Therapy services for all ages in Ventura and LA Counties

Services

Click on each arrow to explore the services in detail

We specialize in helping those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, as well as individuals with other developmental and behavioral disorders.

  • ACT specializes in diagnosing neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., intellectual disability, communication disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorder, and motor disorders) along with conduct disorders (e.g., oppositional-defiant disorder) and mood disorders (e.g., anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and depressive disorders). Specific recommendations are provided. ACT also provides functional behavior assessment (FBA/FAA) to inform behavior change procedures and skill assessments to facilitate new skill acquisition.

  • Testing may occur across time and a variety of locations and be both direct and observational. Comprehensive assessment may include evaluation of cognitive, language, educational, social, play, self-care and motor skills, along with behavior and select neuropsychological skills (executive functions, processing and memory).

  • ABA therapy involves multiple steps that help address challenging behaviors and teach socially significant skills.

    Through a comprehensive assessment, we get to know your child to be able to develop treatment plans tailored to their individual goals and needs.

    Our services are designed to be implemented in the home, community, and school settings. Our team, composed of BCBA’s and RBT’s, use a variety of interventions and techniques to help your child reach their full potential. Areas targeted in our ABA programs include:

    Communication

    Imitation Skills

    Play Skills

    Social Skills

    Executive Functioning

    Daily Living Skills

    At ACT, we focus on making socially significant and life-lasting change in the lives of our children and their families.

  • Our goal is to provide your child with the support they need to participate in their daily classroom activities, engage in social interactions, and become independent learners. With support from their 1:1 aide, your children will work toward meeting their IEP and/or treatment goals, as well as developing the skills they need to be successful in the school environment.

Our Team

Aimee Anderson, Ph.D., BCBA-D

  • Clinical and Executive Director

    Licensed Psychologist, PSY 18781

    Board Certified Behavior Analyst

    1-06-3193

    Dr. Anderson has been working in the fields of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 1993. She earned a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in the area of Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis on Autism Spectrum Disorder from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Dr. Anderson subsequently served as a Research Scientist in Dr. Geraldine Dawson’s Autism Laboratory at the University of Washington, and held a clinical post-doctoral position under the supervision of Dr. Aubyn Stahmer in the Children’s Autism Intervention Center (CAIC) at Rady’s Children’s Hospital, San Diego. Dr. Anderson is a Licensed Psychologist as well as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral Level (BCBA-D). She founded ACT in 2002 and is the acting Director.

Amanda Damico, BCBA

  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst

    1-20-46003

    Amanda is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the Intake Specialist at ACT with 4 years of experience in the field of ABA. Amanda attended Teachers College, Columbia University for her Masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. Amanda has also worked as a teacher in both New York and California for 6 years before pursuing behavior analysis full time. During her time as a BCBA she has helped children acquire new academic, social and self-help skills improving the daily lives for each child and family she works with. She also specializes in parent training, working closely with parents to ensure an understanding of ABA principles, behavior modification tactics to use at home and offers support as families acquire new skills. Using her knowledge of developmental milestones and best practices, Amanda writes the initial behavior reports, which determine programing, behavior modification goals and teaching techniques used in therapy. Her love for working with children and families is demonstrated daily.

Julie Knutson

  • Julie joined ACT in 2005 and managed the office until 2015. After being gone for several years, she is happy to be apart of the team again! Julie plays a key role in managing company projects and working alongside the office team to ensure the day to day operations of the office run smoothly and effectively.

Zihomara Abrego, BA

  • Zihomara began her career in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis in 2019 as an in-home Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and later became ABA Training Manager to provide support for aspiring RBT’s. She provided training and continued education for staff on ABA principles. After graduating with a Bachelor's in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton she began working alongside several Board Certified Behavior Analysts to provide support in the field. Areas of ABA expertise include Discrete Trial Teaching, Natural Environment Teaching, and Adaptive and Social skills in community settings. Most experience comes from individuals ages 2-18 years with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. In her free time, she enjoys exploring different restaurants, going to the gym and spending time with family and friends. She is passionate about providing support to clients and their families to make a positive change.

Shayna Niles, BCBA

  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst

    1-20-46662

    Shayna has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for 6 wonderful years. Shayna received her Masters of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 2020, and began her career as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) that same year. Shayna was introduced to the field as a registered behavior technician (RBT), and worked with families across Santa Barbara and Los Angeles County. Her expertise in ABA ranges from early intervention to adolescence/early adulthood. She is passionate about advocating for clients and families, while working on socially significant and individualized goals for each learner. She looks forward to working with your family!

Jasmine Vega

  • Jasmine joined the ACT team in May 2022 as our office administrator. She is responsible for the day-to-day office operations and is excited about being the person that connects our ACT families with the services and resources we provide.

Registered Behavior Technician

  • Each of our instructors come to ACT with varying degrees of experience. Our instructors demonstrate a passion and commitment to working with your children in a fun and effective manner. At ACT we carefully screen and match our instructors to best fit your child’s needs and individual personality.

    All of our instructors have passed the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s certification exam to become Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT’s) and have been provided with rigorous training and assessments to best support each of the children they work with. Our RBT’s receive continued support from their supervisors and are encouraged to attend our Continuing Education classes, which cover multiple topics in the field of ABA.

Support for ACT

Join Our Team

Interested in joining ACT? We’re looking for passionate individuals who have worked or want to work in the field of therapy. Please fill out this quick form and we will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible!

Contact us

21550 Oxnard St. Suite 940
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

(818) 707-1717 (office)
(818) 707-1719 (fax)

  • There are several funding sources for getting ABA therapy covered and our office can assist you in determining the best option for your family. Sometimes using more than one funding source is possible.

  • ACT is currently an in-network provider with several health insurance carriers, which include:

    * Anthem Blue Cross

    * Magellan

    * Cigna

    * Aetna

    Please call our office to start the intake process. Each insurance policy can be very different and not all plans fund ABA therapy. Our staff can help navigate your insurance by contacting your provider to determine your benefits/coverage.

  • ACT is certified by California's Department of Education as a Non-Public Agency (NPA) and holds a Master Contract with the SELPA.

    Our Master Contract allows ACT to contract directly with local school districts to provide one-on-one aide support, behavior intervention development, curriculum development, training and assessment.

    The need for NPA support is determined during the IEP process with your school district.