Santa Monica Behavior Consulting

Portrait of Jen, BCBA

Autism in toddlers — what now?

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Santa Monica.

Whether you have a diagnosis, are still waiting on one, or just suspect something is going on — the early years are when the work matters most. And nobody hands you a manual.

My role is the work that comes after diagnosis — or runs alongside while you wait: communication, daily routines, potty training, eating, meltdowns, and the stuck points that aren't getting better on their own.

Six years across homes, schools, and clinics. Direct work with you and your kid — no agency, no tech rotation, no waitlist.

You know your kid. I know what helps. $225/hr, billing starts during the first assessment — home or Zoom.

Tell me what's going on.

I help children with autism ages 2–15. No waitlist.

Tap one — your text drafts itself.

Or call (424) 519-4647.

What happens after you text

  1. 1 I reply within an hour
  2. 2 Quick 15-min fit call
  3. 3 Assessment — home or Zoom
  4. 4 We build the plan
  5. 5 We work it

Why families work with me

  • ✓ One BCBA — no tech rotation.
  • ✓ Reply within an hour, seven days a week.
  • ✓ $225/hr — transparent pricing.
  • ✓ Home or Zoom — Westside LA.
  • ✓ Six years across homes, schools, clinics.
  • ✓ No waitlist. No agency. No insurance hassle.
Jen working with magnetic tiles during a home session

Sessions look like this.

Whether we work at your house or on Zoom — real materials, real play, real work on the things your kid is stuck on.

Text Jen →

Frequently asked

The questions parents ask before they text Jen.

My toddler hasn't been diagnosed yet — can we still start? +
Yes. Jen works with toddlers pre-diagnosis, peri-diagnosis, and post-diagnosis. The early years are when the behavior work matters most, and you don't need to wait for paperwork.
My toddler isn't talking yet — can you help? +
Communication and language are common starting points. Jen works on functional communication, AAC if needed, and joint attention — the foundations that make every other skill possible.
What if I think my child might be autistic but I'm not sure? +
Jen is a BCBA, not a diagnostician — she doesn't diagnose autism (that's a developmental pediatrician or licensed psychologist). But she can start working on the behavior, communication, and daily-life stuff right away, with or without a diagnosis.
Our nanny is with our toddler all day — can she be part of the early-intervention work? +
Yes — for toddlers especially, the day-to-day caregiver builds language and communication through every meal, nap, and play interaction. Jen trains the nanny on the same routines and reinforcement strategies as the parent, so your toddler gets consistent input across the whole day instead of just during sessions.
What areas do you serve? +
Westside Los Angeles — Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Venice, Mar Vista, Culver City, Westwood, Beverly Hills, and the surrounding Westside LA neighborhoods. Home visits across this footprint, plus Zoom sessions anywhere in California.
Do you take insurance? +
No. Santa Monica Behavior Consulting is private-pay, cash-pay only — no insurance billing, no agency middleman, no 60-day intake process. Many families use HSA/FSA funds; check with your accountant. Some plans offer out-of-network reimbursement, but filing claims is up to you.
How much does it cost? +
$225/hr. Billing starts during the first assessment. Transparent pricing — no agency markup, no insurance gatekeeping, no surprise fees. Home or Zoom, same rate.
Are you a real BCBA? +
Yes. Jen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), ABA-trained, with six years of direct work across homes, schools, and clinics. BCBAs are the master's-level practitioners who design and supervise every ABA program.
Is there a waitlist? +
No waitlist. Most families start within the same week they reach out. The typical ABA waitlist on the Westside runs 6 to 12 months — Jen exists specifically to skip that bottleneck.
Home visits or virtual? +
Both. Jen does in-home sessions across the Westside (Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Venice, Mar Vista, Culver City, Westwood, Beverly Hills) and Zoom sessions for families who prefer virtual or live further out. Same rate either way.
What ages do you work with? +
Children from 18 months to 15 years. Early-intervention-age babies showing signs, toddlers pre- or post-diagnosis, school-age kids, and teens — Jen takes anyone in that range. Most families come in with kids ages 3 to 10.
How fast do you reply? +
Within an hour, seven days a week. Jen reads every text personally — no answering service, no inbox triage. Text or call (424) 519-4647.
Do you offer weekend or evening appointments? +
Yes. Evening and weekend appointments are available — Saturdays and Sundays included — so families with packed school-and-work schedules can find a time that fits. Text (424) 519-4647 to find a slot.
Is this ABA therapy? +
Jen is ABA-trained and BCBA-credentialed — the same credential that designs and supervises every ABA program. The work she does is BCBA-led parent coaching and behavior consultation: direct work with you and your kid, not a 30-hour-a-week tech-delivered ABA program.
What's the first step? +
Text Jen at (424) 519-4647. She replies within an hour, schedules a free 15-minute fit call, then an assessment (home or Zoom), then you build a plan together and start the work.
Can you train our nanny or other caregivers too? +
Yes — and in many Westside families that's a big part of the work. Caregiver training is explicitly in BCBA scope. Jen trains everyone who handles the kid day to day: parents, nannies, grandparents, regular sitters. Consistency across the household is what makes behavior strategies stick — otherwise the work resets every time the caregiver changes.

Ready to talk?

Tap to text. The message drafts itself. I usually reply within an hour.

Text Jen now →

Or call (424) 519-4647