordinating goals, and building on one another’s expertise. The result will be personalized care that supports the whole child while making therapy more connected and more meaningful for families.
What Is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the leading evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorder, using the science of learning and behavior to teach children to learn how to learn to build communication, social, adaptive, and self-care skills. ABA is play-based, naturalistic, and tailored to each child.
What makes ABA at SmallTalk different than other ABA clinics?
At most clinics, speech, occupational therapy, and ABA operate in silos. Parents are forced to act as the middleman by relaying messages, resolving conflicting advice, and hoping everyone is aligned.
At SmallTalk, we handle the coordination behind the scenes so you can focus on being a parent. Your child’s Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), speech-language pathologist, and occupational therapist work side-by-side as one team. Whatever combination of services your child receives, every therapist is aligned around the same ultimate goal: helping your child thrive.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all treatment. Every recommendation we make is tailored to your child’s actual goals, natural energy, and daily routines. Our BCBAs carry protected caseloads so they can stay closely attuned to each child and adjust care as your family’s needs evolve.
Who Can Benefit from ABA?
Every child’s developmental journey is unique. At SmallTalk, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy primarily supports children from birth through adolescence with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related developmental disabilities. Using positive reinforcement, we help children build essential, functional life skills, including spoken and non-verbal communication, social connection, and daily self-care, while gently reducing challenging or safety-sensitive behaviors.
While ABA is historically associated with autism, its core principles of learning and behavior are highly adaptable.
What Does ABA Look Like?
ABA therapy at SmallTalk doesn’t look like flashcards or sitting at a desk for hours on end. It looks like childhood! Instead of defaulting to standard 30 or 40-hour weekly requirements, we recommend right-sized schedules focused on meaningful progress, protecting essential time for family, school, and rest.
Therapy happens where life happens through a hybrid model that combines in-clinic sessions at our La Mesa and Mission Valley locations with in-home sessions in your child’s natural environment. Direct sessions are delivered by dedicated Behavior Technicians who bring energy and play to every interaction, working under the active supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who maintains a protected, low caseload.
Because you are the constant in your child’s life, practical parent coaching is built in from day one so progress continues during daily routines. Behind the scenes, your BCBA regularly consults with our SLPs and OTs to align strategies, ensuring your child experiences one clear, supportive approach across every discipline.
What Can Your Child Learn in ABA?
We help children build functional, real-world skills while reducing frustration and stress for the whole family. Our team focuses heavily on communication and language building by pairing behavioral science with speech strategies to help children express their wants, needs, and ideas.
We also support everyday independence milestones—like toilet training, mealtime routines, self-care, and sleep transitions—while guiding children through sensory regulation, emotional coping tools, and naturalistic play. For safety-sensitive or challenging behaviors like tantrums and task avoidance, we work compassionately to teach safer, positive replacement behaviors.
How We Partner with Families
At SmallTalk, parent partnership isn’t an afterthought or a monthly checkbox, it is the foundation of our ABA program. Because you are the true constant in your child’s life, we build practical, low-stress caregiver coaching directly into your schedule from day one.
Your BCBA works alongside you to understand your daily routines, sharing strategies you can comfortably use at home, at the dinner table, or on weekend outings. You don’t have to act as a care coordinator or relay messages between providers. Our team handles all the cross-discipline collaboration behind the scenes, leaving you free to focus on what matters most: being a parent and celebrating your child’s growth.
Frequently Asked Questions about ABA
Meet Our Founding Director of Behavioral Services
Sarah Torgrimson, MA, LMFT, BCBA, brings a rare dual credential to SmallTalk: she is both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a combination that shapes how she thinks about behavior, family systems, and meaningful progress.
She joined SmallTalk to build an ABA program that reflects what’s possible when behavioral science meets a truly interdisciplinary team: rigorous, relationally warm, and serving San Diego families with the same integrity SmallTalk has delivered for over 20 years.
She specializes in early intervention for autism and related developmental disabilities, focused on naturalistic teaching, caregiver coaching, and coordinated care. She believes the best outcomes happen when families feel genuinely supported, not just serviced.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you think ABA at SmallTalk might be right for your child, now is the perfect time to reach out. The earlier we begin therapy, the greater the progress we can achieve together. Our team is here to guide, encourage, and celebrate every step forward as your child builds their confidence and finds their voice.
Fill out the interest form below or call us now at (619) 647-6157 to learn more. Let’s work together to help your child reach their full potential!