Paper Lantern Therapies LLC

01/30/2026

Urgency is not truth; it’s a sensation. It’s an internal alarm my nervous system pulls when it thinks something might be wrong. In ACT terms, it’s private behavior: thoughts and body sensations that feel like commands. As a behavior analyst, I know thoughts function like signals, not mandates. They can be loud without being wise. My job isn’t to get rid of them or argue with them; it’s to notice them, make space for them, and choose actions based on values and actual evidence, not emotional volume.

Real example: my son has a high fever and my mind immediately goes to “This is an emergency. We need the ER right now.” My body panics, and that urgency feels moral. But I can pause and remember, I’m having the thought that this is an emergency. Then I check the real environment: he’s responsive, hydrated, breathing fine, I’ve given meds, I can monitor and call the pediatrician. I don’t have to obey my anxiety to be a good mother. I can feel the fear and still choose effective, values-based action instead of letting panic drive the behavior.

If only it was always this easy. It gets complicated once we dive into relationships, sharing house chores, and prioritizing free time. But the reminder to observe our thoughts rather than be constantly directed by them, makes a difference.

01/21/2026

Behavior analysts are taught in graduate school to take difficult or complex skills and break them down into smaller parts to access reinforcement sooner and more frequently.

does this effectively by replacing restraints with stronger antecedent interventions and universal precautions. This system maintains the safety, dignity, and respect for every person involved.

I’m grateful to have attended this training and am excited to share it with the team and families.

01/20/2026

Thank you for your well researched trauma informed behavior response training. We are thrilled to be able to implement restraint free support!

01/06/2026

How I target skills through play, while honoring autonomy, communication, and individual preferences:

🌟🌟🌟Joint Attention🌟🌟🌟
Through shared focus on the doll (rocking, feeding, soothing), I follow the learner’s interest and build moments of coordinated attention including looking, listening, and responding together, without requiring eye contact or artificial demands. Joint attention is supported as a relationship-based skill.

🌟🌟🌟Giving Directions / Advocacy🌟🌟🌟
Doll play naturally creates opportunities for the learner to direct me: “Help the baby,” “Give her the bottle,” or “Rock her.” These moments reinforce self-advocacy, leadership, and functional communication, teaching that the child’s voice can guide interactions and influence outcomes.

🌟🌟🌟Sequencing Routines🌟🌟🌟
Caregiving routines (pick up baby → feed → burp → rock → rest) allow the child to practice sequencing in a meaningful, predictable way. Rather than rote task completion, routines are taught flexibly, supporting executive functioning while respecting individual pacing and preferences.

🌟🌟🌟Imitation🌟🌟🌟
I embed imitation in play by modeling actions with the doll and allowing the child to copy, modify, or expand the play in their own way. The goal is not exact replication, but learning through shared experience, creativity, and connection.

12/11/2025

Play-based sessions can be powerful when implemented with care. As a BCBA, I set 5–8 targets per session (based on duration) and track progress in quick, time-based intervals so I can stay fully present in the child therapist relationship. Growth happens fast when we let connection lead the work.

Today’s targets included:
• Turning toward a person in response to voice
• Using multimodal communication with intent
• Responding to “show me” by extending an object
• Spontaneously showing objects to another person
• Using multimodal communication to echo a spoken word

Play is not a break from learning. Play is learning. Let’s stay open to it.

11/24/2025

The process of observing, interviewing, and engaging to define assent for an emerging speaker is complex and nuanced. Every child deserves their own individualized definition of assent. There are some universal signs of assent: reaching, smiling, nodding yes. However, assent can change just as quickly as an activity can become challenging or confusing.

I try to gather as much information as possible from caregivers before engaging in therapy to give the child the most ideal environment for engagement. Additionally, the more I know about their behavioral cues, the more effectively I am able to demonstrate compassion and responsiveness.

How do you define and measure assent or assent withdrawal?

11/17/2025

VALUES

It’s easy to talk about and focus on what is important to us. Many times we do so without awareness.

It’s also important to observe and bring awareness to what is important to our learners. In the application of applied behavior analysis, many decisions end up being one good choice versus another. One way to ensure these choices are made in an ethical way is to align the team on the set of values which are most important to the child and family. These should be established at the onset of services and reviewed regularly throughout.

10/22/2025

ABA can be a place where autistic children are welcomed, accepted, and celebrated for who they are.

10/17/2025

10/09/2025

All children deserve the right to a voice even if they are still learning how to use it.

10/09/2025

Here’s the truth:
A child who wants to communicate will communicate everywhere.
A child who’s required to communicate just to access something fun? That skill fades as soon as the demand disappears.

When we focus on internal motivation, we’re building a voice that lasts across time, environments, and people.

What does that look like in practice?
Here are a few ways ABA therapy can create environments that invite communication rather than demand it 👇

1️⃣ Follow the child’s curiosity.
If a child is drawn to a toy car, join them there. Model language, comment, expand — but don’t require a response. Shared attention fuels natural communication far more than prompted requests.

2️⃣ Embed communication into joy.
Instead of holding the bubbles until the child “mands,” play with the bubbles. Blow some, pause naturally, wait for that look, giggle, or gesture, that’s your opportunity to build connection and spontaneous bids.

3️⃣ Create communication-rich contexts, not drills.
During play, narrate, take turns, and celebrate attempts. Build an atmosphere where words and gestures are powerful because they connect.

When motivation drives the moment, communication becomes meaningful.
And meaningful communication? That’s the kind that sticks, across sessions, settings, and seasons of life.