Kids come first at Pediatric Therapy Clinic
Every parent has hopes and dreams for their child, and those who have children with therapeutic needs are no different. That’s why at Pediatric Therapy Clinic we celebrate the uniqueness of every child as we create a tailored treatment plan designed just for them. We are specialists in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and focus on custom solutions that work for your child and you.
The ABA Therapy Experts
Effective autism therapy requires a deep commitment and an understanding of the specific needs of children who are diagnosed on the autism spectrum or who have other developmental delays. Our Butte-based BCBA and ABA therapists use their training, knowledge and experience to create structure and opportunities for success, whether helping children with school readiness, improving communication, social skills, reducing behaviors or meeting life skill milestones.
- What is ABA Therapy?
ABA stands for “applied behavior analysis.” It is a proven, effective therapy for children diagnosed with an autism-spectrum disorder or other developmental delays. ABA combines educational, psychological and developmental techniques, and focuses on the individual needs of each child.
Applied behavior analysis is an evidence-based approach that has been called a “best practice” by the American Psychological Association. It is flexible, goal-oriented, and designed to help each learner to achieve their best possible outcome.
- How Does ABA Therapy Work?
Applied behavior analysis uses a variety of techniques to help your child meet his or her specific goals. For example, our therapists can help your child learn simple tasks at first and, over time, help them tackle more complex skills. Our therapists making learning fun through play and positive reinforcement to motivate your child and shape behavior.
- Where Does ABA Therapy Take Place?
Your child’s needs will determine exactly how much time they spend with their ABA therapist, and where that therapy takes place. Research shows that during the first years of intervention, 35-40 hours per week may be most beneficial.
Your Board Certified Behavior Analyst, or BCBA, will develop your child’s plan and take into account the best locations for treatment, including your home, our clinic, out in the community or in school. Based on your school’s policies and those of your insurance company, the therapist may even be able to accompany your child into the classroom to help with academics, behaviors, social skills, and communication.
- What Will My Treatment Look Like?
The hallmark of a high quality ABA program is oversight by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). When choosing ABA services, it is important to consider whether or not your provider is Board Certified. Board Certification helps to ensure that your provider is providing evidence-based, ethical, high quality services for your child.
BCBA’s are specialized behavioral health providers with graduate and/or post-graduate degrees and are credentialed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. BCBA’s may oversee and supervise Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT).
BCBAs must engage in continuing education to ensure they are expanding their behavior analytic skills beyond the initial requirements and to stay up to date with current developments in the profession (BACB, 2020). Continuing education units may include topics such as research, evidence-based interventions, ethics, cultural considerations and many more.
At Pediatric Therapy Clinic, your child’s treatment team will be led by a BCBA or BCaBA (sometimes referred to as the “programmer”) who will conduct initial and ongoing assessments, make treatment recommendations, analyze and design programming, conduct ongoing parent education and train and oversee members of your child’s direct treatment team. These activities will occur both during and outside of your child’s sessions. Your BCBA will make individualized recommendations regarding the amount of supervision your child’s program requires. You can expect to have regular communication with your child’s BCBA regarding goals, interventions and teaching strategies, progress and any questions or concerns you may have.
Additionally, the BCBA or BCaBA oversees the Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), who deliver the majority of your child’s direct therapy hours. RBTs are paraprofessionals who assist in providing behavior analysis services under close, ongoing supervision by a BCBA or BCaBA. RBTs must pass an exam, receive ongoing supervision, adhere to the ethical code and renew their certification annually.
This team of certified professionals and paraprofessionals will work together to ensure your child receives the highest quality services available.
For more information on certification, please refer to bacb.com
Commonly Asked Questions:
Each insurance policy is different in terms of the types and amount of therapy covered. We encourage parents and caregivers to speak with their insurance company about specific criteria as it relates to ABA therapy. Due to the intensity of ABA treatment, a family can assume that they will meet their out-of-pocket maximum if their child is receiving ABA therapy.
In Montana, health insurance providers are required to cover costs for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for children 18 years old or younger. There should be no limits for ABA Therapy. However, insurance policies vary depending upon which type of insurance you have. Please verify your plan benefits for ABA therapy sometimes called autism treatment.
For speech therapy, many insurance policies have a limit on the number of sessions one can attend in a calendar year. Please reach out to your insurance company to find out the benefits for speech therapy.
Studies have shown that the earlier a child begins receiving therapy, the better the outcomes can be. In order to receive ABA services through Pediatric Therapy Clinic, your child must have received a formal autism diagnosis. This diagnosis is made by an experienced provider who has received specialized training and who utilizes the ADOS-2, or Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and cognitive testing.
Often children begin speech therapy between two and three years of age, but can begin later. Children can be seen for speech therapy for difficulties with articulation (how they say their sounds), language delays, apraxia(a motor planning difficulty), dyslexia, stuttering, and a variety of other diagnoses.
In order to diagnose autism, tests, or “assessments,” are typically conducted by a developmental pediatrician, child psychologist or child psychiatrist. Please contact us by phone or email for more information about the practitioners in Montana who are able to conduct assessments. The wait for these diagnostic testing appointments can be extensive so it is important to reach out as soon as you become aware that an assessment may be needed.
Yes, you may download them here:
Working with a Pediatric Therapy Clinic Speech-Language Pathologist(SLP) can help them build their vocabulary and increase their communication abilities.
Some of the most common speech disorders include not only articulation, the way we say words, but also phonology, or the speech patterns that we use to communicate. Some children, including those with autism, may also have a speech disorder called apraxia, a motor-planning disorder that makes it difficult for them to move from one sound to another.
Our SLPs are well trained in developing alternative communication systems for children who are non-verbal or minimally verbal. We use a variety of materials and strategies to help give a voice to the voiceless.
Our speech therapists are also specialists in feeding. Whether it is a newborn baby who is struggling to latch or to breastfeed or an older child who has stopped eating, our occupational therapists work with you to overcome these difficulties. How do they do it? By identifying the reason why feeding/swallowing are difficult and working with you and your child to improve that process. After the assessment the process may begin referral for a swallow study or a visit with a dietician to ensure the child is safe to swallow. We will work with your pediatrician or family doctor to help coordinate care.
Once your child has met with his or her language therapist, a plan will be created to best meet their needs. After the plan is in place, the therapist will talk to you about how you can work together as a team. That may mean having you participate in therapy sessions to learn specific techniques for successful home programs.
Most importantly, your role will be to encourage your child to continue practicing the skills they learn in therapy. Practice can be a part of almost any daily activity, from getting ready for the day to reading stories at bedtime, from mealtime to bath time, or driving in the car.
ABA therapy can help your child:
improve communication
interact more positively with other children, friends and family
gain personal care skills, such as dressing or bathing
overcome feeding problems
Develop fine and gross motor skills
reduce problem behaviors
About
Pediatric Therapy Clinic began providing quality professional services to children in Billings in 2006, and we now have several offices in Montana—including our locations serving the needs of families in Butte and the surrounding area. We were one of the first clinics in our region to offer complete ABA therapy services. We are so pleased to have ABA therapy offered at our clinic in Butte. Please check back frequently for new services that are being provided.
We know that there is no one solution that fits every child. That’s why our team works together to create plans that will foster your child’s individual success. Our services are delivered with a personal touch that makes learning fun, fosters relationships with our clients and provides support for parents and families.
We’re also here to support and encourage you as the parent or family of a child with autism. At Pediatric Therapy Clinic, you’ll receive understanding from our team and from other families who share your common experience.
Our Butte office includes a team of highly qualified experts who enjoy working with our clients and their families. Our team consists of highly trained and certified Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs)/ Behavior Technicians. We are proud to be a part of the Butte community and love building relationships of trust with those we serve.y
Meet the Team
We are a team of dedicated professionals working together to deliver the highest-quality services available.
Kristina Halverson, BCaBA
Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst
Registered Behavior Technicians/Behavior Technicians
Tara Pelletier, RBT
Hailey Giacomini, RBT
Ashley Neighbor, RBT
Harley Barnett, RBT
Korena Frantzich, RBT
Jacelyn Downey, RBT
Kambria West, RBT
Cassandra Knight, RBT
Brooke Vallance, BT
Codi Mize, RBT
Happy to talk to you!
Pediatric Therapy Clinic, Inc
- Butte
1810 Harrison Ave.
Butte, MT 59701
Call: 406.563.0260
Fax: 406.259.1777
Other locations: