Essential Speech and ABA Therapy
Sugar Hill, Georgia

Se habla español!

Welcome to Essential Speech and ABA Therapy,
Where Children on the Autism Spectrum have a TEAM Behind Them!

By bringing ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy together under one roof, we streamline treatment to help children reach their full potential! This collaborative model ensures a team approach to meeting your child's needs, as our Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), and Occupational Therapist (OT) work together to craft a treatment plan personally tailored to your child.

At Essential Speech & ABA Therapy, your child’s care is our top priority. Our locations are independently owned and operated, which means that each facility is uniquely equipped to meet your child’s needs while helping them achieve independence!

We focus on early intervention services, providing expert care for children between the ages of 18 months and 6 years old.

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Our Services

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy helps children with ASD promote, maintain, and develop the skills needed for school and beyond. 5 These may include:

Self-care skills (such as dressing, eating a meal, and managing personal hygiene)
Productivity skills (i.e. emotional regulation, participation, handwriting, and organization)
Leisure skills (participating in hobbies, developing motor skills for PE/sports, and maintaining friendships)

After your child’s initial assessment, our OTs will identify several key areas for improvement. These may include, but are not limited to: independent dressing, eating, grooming, and fine motor skills. Together with our BCBAs and SLPs, our OTs craft individualized care plans that help children with ASD thrive in any environment. Our OTs meet regularly with family members and program staff to review progress or adjust goals if needed.

ABA Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis (also referred to as ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. ABA therapy utilizes several evidence-based practices to increase communication skills and deter interfering behaviors.

ABA Therapy can help your child master the following skills:

Daily living skills
Self-care skills
Attention
Social skills
Stress management
Emotional development
Language skills
Play and leisure skills

ABA therapy uses several strategies (such as Positive Reinforcement) to teach the above skills. Evidence-based practices are often compiled into a Behavior Support Plan to reduce interfering behaviors and replace them with more adaptive skills.

Positive Reinforcement

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, we use a strategy called Positive Reinforcement. In Positive Reinforcement, a therapist identifies a goal behavior. When a child successfully repeats the goal behavior, they are rewarded. Positive rewards encourage the child to continue using their newly acquired skills. Over time, this leads to meaningful behavioral change.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy can be used to treat language disorders, speech disorders, and swallowing problems. For children on the spectrum, speech therapy can address many communication-related challenges and provide benefits that improve their quality of life as they age.

There are five key benefits to speech therapy:

Expressing wants and needs: Your speech therapist will work closely with your child to help them advocate for themselves. SLPs will teach them common phrases such as “I want..”, “I need..”, or “I didn’t get one.” Nonverbal children will learn how to use sign language, gestures, picture boards, or alternative augmentative communication devices.
Recognize verbal and nonverbal cues: An SLP will help your child interpret body language, such as facial expressions, gestures, etc. Your child will also learn how to initiate communication without prompting.
Develop friendships and interact with peers: Speech and language therapy can help children with ASD socialize. An SLP can help children understand casual conversation and learn how to make friends.
Articulate words and sentences well: Many children on the autism spectrum have trouble articulating sounds or using the correct word in sentences. They may also struggle with abstract concepts, such as time, idioms, hints, or indirect instructions. An SLP will help your child overcome these difficulties.
Understanding and processing language: SLPs can help your child follow simple and complex directions, and understand language concepts such as colors, sizes, shapes, and prepositions. SLPs will also help your child understand and answer questions related to stories, conversations, or activities.

Our Team

Michelle Stevens - M.A., BCBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

I obtained my undergraduate degree in Psychology from CSUMB and my Master's in Special Education with a concentration in ABA from ASU. I have over 10 years of experience within the field starting as a behavior technician and working my way all the way up to a BCBA.

I strive to make an impactful difference in the lives of those I serve, assuring I am providing the most ethical services for my clients! I love making ABA fun and thinking outside the box and trying to look at the world through the lens of those I work for and serve.

Maggie Hunsaker
Office Manager

I obtained my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Utah Valley University. My life experiences led me to develop a deep appreciation for the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and I'm committed to helping create a loving, supportive, and organized environment where both clients and staff can thrive. I love being around the kids and seeing them progress in their life journey.

I moved from Utah to Georgia 3 years ago and I have fallen in love with the south and its humidity. My husband and I live in Northern Georgia and we love going on walks and playing pickleball. In my free time I love to crochet, play sports, and spend time with family.

We proudly serve several communities near our Center: