Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a scientifically proven treatment designed to help individuals, particularly children with autism, develop meaningful skills and reduce behaviors that interfere with learning or daily life.

Traditional ABA often involves Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) selecting goals based on assessments and benchmarks. Sessions are typically adult-led, with therapists guiding structured activities to teach skills.

This approach often emphasizes compliance, encouraging children to follow instructions and reduce behaviors deemed "atypical," such as stimming, to meet societal norms. While widely used, many autistic adults have shared how compliance-based methods and efforts to suppress natural, self-regulating behaviors caused lasting harm.

These voices emphasize the need to listen to lived experiences and prioritize approaches that honor each child's autonomy, unique needs, and well-being over conformity.

It is up to us as clinicians to do better. 

At Paper Lantern Therapies, we recognize that children and their caregivers are the true experts. Our role is to discover and support what is meaningful to your unique family and partner with you to move closer to your values.

We take a trauma-informed approach, ensuring the child’s preferences, needs, and values guide everything we do. Rather than relying on extrinsic motivation like rewards, we focus on fostering intrinsic motivation to inspire genuine learning and growth.

We prioritize regulation—helping children feel safe and connected—before and alongside learning. By equipping parents with practical tools to support their child at home and in the community, we reduce the need for extensive therapy hours, empowering families to lead the way in their child’s journey.

Our commitment is to provide compassionate, individualized care that honors your child’s authentic self and strengthens the bonds within your family.

At Paper Lantern Therapies, we embrace a neurodiversity-affirming approach to care, recognizing and honoring the individuality of every learner. Our purpose is to support growth and connection rather than focus on increasing neurotypical characteristics. Therapy is designed to prioritize regulation, nurture authentic expression, and create meaningful opportunities for joy and progress.

We actively observe and seek assent in all activities, ensuring each learner's voice is heard and respected. The risks of masking—suppressing one’s true self to fit external expectations—are thoughtfully considered, as we prioritize creating environments where individuals feel safe and accepted as they are.

As a team, we are committed to ongoing learning from the lived experiences and perspectives of neurodivergent individuals, allowing us to refine our practices to better serve our community with compassion and understanding.

We currently offer in-home, community based, or school based support. We serve kids all across Michigan in Genesee, Livingston, Oakland Counties!

At Paper Lantern Therapies, therapy hours are completely individualized based on your child’s unique needs. We focus on providing high-quality therapy with a lower hourly prescription (anywhere from 1-20 hours weekly), emphasizing meaningful progress over quantity. Parents play an active role in the process, learning the skills we implement so they can confidently support their child at home and in the community. This approach fosters lasting growth while keeping your family’s values and routines at the center of care.