ABA Therapy in Penn Hills, PA
Information
Hours
- Monday through Friday: 8:30 - 6PM
- Saturday: 8AM-2PM
- Sunday: By Appointment Only
Autism services available for children ages 18 months to 6 years.
Clinic Director: Lauren Wagner, M.S., BCBA, LBS
Education
- Bachelors Degree in Human Development with a minor in Psychology at Bowling Green State University
- Masters of Science (M.S.) Psychology with a Applied Behavior Analysis concentration at Purdue University
Experience
- Years of ABA Experience: 9
Being a Behavior Analyst and Clinic Director in the ABA field, Lauren is driven by her passion for helping children and families create meaningful, lasting progress in their daily lives. She is inspired by the opportunity to support and mentor her clinical team while ensuring compassionate, high-quality care for every client. Lauren’s goal is to create a positive, collaborative environment where both staff and clients can grow, succeed, and feel valued.
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Autism services available for children ages 2 to 6 .
Autism Therapy in Penn Hills, PA
Helping Hands Family offers ABA therapy in Penn Hills, PA. Our clinic provides children on the autism spectrum with high-quality, individualized treatment in a warm, welcoming environment. Each autism treatment plan is built around your child’s unique:
- Strengths
- Needs
- Interests
- Learning Style
- Motivations
Our autism therapy uses play-based sessions to increase your child’s engagement. Our programs support growth in areas essential to your child’s development, including:
- Communication skills
- Socialization
- Attention and focus
- Learning routines
- Positive behavior
Why ABA Therapy?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the gold-standard treatment for autism, supported by decades of research and recognized by leading organizations such as:
- U.S. Surgeon General
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- American Psychological Association (APA)
ABA therapy is effective because it:
- Breaks down learning into small, achievable steps.
- Adapts over time to meet your child’s changing needs.
- Focuses on real-world skills that benefit home, school, and community life.
At our Penn Hills clinic, ABA therapy is designed to make learning enjoyable. Our Helping Hands Family clinical team centers autism treatment on three core pillars:
- Child-led therapy – Following each child’s interests to keep sessions motivating and meaningful.
- Play-based sessions – Using games and fun activities to make learning enjoyable and natural.
- Positive reinforcement – Encouraging progress with praise, rewards, and celebration of achievements.
These pillars guide every session to create an autism therapy experience that feels supportive, engaging, and effective.
Our Autism Treatment Approach
Helping Hands Family applies clinically proven and family-friendly methods to offer the best quality care. Our autism services are based on:
- Early intervention Care for children ages 18 months to 6 years, when progress can be most impactful.
- Play-based learning Sessions that keep children engaged and motivated.
- 1:1 and group sessions Building skills individually, then practicing them socially
At our Penn Hills clinic, we use Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, the most trusted and widely used approach for autism treatment. ABA helps children learn new skills step by step while encouraging positive behaviors in a supportive setting. Our goal is simple: to help your child build confidence, independence, and lasting skills that improve everyday life. Our autism therapy for kids is designed to grow with each child as their needs evolve.
Benefits of ABA Therapy
ABA therapy is widely recognized as the most effective, evidence-based treatment for children with autism. Its structured yet flexible approach lets children build skills at their own pace while making progress that lasts. Key benefits of working with an ABA therapist include:
- Improved communication – Helps children express their needs, wants, and feelings more effectively.
- Stronger social skills – Builds confidence in connecting and interacting with peers, siblings, and adults.
- Better focus and attention – Supports learning in school and daily routines.
- Reduction of challenging behaviors – Encourages positive alternatives that make life easier at home and in the community.
- Increased independence – Teaches practical skills that help children gain confidence in everyday activities.
These benefits give children the building blocks they need to succeed at home, in school, and in social settings. If our Penn Hills clinic is too far, we also offer autism therapy in Monroeville, PA.
Frequently Asked Questions About ABA Therapy in Penn Hills, PA
What ages will Helping Hands Family serve in Penn Hills, PA?
Our Penn Hills clinic will serve children ages 18 months to 6 years. This focus on early childhood reflects the strong research behind early intervention, which shows that ABA therapy started in early years tends to produce the most durable gains in communication, behavior, and social development.
Do you serve families throughout Allegheny County, including areas outside Pittsburgh?
Our Penn Hills clinic is being built to reach families in the eastern communities of Allegheny County, including Verona, Plum, Monroeville, and the surrounding suburbs east of Pittsburgh. Until we open, our admissions team can connect you with the nearest active Helping Hands Family clinic so your child doesn’t have to wait to begin care.
Will you accept my insurance at the Penn Hills location?
We work with the same major insurers across all our Pennsylvania clinics, so families switching from another HHF location or starting fresh can expect consistent coverage. That includes plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Highmark, and Horizon. Before your child begins, our Care Coordination Team confirms exactly what your plan covers, and we can also offer some out-of-network options.
Start ABA Therapy Today
At Helping Hands Family, we see parents and caregivers as partners. Our Penn Hills team offers coaching, resources, and open communication to help you feel confident in supporting your child outside of sessions. We celebrate every success together, big or small. If Penn Hills isn’t close enough to you, we also offer ABA therapy at additional clinics throughout the Pittsburgh region and across Pennsylvania.
We’re glad to bring high-quality autism services to Penn Hills families. Our clinic will offer a welcoming space where:
- Children feel encouraged
- Families feel supported
- Progress occurs every day.
In-Network Insurance
*We also have out-of-network and private pay options. Contact us to verify your insurance benefits today!