The Behavior Doc

11/20/2025

Hip Hip HOORAY! Mackenzie is a BCBA!

Another one of our supervisees have leveled up with their BCBA credentials!

Our fieldwork students are some of the BEST analysts around! Working under our increased supervision and concentrated fieldwork program, they gain the knowledge and skills to seamlessly transition into their new roles.

Mackenzie will soon be taking over some of the cases she was working with as an RBT and Fieldwork Student, and will be serving the Charlottesville Region as an in-home BCBA.

We are currently accepting in-home clients in Charlottesville, and clinic mornings (8:30 - 1:30) for both our Culpeper and Charlottesville Clinic locations.

Give Mackenzie a shout out!

If you'd like to join us (as a candidate or a client) visit our website www.TheBehaviorDocABA.com and drop us a line!

Serving several locations in Virginia, The Behavior Doc is privately owned and run by licensed doctorate level behavior analysts (BCBA-D) with clinical expertise in applied behavior analysis and behavior therapy.

10/30/2025

✨ Sensory Friendly Hours ✨

Join us on Sunday, November 2nd from 3:00–5:00 PM for a calm and welcoming playtime at PlayDate: A Children’s Museum!

☁️This special session is designed for any child who enjoys a quieter environment — with dim lights, no music, and smaller crowds for relaxed play and learning.

➡️RSVP https://www.playdateculpeper.org/event-details/november-sensory-friendly-hours

10/27/2025

At The Behavior Doc, we know Halloween can be both exciting and overwhelming for our sensory seekers and avoiders alike. Dressing up and celebrating can be a wonderful opportunity to blend your child’s special interests with comfort and confidence 💫

At our clinics, we do a practice run of going door to door and getting a special treat (sometimes its a squishy, sometimes it's bubbles..... who knows!) so we can teach them how trick or treat works in a familiar setting!

✨ Here are a few neuro-affirming Halloween tips for your little ghosts and superheroes:

🦸‍♀️ Incorporate Special Interests – Costumes don’t have to be store-bought! Let your child’s passions lead the way. Whether it’s trains, animals, or favorite colors, creating a costume that celebrates their interests builds joy and reduces anxiety.

🎧 Prioritize Sensory Comfort – Choose soft fabrics and tag-free options. Some kids love the idea of dressing up but not the feel of costumes—so a themed t-shirt or pajama set counts, too! Comfort is key to confidence.

🕯️ Plan for Safety & Support – For our elopers or non-vocal communicators, glow sticks, ID bracelets, or a simple “communication card” can make all the difference. Consider a buddy system or set boundaries around trick-or-treating areas.

👻 Halloween should be about connection, not correction. Let’s make it a night filled with joy, safety, and acceptance—one sensory-friendly step at a time. 💚

🧡 From our team at The Behavior Doc ABA—Happy Halloween!

We can't wait to see all of our family's costumes this year!

09/25/2025

From fine motor deficits to task refusal, learning readiness are often skills we work on with our kiddos prior to launching them into an educational environment. “Ready to Learn” skills are often a targeted behavior with our 3.5-5 year old kiddos (in place of a school-based preschool). We are able to focus with a 1:1 therapist on these ready to learn as well as social skills in a group setting, where we can individualize the support provided to your kiddo, as well as to the peer they may work alongside.

Visit our website - or reach out for information about our early intervention clinic based services in Culpeper and Charlottesville.

And WOO HOO to A and R on these new writing samples!!

09/14/2025

Twas the night before Monday and all thru the clinic - our elves have been hard at work preparing a surprise for the kids in Charlottesville. I can’t wait to see their faces!

08/08/2025

Next week, Charlottesville returns to school. This week, Culpeper returned.

As a parent of special needs kids, this time of year is often difficult, especially if going to Pre-K or Kindergarten is not on the radar.

Our clinics focus on early intervention and ready-to-learn skills to help our kiddos be successful in a classroom environment. We're able to work on social skills with peers like sharing, taking turns, and waiting. Functional communication to express wants and needs (not just going Potty, or getting a drink or snack - but also giving the skill of requesting removal of something (or someONE we don't want).

Through a variety of natural environment and direct instruction, we can work on sustaining engagement in an activity (for those kiddos who bounce around from thing to thing with limited attention), following simple directions like "Show me, touch the, point to" (these are crucial for demonstrating their knowledge in school), and engaging in the various circle time and classroom routines.

With 1:1 support, specialized instruction, and a fun sensory gym to get those wiggles out (even when its raining or hot outside) - consider enrolling in one of our clinic locations.

Pre-school (early intervention up to age 5/6) sessions are available Monday-Friday 8:30 - 1:30 am in our two clinic locations:

100 Saunders Street, Culpeper, VA 22701
3450 Berkmar Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901

Call 540-779-8270 for more information

Or complete an application today:

Please click the link to complete this form.

08/06/2025

Congratulations on becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)! This achievement is a testament to your dedication, hard work, and passion for improving the lives of others through evidence-based practices. Your commitment to understanding and applying the principles of behavior analysis is truly commendable. As you embark on this new chapter, may you continue to inspire positive change and make a meaningful impact in your community. We are incredibly proud of you and excited to see all the wonderful things you will accomplish in your career.

As we like to say: "Good Job ERIC!"

07/22/2025

The kids are having a "ball" while working on social skills and peer interaction in our clinic! We are still accepting applications and will have sessions available for our early learners from 8:30 - 1:30, with our school-aged group joining us from 2 - 5 pm.

Please contact us today to secure your spot! (No waitlist). Call 540-779-8270

You can apply below:

https://form.jotform.com/drdillon/intake-application-

07/15/2025

Sharing a resource as many parents have had questions about the changes in Medicaid.

🗣️Join us for your Thursday lunch hour as Encompass Community Supports Director of Communications & Outreach April Achter appears on Zoom to speak about the current state of Medicaid. Bring your questions!

✅Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/iOzPok0cQQyz6U5dH8BeBg #/registration

06/23/2025

The rooms are coming together, we can't wait to welcome all the new families in Charlottesville to our clinic at 3450 Berkmar!

The assessment process takes a few weeks to complete, if you'd like to have services start in July, now is the time to send in your application!

Services are available in either of our clinic locations (Culpeper or Charlottesville) as well as in-home for Charlottesville, Crozet, Fairfax City, Vienna, Annandale, and Arlington without a wait.

Applications are available online https://form.jotform.com/drdillon/intake-application-

Or you may call for more information.

06/12/2025

One of our greatest joys is working with parents who advocate so strongly for their kiddos. Assuming Competence is more than a catch phrase to us, and for many in the field.

Do we have a crystal ball, and the ability to predict an outcome? NO.

Do we view each child as a unique and amazing person with untapped potential, and work like heck to bring out their abilities? Absolutely.

Every story, every milestone, every "Woo Hoo" - we are celebrating with you.

And to this young man's Mom - Great Job never hearing "He can't" or "He'll never" - because look at him now!

The youngest professor at Cambridge who couldn't speak until 11, and read or write until 18.... now uses his voice and experience to pave the way for all.

05/17/2025

The signs are up, furniture installs have begun... Opening day is just around the corner for our newest location: 3450 Berkmar Drive in Charlottesville!

We are now enrolling and starting the intake assessments for clients in the Charlottesville region who are seeking in-clinic services.

No Waitlist!

Start the application process:

Please click the link to complete this form.