For years, AG Behavioral Services has brought high-quality, in-home ABA therapy to families across Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, and Morris counties. Now, we’re thrilled to share the next chapter in our story: beginning September 2026, AGBS will offer in-clinic ABA services at our brand-new center at 17-17 Route 208 in Fair Lawn, NJ.
If your family has only experienced ABA at home — or if you’re just beginning your ABA journey — you probably have questions. What actually happens in a clinic setting? Is it right for my child? How is it different from the in-home sessions we know? In this post, we’ll walk you through what to expect and how to prepare, so that when our doors open, your family feels ready and excited.
Why We’re Opening a Center
Our mission has always been the same: to help every child we work with conquer their challenges and achieve their full potential. In-home therapy will always be a core part of what we do, because there’s no substitute for teaching skills in the environment where a child lives every day.
But a dedicated clinic space lets us offer something more. A center gives us purpose-built therapy rooms, a wider range of materials and learning tools, and — perhaps most importantly — natural opportunities for children to practice social skills alongside peers. For many families, the combination of home-based and center-based services offers the best of both worlds.
What a Typical In-Clinic Session Looks Like
While every child’s treatment plan at AGBS is individualized, most in-clinic sessions share a familiar rhythm:
Arrival and warm-up. Your child is greeted by their Behavior Technician and eased into the session with a preferred activity. Predictable routines help children feel safe and ready to learn.
One-on-one programming. Just like at home, your child works directly with their technician on goals set by their Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) — building skills in areas like communication, attention, social interaction, academics, and daily living, while reducing behaviors that get in the way of learning.
Structured play and peer opportunities. This is where the clinic setting shines. Children can practice turn-taking, sharing, greetings, and group participation with other children in a supportive, supervised environment — skills that are hard to rehearse one-on-one at home.
Breaks and reinforcement. Sessions are built around your child’s motivation. Breaks, movement, and preferred activities are woven throughout to keep learning positive and fun.
Data collection and communication. Our team tracks progress during every session, and your BCBA uses that data to adjust goals. You’ll continue to receive the same regular communication and parent training you’d expect from AGBS.
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In-Home vs. In-Clinic: How Do They Compare?
Neither setting is “better” — they simply serve different purposes, and many children benefit from both.
In-home therapy teaches skills right where your child will use them: mealtime routines at your own table, getting dressed in their own room, playing with their own siblings. It’s also convenient for families juggling busy schedules.
In-clinic therapy offers a structured, distraction-managed environment, access to specialized materials, easier collaboration among our clinical team, and built-in peer interaction. For children preparing for preschool or school settings, the clinic can serve as a valuable bridge — a place to practice learning in a “school-like” environment before making that transition.
Your BCBA will work with you to determine the right setting, or blend of settings, for your child’s goals.
How to Prepare Your Child for the Transition
Change can be challenging for any child, and especially for children with autism. If your family plans to begin center-based services this fall, here are a few strategies to make the transition smoother:
- Talk about it early and often. Use simple, positive language: “Soon you’ll go to a special place to play and learn with your therapist.”
- Use visual supports. A photo of the building, a simple social story, or a visual schedule showing “car → center → play → home” can make the unknown feel familiar.
- Do a practice drive. Riding past the new center a few times before the first session helps the route and building become part of your child’s routine.
- Keep familiar anchors. In many cases, your child will continue working with familiar AGBS team members — a comforting constant in a new environment. A favorite comfort item from home can help too.
- Start gradually if needed. Your BCBA can plan a gradual ramp-up, such as shorter initial visits, so your child builds positive associations with the center from day one.
We’ll also be sharing more details with enrolled families as opening day approaches, including orientation opportunities so children and parents can see the space before services begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will in-home services continue? Absolutely. In-clinic services are an addition to — not a replacement for — the in-home ABA services families across Northern New Jersey rely on.
Can my child do both? In many cases, yes. Hybrid models are common, and your BCBA will recommend the mix that best supports your child’s treatment goals.
Will insurance cover in-clinic ABA? ABA services at our center will be billed just like our current services. Our team is happy to help you verify your coverage — visit our Insurance page or give us a call.
Who will work with my child at the center? The same caring, highly trained team you know: Behavior Technicians providing direct therapy, supervised by our Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
Join Our Waiting List Today
Space in our Fair Lawn center will be limited when we open in September 2026, and our waiting list is already growing. If you’d like your child to be among the first to experience in-clinic ABA at AGBS, don’t wait.
Sign up for the waiting list or call us at 201-373-6947. Hablamos Español.
We can’t wait to welcome your family to our new home in Fair Lawn — and to keep helping your child achieve their full potential, wherever learning happens.
AG Behavioral Services provides in-home and in-center ABA therapy to children, adolescents, and young adults with autism throughout Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, and Morris County, New Jersey.
