HV
Hazel Vickers
Lead BCBA
CEO
ABA Therapy · Early Intervention · Family Care
Helping childrenthrive through compassionate ABA therapy.
Guiding Strides is a family centered clinic supporting children with autism through warm, evidence based therapy. We walk beside you, one gentle step at a time.
BCBA led therapy teams
Insurance support
Family centered care
Family first
Warm, gentle care
Real progress
Steps that matter
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Family centered care
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Therapist ratios
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Clear intake process
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Avg. insurance verify
Our Services
Compassionate, evidence based care for every step.
From early intervention to school readiness, every program is built around your child as an individual and your family as a whole.
Family-Centered Care
Collaborative care that actively involves families and caregivers through communication, education, and shared support.
Learn moreIndividual & Social Skills Therapy
Personalized therapy focused on communication, social connection, adaptive skills, and confidence in everyday environments.
Learn moreApplied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
BCBA-guided, evidence-based intervention that promotes positive behaviors, reduces challenges, and builds meaningful skills.
Learn moreEarly Start Denver Model (ESDM)
Play-based early intervention that blends ABA principles with developmental and relationship-based strategies.
Learn moreGroups
Evidence-based group support for friendship skills, adaptive skills, problem solving, self-awareness, and peer connection.
Learn moreSchool Support
Collaborative support in Orange County school environments so learners can build skills in less restrictive settings.
Learn moreWhy Families Choose Guiding Strides
Care that feels like family, delivered with clinical excellence.
We pair the warmth of a family practice with the rigor of evidence based therapy, so you never have to choose between feeling cared for and feeling confident.
Compassionate Care
Every child is met with patience, warmth, and respect for who they already are.
Individualized Treatment
Programs are crafted around your child's strengths, interests, and goals. Never a template.
Experienced Staff
Our team includes BCBAs and trained therapists who care deeply about your family.
Evidence Based Therapy
We follow the research and refine our approach with ongoing measurement and reflection.
Family Centered Approach
Parents and caregivers are partners in every decision and every milestone.
Joyful Learning
Therapy that meets children through play, connection, and the things they love.
Our Process
A clear path forward, from your very first call.
We've designed every step to feel reassuring, transparent, and supportive of overwhelmed families.
- 01
Free Consultation
We start with a warm conversation to understand your child, your hopes, and your questions.
- 02
Insurance Verification
Our team handles the paperwork and walks you through your benefits with clarity.
- 03
Assessment
A thoughtful, play based assessment to understand your child's strengths and developmental needs.
- 04
Personalized Plan
A treatment plan written with you, centered on meaningful goals for your family.
- 05
Ongoing Support
Caring therapists, regular progress reviews, and a partnership that grows with your child.
Ages 12 months to 5 years
The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). Gentle, joyful, deeply effective.
For our youngest learners, we use ESDM, a play based and naturalistic approach that meets children in their world and helps them grow through connection, curiosity, and trust.
Learn about Early Intervention →Early Intervention
The earliest years are the most powerful.
Research consistently shows that early, gentle, evidence based intervention can shape lifelong outcomes. We are here for those tender, hopeful years.
- Play based, child led sessions
- Strong family partnership and coaching
- Naturalistic teaching woven into daily moments
- Compassionate, developmentally informed therapists
Insurance Support
Insurance shouldn't feel like a maze. We'll walk you through it.
Our team handles benefit verification, advocates for your child's care, and translates insurance language into clear next steps.
We handle the paperwork
Our intake team verifies coverage, communicates with your insurer, and translates the details into plain language.
Clear next steps
You'll know what's covered, what to expect, and what your family will be responsible for. No surprises.
Ongoing advocacy
If something changes with your plan, we work alongside you to keep your child's care uninterrupted.
Family Stories
The words of the families we walk beside.
Every story is unique, but the feeling is the same: heard, supported, and never alone on the journey.
“From our first call, we felt heard. The team didn't just create a plan. They walked beside us through every milestone. Our son is more connected, more confident, and more himself than ever.”
Meet the Team
A team that listens first, leads with heart.
Our clinicians and therapists bring deep training, real compassion, and a genuine love for the families they serve.
JN
Jen Nguyen
Lead BCBA
COO
DM
Dalia Moreno
Office Manager
IS
Iris Santamaria
Education Lead
FAQ
Honest answers to the questions parents ask us most.
If you don't see your question here, we'd love to talk. Reach out anytime. No pressure, no scripts.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence based approach that uses warm, structured learning experiences to help children build communication, social, play, and daily living skills. At Guiding Strides, ABA is delivered in a way that is gentle, play based, and tailored to your child as an individual.
Begin your family's journey
Ready to take the first step together?
Schedule a warm, no pressure consultation. We'll listen to your family's story, answer your questions, and help you understand the path forward.