Inviting a stranger into your home is a big step. Inviting them into your home to work with your child—during vulnerable moments of learning, behavior, and emotional growth—is an even bigger one.
For many parents in New Hampshire, the decision to start Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is often accompanied by a mix of hope and anxiety. You likely have questions swirling in your head: What does a session actually look like? Will my house need to look like a classroom? Do I need to clean up before the therapist arrives? Will my child like them?
At Moving Mountains ABA, we believe that transparency reduces anxiety. We want you to feel empowered, not overwhelmed. Whether you live in a quiet town in the Lakes Region, a busy neighborhood in Manchester, or along the Seacoast, our goal is to integrate seamlessly into your life, not disrupt it.
This guide explores exactly what you can expect when you begin in-home ABA therapy with us, delving into our evidence-based methods, our compassionate philosophy, and the specific ways we help your child climb their own personal mountains.
The Foundation: Individualized Plans for Unique Children
The first thing to know is that there is no “cookie-cutter” approach at Moving Mountains ABA. We know that neurodivergence looks different in every child. Therefore, the “expectations” for therapy are entirely dependent on who your child is, what they love, and what they need.
Before we ever start daily sessions, the process begins with an Individualized Treatment Plan. This plan is designed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and is the roadmap for everything we do.
Identifying Strengths First
Unlike some medical models that focus solely on “deficits,” our approach emphasizes your child’s strengths. During our initial assessments, we aren’t just looking for what your child can’t do; we are actively hunting for what they can do.
- Does your child have an incredible memory for details?
- Do they have a deep passion for trains, animals, or space?
- Are they physically active and sensory-seeking?
We use these strengths as the building blocks for learning. An individualized plan helps us break down complex skills into teachable steps, ensuring that the therapy is not only effective but also respectful of your child’s personality.
Starting therapy is a big transition, but you do not have to navigate the unknown alone. Our team is happy to walk you through our intake process and explain exactly how our in-home model works for your specific location. Contact Moving Mountains ABA today to ask questions and get peace of mind.
The First Few Visits: The Power of “Pairing”
If you are expecting a therapist to walk in on Day 1 with a clipboard, a stern face, and a list of demands, you are going to be pleasantly surprised.
When our Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) first arrive at your home, their primary goal isn’t “work.” It is trust.
We utilize an approach called Pairing. Before a child can learn from us, they have to like us. We want to become the “giver of good things.” The first few sessions are almost entirely dedicated to play. We follow your child’s lead. If they want to build Lego towers, we build Lego towers. If they want to run outside, we run outside.
Why We Prioritize Relationship Building
This isn’t just about being “nice”—it is clinical strategy. If a child associates the therapist with fun, safety, and reinforcement, they are far more likely to engage in learning later on. This establishes the foundation for Assent-Based Care.
We believe therapy should always respect the child’s voice. Assent-based care ensures children are engaged willingly. We monitor their body language and cues to ensure they feel safe and motivated to participate. This helps children:
- Build confidence by having choices in their learning.
- Stay motivated because therapy is meaningful, not forced.
- Develop trust with their care team.
- Learn self-advocacy skills that last a lifetime.
Your Home is the Classroom: Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
One of the most common questions we get is, “Do I need to set up a therapy room?”
The answer is no. In fact, we prefer that you don’t.
At Moving Mountains ABA, we specialize in Natural Environment Teaching (NET). Children learn best in the places they live, play, and grow. The goal of ABA isn’t to teach a child to perform a skill in a sterile clinic room; the goal is to help them navigate their actual life.
Real Life is Messy, and That’s Okay
Please do not feel the need to scrub your house from top to bottom before we arrive. Real life involves clutter, barking dogs, siblings watching TV, and the smell of dinner cooking. Learning to navigate these natural distractions is part of the therapy.
NET allows us to:
- Practice Communication: We can work on requesting snacks in your actual kitchen, or asking for a turn with a toy in your actual playroom.
- Build Independence: We don’t practice putting on shoes with a prop; we practice in your hallway, with your child’s actual boots, before they go outside to play.
- Community Skills: NET extends beyond the front door. We can accompany you to local NH parks, grocery stores, or libraries to help apply new skills in community settings.
Inside the Toolbox: Our Clinical Approaches
Once the relationship is built and the environment is established, what does the actual teaching look like? Our clinicians use a blend of evidence-based strategies tailored to your child’s learning style. You might observe several different methods during a single session.
Pivotal Response Training (PRT)
You may see our therapists engaging in high-energy play that seems solely like fun, but is actually highly structured. This is likely Pivotal Response Training. PRT is a play-based, child-centered approach that targets “pivotal” areas of development, such as motivation and self-initiation.
For example, if your child loves cars, the therapist might hold a car back and wait for the child to make a sound, gesture, or attempt a word to request it. By focusing on these core skills, children gain tools that affect many areas of life, increasing their motivation to interact and improving flexibility.
Functional Communication Training (FCT)
A major focus for many families is reducing frustration. Often, challenging behaviors (like screaming or hitting) happen because a child cannot communicate what they need.
Functional Communication Training (FCT) is about replacing those behaviors with effective communication. We don’t just try to “stop” the behavior; we teach a better way to get the result.
- If a child tantrums to get a tablet, we teach them to hand over a picture card, use a sign, or say “iPad please.”
- This reduces reliance on behaviors like aggression and builds confidence through successful communication.
Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
For some skills, a child needs a more structured approach. Discrete Trial Training (DTT) breaks complex skills into smaller, manageable steps.
This is the one-on-one teaching method where a specific skill is taught, practiced, and reinforced until mastered. This is excellent for academic skills (like identifying colors or letters) or specific daily living skills. It builds attention, focus, and allows the child to progress at an individualized pace through repeated success.
Task Analysis & Chaining
Have you ever thought about how many steps are involved in brushing your teeth? You have to find the brush, turn on the water, wet the brush, open the paste, apply the paste, brush different quadrants, spit, and rinse. For a child with autism, this can be overwhelming.
We use Task Analysis to break these complex tasks down into a visual or teachable list. Then, using Chaining, we teach those steps in sequence. We might help the child do steps 1 through 9, and let them independently do step 10 to feel the success of finishing. Then we work backward or forward until they master the full routine.
Addressing Behaviors: What We Do (and What We Don’t Do)
We know that parents are protective of their children, and rightly so. The field of ABA has evolved significantly, and Moving Mountains ABA is at the forefront of compassionate, modern care.
Positive Behavior Supports (PBS)
When challenging behaviors occur, we view them as a form of communication. We use Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) to identify the reason behind the behavior (the function) and focus on teaching safer, more effective ways to meet that same need.
We help children:
- Reduce behaviors that interfere with safety or learning.
- Learn proactive replacement skills.
- Develop positive coping strategies.
Our Ethical Commitments: What We Do Not Do
Families deserve to know their child will always be treated with dignity. That’s why Moving Mountains ABA makes these firm commitments to every family we serve in New Hampshire:
- We do not use aversive or punishment-based strategies. We focus on reinforcement and motivation, not fear or shame.
- We do not attempt to change how a child thinks or feels. Your child’s personality and perspective are valid. We are here to help them navigate the world, not change who they are.
- We do not focus only on reducing behaviors without teaching replacement skills. It is unfair to take away a coping mechanism without giving a better one in its place.
- We do not try to make a child conform to arbitrary social norms. We focus on behaviors that matter for safety and independence, not forcing eye contact or stopping harmless “stimming” that helps a child regulate.
A Focus on Emotional Regulation
One of the most impactful areas we address in the home is Emotional Regulation. Managing emotions is the foundation for growth and learning, yet many children struggle with big feelings, frustration, or unexpected changes.
In the safety of your home, we teach strategies to help children understand their emotions and respond more calmly. This might look like:
- Recognizing Cues: Helping a child realize their heart is racing or their fists are clenching before a meltdown starts.
- Coping Tools: Practicing deep breathing, asking for a “break,” or using sensory strategies like a weighted blanket or fidget toy.
- Flexibility: creating opportunities to practice transitions (like turning off the TV) in a supported way so they can handle changes in routine.
- Recovery: Shortening the time it takes to bounce back after an upset.
Parent Involvement: You Are the MVP
Finally, what should you expect of yourself?
In-home ABA is not a babysitting service where the professional takes over and the parent disappears. While you certainly don’t need to hover over every minute of the session, Parent & Caregiver Coaching is a vital part of our model.
Lasting progress happens when families are empowered. We equip you with the tools to reinforce skills and manage challenges when we aren’t there.
- We coach you on how to respond consistently to behaviors.
- We show you how to extend learning into bathtime, dinner time, and bedtime.
- We help you build confidence in supporting your child’s progress.
Our goal is to make ourselves obsolete. We want to give you so many tools and strategies that eventually, you don’t need us anymore.
Ready to Start?
At Moving Mountains ABA, we combine decades of research with a compassionate, child-centered philosophy to ensure therapy is effective, ethical, and family-focused. We are proud to serve families across New Hampshire, helping children gain independence, strengthen communication, and thrive.
If you are ready to move mountains, we are ready to climb with you.
Take the First Step Toward Meaningful Progress
Whether you’re a parent seeking support or a professional looking to collaborate, Moving Mountains ABA is here to help children thrive—at home, in school, and in the community. Our team provides compassionate, evidence-based therapy across New Hampshire, empowering families through every stage of growth.
Ready to bring high-quality, compassion-focused support into your home? We serve families across the entire state of New Hampshire with personalized care that respects your family’s routine. Reach out to our admissions team now to schedule your initial consultation.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking care because of something you have read on this website. Moving Mountains ABA does not provide medical or clinical services directly through its website. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or seek immediate medical attention.