Little
Green
Tugboat
ABA
Our Commitment to Families
At Little Green Tugboat, we believe every child deserves to be understood, respected, and supported with compassion. We recognize that families come to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with a wide range of experiences, questions, and perspectives, and we are committed to providing care that reflects both the science of learning and the dignity of every child. Our work begins with understanding. Before determining how best to support a child, we seek to understand their strengths, interests, communication style, sensory experiences, relationships, motivations, and unique way of engaging with the world. We believe children learn best within responsive relationships where they feel safe, valued, understood, and empowered to participate. Our goal is not to change who children are, but to help them build meaningful skills, strengthen communication, increase independence, navigate challenges, and participate more fully in the relationships, activities, and environments that matter most to them and their families. Above all, we strive to create experiences in which children feel safe, capable, and understood. We believe the most meaningful learning happens through responsive relationships built on trust, curiosity, respect, and meaningful participation. This includes respecting, understanding and responding to children’s communication, including protest, refusal, requests for a break, and other expressions of discomfort, uncertainty, or overwhelm. That belief is the foundation of every relationship we build, every decision we make, and every service we provide. As the field of Applied Behavior Analysis continues to evolve, we recognize that many autistic individuals and families have shared experiences that have challenged our profession to reflect, learn, and grow. We believe those voices deserve to be heard with openness, humility, and respect, and we remain committed to ongoing reflection, learning, and ethical practice. We believe the best way to move our field forward is not by denying its history, but by learning from it.
Our Approach to ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science of understanding how learning occurs and how interactions between individuals and their environments influence behavior and development. It is one of the most well-established evidence-based approaches for supporting many neurodiverse children and is frequently funded through health insurance for individuals with autism. ABA is not a single therapy or teaching method. Rather, it is a broad scientific discipline encompassing a wide variety of approaches that differ significantly in philosophy and practice. As research in child development, neuroscience, communication, and neurodiversity has advanced, ABA has continued to evolve. At Little Green Tugboat, we practice naturalistic, strengths-based, relationship-centered ABA grounded in meaningful engagement, child development, and everyday learning. More specifically, we strive to build responsive relationships – relationships in which adults learn to notice children's communication, understand what it means, and respond in ways that strengthen trust, participation, learning, and development. Our approach integrates contemporary behavioral science with developmental principles, Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), family-centered practice, strengths-based coaching, nervous system-informed practice, and current research in communication, regulation, learning, and inclusive education. Rather than focusing on changing behavior, we seek to understand what behavior is communicating and the many factors that shape it while helping children build meaningful skills that support communication, emotional regulation, social participation, independence, confidence, and overall quality of life. We believe lasting progress occurs when learning is meaningful, individualized, responsive, and embedded within children's everyday relationships, routines, interests, and environments.
What Makes Our ABA Different
Our approach is individualized, collaborative, and built around each child's unique strengths, interests, motivations, communication, and developmental profile. We believe meaningful learning happens through connection, curiosity, responsive relationships, and shared engagement—not through one-size-fits-all programs. Whenever possible, we embed learning opportunities within play, daily routines, and naturally occurring interactions so that new skills are functional, engaging, and relevant to children's everyday lives. We follow children's interests and motivation, creating learning experiences that encourage active participation while respecting each child's communication style, sensory needs, autonomy, and individuality. Parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals are essential partners throughout the process because meaningful progress extends far beyond therapy sessions. By building the confidence, understanding, and capacity of the adults who support children every day, we help create lasting change across home, school, and community environments. Our approach emphasizes: -Responsive, relationship-centered interactions that foster trust, communication, engagement, and meaningful learning -Child-led, naturalistic learning embedded within play, daily routines, and everyday experiences -Individualized goals based on each child's strengths, interests, communication style, developmental needs, and family priorities -Respect for neurodiversity, autonomy, communication differences, sensory experiences, and each child's unique way of engaging with the world -Collaboration with parents, caregivers, educators, and interdisciplinary professionals to promote consistency across environments -Practical, functional skills that increase participation, confidence, independence, relationships, and overall quality of life -Ongoing reflection, ethical practice, and evidence-informed decision-making as research and our understanding of child development continue to evolve Ultimately, our goal is not simply to teach skills. It is to strengthen relationships. Build confidence. Support meaningful participation. Create responsive environments. Help families feel empowered. And help children thrive as their authentic selves.
Evidence-Based Practice
We believe evidence-based practice means more than following a single intervention model. It means thoughtfully integrating the best available research with clinical expertise, collaboration, and each child's unique strengths, needs, interests, communication, and family priorities. Our work draws from a range of evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches, selecting and integrating strategies that are individualized, developmentally appropriate, and meaningful for each child and family we support. Our work is informed by approaches including: -Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) -Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) -Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) -Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) -TEACCH® -The Hanen Centre® programs -Natural Environment Teaching (NET) -Incidental Teaching -Child development -Family-centered practice -Strengths-based coaching -Responsive, relationship-centered practice -Nervous system-informed practice -Current research in communication, emotional regulation, learning, and inclusive education
Our services
Parent Training & Coaching
Empowering parents and caregivers through individualized education, collaborative coaching, and strengths-based support. Together, we build confidence, strengthen everyday interactions, and help families create meaningful opportunities for learning, communication, and connection.
Direct ABA Services
Individualized, naturalistic ABA services designed around each child's strengths, interests, and everyday environments. Through engaging, relationship-centered support, we help children build meaningful skills that promote communication, regulation, independence, social participation, and quality of life.
Small, supportive groups that foster meaningful peer relationships through play, shared interests, and collaborative experiences. Children build communication, social understanding, emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and confidence in engaging, naturalistic environments where every child is valued for who they are.
Social Learning Groups
Interactive, evidence-informed training designed to strengthen the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills of educators, therapists, paraprofessionals, and other professionals supporting neurodiverse children. Our trainings are engaging, collaborative, and immediately applicable to everyday practice.
Staff Training
Supervision
High-quality clinical supervision, mentorship, and professional development for behavior analysts and behavior technicians. Our supervision emphasizes ethical practice, compassionate care, critical thinking, and the integration of evidence-based, relationship-centered approaches.
CEU Opportunities
Continuing education designed for behavior analysts and other professionals seeking practical, evidence-informed learning. Our CEU offerings emphasize ethical practice, contemporary behavioral science, relationship-centered care, and real-world application.
Insurance & Reimbursement
Little Green Tugboat is an out-of-network (OON) ABA provider working with most major insurance companies. Families pay LGT directly and receive paid superbills to submit for potential reimbursement based on their individual benefits. Our team is happy to help guide families through the insurance process and answer questions along the way.
Our Executive Functioning (EF) Coaching provides individualized, practical support to help children, adolescents, and young adults build the skills needed to navigate everyday demands with greater confidence and independence. Personalized coaching focuses on organization, planning, time management, task initiation, prioritization, flexible thinking, and self-monitoring—helping each individual develop strategies that work at school, home, and in daily life.
Executive Functioning Coaching