As a parent, few moments feel more uncertain than wondering whether your child’s development is on track. Maybe you’ve noticed they aren’t using words the way other children their age are. Maybe social interactions feel harder for them than they seem for their peers. Maybe your child has recently received an autism diagnosis and you’re not sure what comes next.
For many families in Alexandria, Northern Virginia, and the greater Washington DC metro area, finding the right early intervention support can feel overwhelming. Parents across the DMV area and DC suburbs are often searching for answers, guidance, and a team they can trust during these important early years.
How ABA Therapy Supports Communication Skills
Communication is often one of the first areas where families notice differences—and one of the most powerful areas where early ABA therapy can help! Whether your child is pre-verbal, using some words, or struggling to connect words into meaningful conversation, ABA therapy meets them exactly where they are.
Through individualized programming, ABA therapy helps children:
- Develop functional language—whether spoken, signed, or aided by communication devices
- Learn to make requests and express their needs
- Build vocabulary and expand their use of words
- Understand and follow directions
- Engage in back-and-forth exchanges with others
- Reduce reliance on challenging behaviors that often serve as communication
At our Alexandria center, our clinical team collaborates closely—BCBAs, RBTs, and where appropriate, Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists—to make sure goals are woven into every session, every day.
Families throughout NOVA and the surrounding DC suburbs often tell us that improved communication is one of the first meaningful changes they notice after starting early intervention services.
If any of that resonates, here’s what we want you to know: starting ABA therapy early can make a significant difference—and you don’t have to figure it out alone!
At Verbal Beginnings, we’ve spent over 15 years supporting children and families through exactly this. Our Alexandria, VA center proudly serves families across Northern Virginia, the DMV area, and the greater DC area. Our programs are built around the science of early intervention—and the belief that every child has incredible potential waiting to be unlocked.
What Is Early Intervention, and Why Does It Matter?
Early intervention refers to therapeutic support provided to young children—typically between the ages of 1 and 5—during a critical window of brain development. During these early years, the brain is forming connections at a remarkable rate. This is the period when children are most primed to absorb new skills, including language, communication, and social interaction.
Research consistently shows that children with autism who receive high-quality ABA therapy during these early years experience meaningful, lasting gains—especially in areas like communication, social skills, and independence. The earlier a child begins, the more time there is to build those foundational skills before they enter school!
Put simply: early action leads to early progress. And early progress opens doors.
For families throughout Alexandria, NOVA, and the Washington DC metro area, early intervention can provide the support and structure children need before the demands of school and social settings increase.
Social skills are learned—and for children with autism, they often need to be taught explicitly and practiced repeatedly in supportive environments. Early intervention gives children the time and space to build these skills before the social demands of school ramp up.
ABA therapy helps children develop the building blocks of social connection. Check out this chart below for some of those:
Our center-based setting in Alexandria gives children the opportunity to practice these skills in real time with peers—not just in one-on-one sessions. That natural, structured practice is one of the most powerful parts of what we do.
What to Expect from Early Intervention at Verbal Beginnings Alexandria
We know that starting therapy for your child can feel like a big step. We also know that once families get started, the most common thing we hear is: “I wish we had done this sooner.”
Here’s what the journey looks like at Verbal Beginnings:
1. We Start With Your Child
Before any therapy begins, a member of our clinical leadership team meets with your family to learn about your child’s strengths, challenges, and what matters most to your family. We don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach—every child’s plan is built from scratch, around them.
2. We Build a Personalized Plan
Your child’s BCBA designs a step-by-step program focused on the goals that matter most—communication, social skills, self-care, play, school readiness, and more. Every goal is measurable, and we track data at every single session so we know what’s working.
3. Therapy Feels Like Play
Young children learn best through play—and our sessions are designed with that in mind! Our therapists use games, toys, movement, and lots of celebration to keep learning engaging, motivating, and fun.
4. You’re Part of the Team
Parents are not bystanders in this process—you’re essential partners. We keep you informed, involved, and equipped with tools to reinforce your child’s skills at home, at the grocery store, at the park—wherever life takes you.
Why Families in Alexandria Choose Verbal Beginnings
Our Alexandria center is part of a network of Verbal Beginnings locations across Maryland and Virginia—each one built on the same foundation of high-quality, compassionate, evidence-based ABA therapy. Families across Northern Virginia, the DC suburbs, and the greater DC area choose us because:
- We have over 15 years of experience serving children with autism and related diagnoses
- Our clinical team is experienced, credentialed, and genuinely passionate about what they do
- We accept most major insurance plans
- We offer flexible scheduling including full-time and part-time options
- We’re proud to be Great Place to Work® Certified—because a team that loves what they do delivers better care
- We treat every family as a partner, not just a client
Verbal Beginnings proudly serves families across Northern Virginia and the DMV region, including:
- Alexandria
- Fairfax
- Arlington
- Springfield
- Annandale
- Burke
- Falls Church
- McLean
- Tysons
- Vienna
- Reston
- Herndon
Take the First Step Today
Early intervention works—and the sooner your child gets started, the sooner they begin building the skills that will serve them for a lifetime. Our team at Verbal Beginnings Alexandria is here, ready to walk this path with you.
Call us: 855.866.9893
Email us: begin@verbalbeginnings.com
Learn more: www.verbalbeginnings.com
Every great skill starts with a strong foundation. Let’s build yours together.
