What insurance do you accept?

We're in-network with Kaiser Permanente, Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP), and the Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB). Not sure if you're covered? Fill out our intake form and we'll help you find out.

Do you offer in-home or in-center therapy?

Both. Some children do best at our Emeryville Early Learner Center, surrounded by peers and structure; others learn faster at home. Your BCBA will recommend the setting that fits your child, and you can change it as they grow.

Who leads my child's care?

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) designs and oversees your child's program from day one. We keep caseloads small on purpose, so the analyst running your child's program actually knows your child and your goals.

How soon will I hear back after reaching out?

Our clinical team responds within one business day — no sales reps, no runaround.

Do you offer services in Spanish?

Yes. Our clinicians reflect the communities we serve, and we deliver care in both English and Spanish.

How do I get started?

Submit our New Client Intake Form. Our clinical team reviews your child's needs, confirms whether we're the right fit, and guides you through insurance authorization and the BCBA assessment.

Our services

ABA therapy, built around your child.

Every program is designed and led by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, shaped by your child's interests, assent, and goals — and delivered wherever they learn best.

Request Services →See the assessment process

A young child fully absorbed in sorting colorful wooden blocks during an ABA therapy session.

What is ABA therapy?

Applied Behavior Analysis is the most-studied intervention for autism — when it's practiced ethically.

At Animate, ABA doesn't mean scripts, manualized curricula, or compliance drills. It means real teaching, real play, and goals that matter to your family. Your child's BCBA breaks meaningful skills into achievable steps, teaches them through your child's own interests, and tracks progress you can actually see.

No two programs look alike — because no two children do.

How we get started →

A clinician and child working together on a hands-on puzzle activity.

Addressing real concerns

What ABA at Animate is not.

The field of ABA has a complicated history, and some concerns parents carry are legitimate. Here’s what ethical, modern ABA does not look like at our practice.

Not compliance training

We don’t train children to perform tasks on demand. Sessions follow your child’s assent and interests. If a child is distressed, we stop and problem-solve — we don’t push through. Participation is always willing.

Not scripted or one-size-fits-all

Every program is built from scratch after a BCBA assessment. There are no packaged curricula, no predetermined lesson sequences, and no goals that were written before we met your child.

Not about changing who your child is

Ethical ABA targets skills that improve quality of life — for your child, not just for the adults around them. We don’t suppress harmless autistic traits or work toward a version of your child that’s simply easier to manage.

How to choose a quality ABA provider →

How care works

Three things, done well.

A clear structure under every program — with your BCBA connecting the pieces.

BCBA assessment & plan

Your analyst meets your child, identifies meaningful goals, and builds an individualized program from scratch — reviewed with you before anything begins.

1:1 therapy sessions

A consistent Registered Behavior Technician delivers the program in-home or in-center, with close, ongoing BCBA oversight — not a rotating cast.

Caregiver coaching

You learn the strategies too, so progress carries over to mealtimes, bedtime, and everyday moments long after a session ends.

What we work on

Skills that open up everyday life.

Goals are always individualized — but here are the areas families most often see growth.

Communication & language

Building the ability to request, respond, and connect — whether through speech, signs, or devices.

Daily living skills

Dressing, mealtime, toileting, and routines that build independence and confidence at home.

Social skills

Sharing, turn-taking, and play that helps your child build real connections with peers and family.

School readiness

Attending, following directions, and group routines that prepare your child for classroom settings.

Play & engagement

Following your child's lead to expand play, attention, and joyful, motivated learning.

Behavior support

Understanding the why behind challenging behavior and teaching safer, more effective alternatives.

In-home or in-center

We'll help you choose the right setting.

Your BCBA recommends the setting that fits your child — and you can change it as they grow.

A parent and child during an in-home ABA session with a wooden shape sorter.

At home

In-home therapy

Some children learn faster at home, where the kitchen, the backyard, and the bedtime routine are the real teaching moments. We meet your child in their everyday world.

A behavior technician and child at a learning table in our Emeryville center.

In Emeryville

Our Early Learner Center

Others do best in our Emeryville center, surrounded by peers and structure that build the skills for school and social settings.

In-network coverage

Wondering if you're covered?

We currently accept Kaiser Permanente, Contra Costa Health Plan, and the Regional Center of the East Bay. Have a different plan? We may still be able to help through a single-case agreement — just ask.

Check your coverage →Read the FAQ

Kaiser Permanente

In-network

Contra Costa Health Plan

In-network

Regional Center of the East Bay

In-network

Ready to see what's possible?

Tell us about your child. A real clinician will respond within one business day.

Request Services →Call (510) 500-5124

Cartoon penguin wearing blue headset and holding a gray video game controller.