Our adolescent ABA therapy addresses the specific developmental milestones of the teen years: building peer relationships, increasing independence, preparing for employment, and navigating complex social situations. Our teen-centered approach recognizes that adolescents need respect for their growing autonomy, input into their own goals, and therapy that reflects their real-world interests and future aspirations.
Our approach uses the scientific principles of ABA while adapting methods to be age-appropriate and respectful of teen preferences. Every teenager receives an individualized treatment plan based on comprehensive assessment of their unique strengths, challenges, and goals. We use data-driven progress tracking to ensure therapy remains effective and responsive to your teen’s evolving needs.
We work collaboratively with your teen, incorporating their interests and goals into treatment planning. Our trauma-informed care approach ensures that all interventions prioritize your teen’s emotional safety and dignity. We focus exclusively on positive behavior support strategies that teach new skills and replacement behaviors rather than punitive approaches.
Our Teen and Adolescent Centers welcome young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder across all support levels. Whether your teen has been recently diagnosed or has received services for years, whether they’re preparing for college or focusing on essential life skills, we create individualized programs that meet them where they are.
We serve teenagers with a wide range of needs:
The unwritten rules of teenage social interaction become increasingly nuanced. We help teens navigate friendships, romantic interests, social media, and peer pressure.
Hormonal changes, increased social demands, and academic pressure can make emotional regulation more challenging. We teach practical strategies for managing anxiety, frustration, and overwhelming situations.
The approaching transition to adulthood requires preparation. We help families plan for life after high school, whether that includes employment, college, vocational training, or supported living.
Behaviors that were manageable in childhood may become more problematic during teen years. We use functional behavior assessment to understand the purpose of behaviors and develop effective, respectful intervention strategies.
Meaningful connections with peers are central to quality of life for teenagers. Our social skills programming goes beyond basic greetings to address the complex social landscape of adolescence.
Group Therapy for Real Practice:
Our small group sessions (2 therapists to 6 participants, held twice weekly) provide opportunities to practice social skills with same-age peers in a supportive environment. Teens work on real-time social problem-solving, cooperative activities, and building actual friendships within the group.
Meaningful connections with peers are central to quality of life for teenagers. Our social skills programming goes beyond basic greetings to address the complex social landscape of adolescence.
Group Therapy for Real Practice:
Our small group sessions (2 therapists to 6 participants, held twice weekly) provide opportunities to practice social skills with same-age peers in a supportive environment. Teens work on real-time social problem-solving, cooperative activities, and building actual friendships within the group.
True independence requires mastery of daily living tasks that many teenagers need explicit support to learn. Our life skills curriculum addresses practical abilities your teen needs for current and future autonomy.
Essential Skills We Teach:
These skills are taught functionally, with practice in real-world settings to ensure your teen can use them independently when needed.
Preparing for employment is a critical focus of adolescent programming. We help teenagers develop the skills, behaviors, and confidence needed to succeed in workplace environments.
Employment Readiness Training:
Pre-Vocational Curriculum:
Our structured pre-vocational programming helps teens explore career interests, understand different job types, and build foundational work skills in simulated and real work environments.
Executive function skills become increasingly important during the teen years for academic success, independence, and emotional wellbeing. We target these cognitive abilities through structured teaching and real-world application.
Executive Function Focus Areas:
Self-Advocacy and Communication:
We explicitly teach teenagers to understand their own needs, communicate them effectively, and advocate for appropriate accommodations. This skill is essential for success in college, employment, and community life.
Emotional Regulation Strategies:
Teens learn personalized techniques for recognizing emotional states, using calming strategies, managing anxiety and stress, and coping with frustration in healthy ways.
While ABA therapy is not tutoring, we provide support that helps teens succeed in educational settings. Our academic component coordinates with your teen’s school program to reinforce learning strategies and organizational skills.
Academic Support Services:
We work as a bridge between home and school, helping your teen generalize skills across all learning environments.
Transition Planning Components:
We begin transition planning early, often by age 14, to ensure your teen has ample time to build necessary skills before graduation.
For teenagers with college aspirations, we provide targeted support to prepare for the increased independence and self-advocacy required in higher education settings.
We help families explore post-secondary options including traditional four-year colleges, community colleges, vocational programs, and certificate programs to find the right fit for your teen.
College Readiness Support:
Whether your teen will live independently immediately after high school or work toward that goal over time, we build the skills needed for household management and self-sufficiency.
Independent Living Skills:
Community Readiness Strategies:
We build real-world readiness through structured practice at our centers, role-playing the situations your teen will face out in the world. This supports true generalization beyond the therapy setting.
Clinic-Based Programs:
Our state-of-the-art Teen and Adolescent Centers in Frisco and McKinney provide age-appropriate therapeutic environments designed specifically for teenagers. These settings offer structured programming, access to specialized equipment, and opportunities for group interaction with peers. Clinic-based services are ideal for initial skill acquisition, intensive behavior support, social skills groups, and providing consistency while building foundational abilities.
Real-World Preparation:
Real-world practice is essential for true independence. At our centers, teens rehearse the skills they need for grocery stores, restaurants, public transportation, libraries, and other community settings, and we coach parents on reinforcing those skills during everyday outings. This approach builds confidence for navigating their actual community.
School Collaboration:
We work closely with your teen’s school team to support educational success. Our BCBAs consult with teachers and IEP teams and align our center programming with your teen’s school goals.
Skill Generalization:
Skills learned in our centers are reinforced across everyday settings. Through parent training and structured practice at our centers, we help teens carry new skills into daily routines, family interactions, and household responsibilities.
Family Support:
Parent training and consultation are built into every program, with flexible scheduling that keeps care consistent for busy families.
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs):
Every teen’s program is designed and supervised by a BCBA, the gold-standard credential in ABA therapy. Our BCBAs hold master’s or doctoral degrees, have passed rigorous national certification exams, and maintain ongoing continuing education requirements.
Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs):
Direct therapy is provided by RBTs who have completed comprehensive training and passed national competency assessments. Our RBTs receive regular supervision, ongoing training, and performance feedback to ensure treatment fidelity.
Nearly a Decade of North Texas Experience:
Autism Response Team has been serving the special needs community in North Texas for almost ten years. This depth of experience means we understand local resources, school systems, and community support that benefit your family.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
Teenagers often benefit from multiple therapeutic supports. We collaborate closely with speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, mental health providers, and medical professionals to ensure coordinated, comprehensive care.
Comprehensive Functional Behavior Assessment:
We begin with thorough assessment to understand your teen’s current skills, learning style, motivations, and challenges. This includes direct observation, standardized assessments, parent and teen interviews, and review of previous evaluations.
Customized Behavior Intervention Plans:
Based on assessment results, your teen’s BCBA develops a detailed treatment plan outlining specific, measurable goals and the strategies we’ll use to achieve them. These plans address skill acquisition, behavior reduction when needed, and generalization across settings.
Regular Clinical Assessments and Progress Monitoring:
ABA therapy is data-driven. We track progress on every goal during every session, reviewing data regularly to ensure interventions are working. Formal reassessments occur at regular intervals to update goals and celebrate achievements.
Treatment Fidelity and Quality Assurance:
Our clinical leadership team conducts regular fidelity checks to ensure therapy is delivered consistently and correctly. We maintain detailed protocols and provide ongoing staff training to uphold quality standards.
Treatment Fidelity and Quality Assurance:
Our clinical leadership team conducts regular fidelity checks to ensure therapy is delivered consistently and correctly. We maintain detailed protocols and provide ongoing staff training to uphold quality standards.
Adolescent-Friendly Teen Centers:
Unlike pediatric settings filled with primary-colored toys, our teen centers feature age-appropriate decor, furnishings, and activities. The environment communicates respect for our clients as young adults, not children.
Specialized Spaces:
Our facilities include varied spaces to support different types of learning: quiet areas for focused work, social spaces for group activities, and functional areas for practicing real-world skills.
Engaging, Respectful Atmosphere:
We create a culture where teenagers are treated as partners in their own treatment, where their opinions matter, and where the environment reflects their interests and developmental stage.
What Parent Training Includes:
Parent training occurs through scheduled sessions, informal consultation during therapy, and observation of therapy sessions so you can see techniques in action.
Monthly Parent Support Groups:
Connect with other parents who understand the unique joys and challenges of raising a teen with autism. Our facilitated support groups meet monthly and provide a confidential space to share experiences, problem-solve challenges, and build community. Free childcare is provided so you can attend without worry.
Sibling Support Programs:
Brothers and sisters of teens with autism have their own experiences and needs. Our sibling support programming provides age-appropriate education, emotional support, and connection with other siblings who understand their unique family dynamic.
Family Social Events and Community Building:
Multiple times per year, we host family events that bring our ART community together for fun, relationship-building, and peer connection. These quarterly social gatherings strengthen the support network around your family.
Open-Door Observation Policy:
Transparency builds trust. We maintain an open-door policy, welcoming parents to observe therapy sessions whenever they wish. You’re never wondering what happens during your teen’s therapy time; you can see for yourself the quality of care being provided.
Regular Family Communication:
Your teen’s BCBA maintains regular contact with you, providing updates on progress, discussing challenges, and adjusting plans based on your input and observations at home.
Coordinated Management of Care (ART-CMC Model):
We use an interdisciplinary approach that brings together everyone involved in your teen’s care: physicians, psychologists, therapists, teachers, and family members. This coordination ensures consistent support across all environments and reduces contradictory approaches.
Partnership with Schools and Other Providers:
We see ourselves as part of your teen’s broader support team, not working in isolation. We collaborate closely with school personnel, attend IEP meetings when requested, and communicate with other service providers to ensure everyone is working toward shared goals.
Empowering Families for Long-Term Success:
Our ultimate goal is to reduce your family’s long-term need for intensive services. By building your skills and your teen’s independence, we work ourselves out of a job while ensuring your family has the tools for continued success.
How We Track Progress:
Skill Generalization to Real-World Settings:
Success isn’t just performing a skill in therapy; it’s using that skill independently in real life. We specifically program for and measure generalization across people, settings, and situations to ensure functional outcomes.
Meaningful Life Outcomes:
Beyond individual skills, we focus on outcomes that matter: increased independence, improved quality of life, social inclusion in the community, academic achievement, and successful transitions to adulthood.
Safety:
All interventions prioritize your teen’s physical and emotional safety. We never use aversive procedures, and all behavior support plans are reviewed for ethical, respectful approaches.
Efficacy:
We use only evidence-based, research-backed interventions with demonstrated effectiveness. If an approach isn’t working, we change it. Our positive behavior support focus emphasizes teaching replacement skills, not just reducing behaviors.
Efficiency:
We respect your time and your teen’s time. Our programs are designed to help teens achieve their goals as efficiently as possible, with continuous quality improvement processes ensuring we’re always refining our approach.
Locally Owned and Operated:
Autism Response Team is not a national franchise. We’re a locally owned organization deeply rooted in the North Texas community. This means decisions are made locally, we understand the specific resources and challenges in our region, and we’re invested in the communities we serve.
Nearly a Decade Serving North Texas:
With almost ten years of service to the special needs community in our area, we’ve built relationships with local school districts, medical providers, community organizations, and support services. This network benefits every family we serve.
Specialized Teen and Adolescent Centers:
Unlike providers who serve all ages in the same space, we’ve invested in creating dedicated Teen and Adolescent Centers specifically designed for the unique needs of this age group. This specialization reflects our commitment to age-appropriate, respectful care for teenagers.
Our Frisco location serves families throughout Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Little Elm, The Colony, and surrounding communities in northern Collin County. This state-of-the-art facility features specialized spaces designed specifically for adolescent learning, social skill development, and vocational preparation.
The Frisco Teen Center offers clinic-based programming, social skills groups, and vocational training, and welcomes families from throughout the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Located in McKinney, this Teen and Adolescent Center serves families from McKinney, Allen, Plano, Fairview, Lucas, and the broader Collin County area. Our purpose-built adolescent environment provides the ideal setting for teenagers to build independence, social connections, and real-world skills.
The McKinney Teen Center offers comprehensive programming including individual therapy, group sessions, academic support, and transition planning services.
Our specialized Teen and Adolescent Centers are located in Frisco and McKinney, and we welcome families from throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and surrounding areas.
We’re experienced working with school districts throughout Collin County and the broader region, and our parent training helps your teen’s skills hold up wherever they’re needed.
Insurance We Accept:
Coverage Verification Assistance:
Insurance coverage for ABA therapy can be complex. Our dedicated team handles the verification process, confirming your benefits, explaining coverage details, and managing authorization requirements so you can focus on your teen’s care rather than paperwork.
No Surprises:
We provide clear information about coverage, any out-of-pocket costs, and billing processes before services begin. You’ll never be surprised by unexpected charges.
Initial Contact:
Reach out by phone or through our online contact form. We’ll discuss your teen’s needs, answer initial questions, and explain our services.
Free Consultation and Insurance Verification:
We verify your insurance coverage and schedule a no-cost consultation to meet your family, learn about your teen, and determine if our program is the right fit.
Comprehensive Assessment:
If you decide to move forward, we conduct thorough assessments to understand your teen’s current skills, challenges, and goals. This includes parent interviews, teen interviews (when appropriate), direct observation, and standardized assessments.
Personalized Treatment Plan Development:
Your teen’s BCBA develops a detailed, individualized treatment plan outlining specific goals and intervention strategies. We review this plan with you, incorporating your input and priorities.
Begin Services:
Once the plan is finalized and authorizations are in place, therapy begins! We offer flexible scheduling to accommodate your family’s needs, including after-school and weekend options for school-age teens.
Every teenager with autism has unique strengths, challenges, and potential. At Autism Response Team’s Teen and Adolescent Centers in Frisco and McKinney, we’re committed to helping your teen develop the skills, confidence, and connections they need for a successful, fulfilling future.
Our individualized, evidence-based approach combines the proven effectiveness of ABA therapy with deep respect for your teenager’s dignity, preferences, and goals. Whether your teen is preparing for college, entering the workforce, or working toward greater independence, we’re here to support your family every step of the way.
Take the first step today.
