Our approach
A different way to practise behaviour therapy.
Neuroaffirming. Trauma-informed. Regulation-first. We hold the evidence base seriously and the person more seriously still.
What we believe
The values that shape every session
Neuroaffirming
We don't try to make neurodivergent people look neurotypical. We support people to be themselves. With the tools, communication and regulation they want.
Trauma-informed (and trauma-assumed)
We assume trauma may be part of someone's story and design every interaction with safety, predictability and choice in mind.
Compassion-focused
Influenced by Dr Paul Gilbert's compassion-focused work. For the young person, the family, and the practitioner.
Holistic & autonomy-led
Goals are co-created with the person and family. Quality of life and meaningful choices come before behavioural targets.
Order of operations
Regulation, safety, communication. Then skills
This isn't a warm-up routine. It's the architecture of the work.
Layer 1
Regulation
For all learning opportunities, regulation comes first. We attend to the nervous system (body, breath, sensory load, environment) before anything else.
Layer 2
Psychological safety, trust & rapport
We earn trust by being predictable, respectful and led by the person's signals. Rapport isn't a warm-up. It's the work.
Layer 3
Functional communication
Communication that is genuinely accessible, including during dysregulation, and that preserves trust and autonomy. Visuals, AAC, signing, scripts: whatever works for the person.
Layer 4
Skills, on the person's terms
Once regulation, safety and communication are in place, we co-choose skills that matter. Embedded in everyday life, not abstracted from it.
How we're different
Compared to typical ABA
A simple side-by-side. We're not the only people doing it this way. But we think the way matters.
| Feature | Typical ABA | Here |
|---|---|---|
| Goal setting | Practitioner-led, deficit-framed targets | Co-created with the person & family, quality-of-life framed |
| Stance on neurodivergence | Often implicitly compliance-based | Neuroaffirming. Autistic & ND ways of being are respected |
| Trauma awareness | Sometimes added on | Trauma-assumed by default |
| Order of operations | Jump to skill acquisition | Regulation → safety → communication → skills |
| Communication | Often verbal-first | Multi-modal & accessible during dysregulation |
Get in touch
Ready to start with support that feels safe?
Whether you’re a parent, teacher or clinician. Reach out for a no-pressure conversation about what neuroaffirming behaviour support could look like for you.