Lara Sacks

It is common for parents to feel overwhelmed when they first receive their child’s diagnosis of Autism. They quickly learn that ABA is the “gold standard” for treatment, but parents need a provider who they can not only trust their child with, but who can also show results- both big and small. But how do they know they are choosing the right provider? How do they know that their child will receive an intervention plan that makes sense for their child? 

Solution: My approach uses the methodology of ABA in a way that makes sense to both a child and parent. We work together to pick goals that are specific & meaningful. While curriculums are excellent resources, and often necessary to support behaviour plans, they are not the only guide practitioners should use. We get to know your child, how they learn, what makes them feel joy, select challenging yet attainable goals, and develop teaching strategies that - yes - make sense. When a child is not learning, my team works to determine the issue at hand, then modify our teaching accordingly. For “problem behaviours”, Functional Behavioural Assessments (FBA) are also used in order to effectively identify contingencies maintaining the behaviour(s). 

Result:ABA is not a cure. It is an evidence-based, real-life teaching tool that, when used responsibly and effectively, changes lives. We focus on all domains of life so your child can learn an array of skills, such as academics, communication, social skills, daily living skills, community living skills, self-regulation, health & fitness, and more!

Experience

Lara is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA, Ont.) with a Master’s in Applied Disability Studies (specialization in ABAs) from Brock University. Lara started her ABA career in 2008 as a behaviour therapist, and has since been working in the homes and communities of those she serves. She has worked with children of all ages, and many adolescents, teenagers, and adults with various diagnoses. With her team of trusted therapists, Lara currently offers remote or in-person support to individuals and their families through evidence-based, compassionate, and ethically grounded interventions. She specializes in training and supervising therapists, conducting functional behavioural assessments, developing individualized programs, maintaining consistent data analysis, skill acquisition and generalization, and working collaboratively with caregivers. Lara also uses an electronic data collection system, which keeps her practice efficient and focused where it matters most — on her clients’ progress.

Lara believes meaningful behavior change happens when it is rooted in integrity, relevance, and collaboration — and when practitioners take the time to truly know their clients and build trusting relationships.

Client Focus

Children, Teens, Adults, Parents and Caregivers

Types of Therapy

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Issues

Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Global Developmental Disorder, Learning Disability, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Verbal Learning Disability, Dual Diagnoses

More Than Just My Work

I am a Certified Yoga Instructor, novice “crossfitter”, and love hiking with my dog and 2 young children!