Mount Arlington families can access individualized ABA therapy at Hand Over Hand’s Lake Hopatcong center inside Little Learner Academy. Children receive therapy in a dedicated classroom, with opportunities to learn alongside preschool peers when those experiences support their treatment goals.
Our approach begins with getting to know your child. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) speaks with your family to understand your child’s strengths and where additional support may help. The BCBA then develops treatment priorities, supervises therapy and adjusts the plan as your child learns new skills.
For more than 12 years, Hand Over Hand has worked with New Jersey families to provide care shaped around each child’s needs.
Mount Arlington, NJ families can expect:
Christine Wieladek
Christine is the Regional Director of Hand Over Hand’s Denville and Jefferson centers. She has been working in the field of ABA since 2006 and holds a Master’s degree in ABA from Caldwell University. Christine became a BCBA in 2011 and has held positions across a variety of settings (public schools, private schools, group homes, home/community, and centers) working with clients ranging from 18 months to 70 years of age. She specializes in creative and compassionate development and implementation of behavior reduction and skill acquisition programming as well as staff and parent training. Outside of Christine’s work at Hand Over Hand, she is the proud mom of two competition dancers and loves to spend time with her family, including her pets!
Melissa Simone
Melissa is the Assistant Director of the Jefferson Center and has been a BCBA with Hand Over Hand since May 2024. Melissa earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling in 2020, followed by a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2023 from Caldwell University. In 2024, Melissa’s thesis research was published in the Journal of Behavioral Education and was presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis International annual conference. Melissa’s strong clinical background in both mental health counseling and applied behavior analysis allows her to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and their families.
Children may need different kinds of support throughout the day. Hand Over Hand provides ABA therapy at our centers and in home and school settings, helping children build skills where they use them
Mount Arlington families can receive center-based ABA therapy inside Little Learner Academy. Children work individually with their therapy team while building skills that support participation, communication, and greater independence.
Home-based ABA therapy gives children opportunities to practice skills in a familiar setting. A BCBA develops a plan around your child’s needs and the parts of the day where support would be most helpful. Sessions may focus on communication or self care, with skills practiced during the routines your family already follows.
Hand Over Hand also collaborates with school teams when additional support is needed in the classroom. Our team may observe routines, work with educators, and offer recommendations that help the child participate more successfully during the school day.
We absolutely love Hand Over Hand! Their team truly tailors their approach to meet the unique needs of each child and family. They use naturalistic teaching methods that help children thrive and succeed in meaningful ways. The staff is incredibly welcoming, flexible, and supportive, creating a positive experience for the entire family. We have seen tremendous progress in our daughter since starting with them, and we are so grateful for their dedication, support and care.
I was very nervous about my son being away from me for the first time but this center has been amazing. The staff is so friendly and really cares about him. He has had so much progress since he started. He really enjoys going there, loves all of the staff and runs to the door every morning.
Patient, kind and caring staff. I have such peace of mind knowing my son is in capable hands with this loving team. Our son is making progress and our whole family feels supported by Hand Over Hand.
Starting ABA therapy can feel like a big decision, especially when you are still learning which services are available and what your child may need.
Hand Over Hand can help you understand the differences between center-based, home-based, and school-related support and explain how each option may fit into your child’s daily life.
Call 973-722-9693 today to speak with our team.
Your journey with Hand Over Hand begins with a personal conversation. Our Family Liaison takes the time to connect with you, learn about your child, and answer any questions you may have before anything else begins.
Once we have connected, we will guide you through the necessary paperwork so that the logistics are handled quickly and easily. Our goal is to make this step as simple as possible so services can move forward without delay.
Before we begin, we contact your insurance provider to obtain approval to assess your child. Once authorized, we can move forward with scheduling the in-person portion of the assessment.
Our clinical team spends dedicated time with your child conducting an in-person assessment, while also meeting with your family to understand your goals and priorities. From there, we develop individualized goals and a personalized treatment plan built specifically around your child.
Once the treatment plan is complete, we submit everything to your insurance provider for authorization, handling the process on your behalf so there are no unnecessary delays before therapy begins.
With all the pieces in place, it is time for the most exciting step. Your child begins therapy and your family becomes part of the Hand Over Hand community.
We understand that starting ABA therapy comes with many questions and concerns.
Our team takes the time to understand your child’s needs, verify your insurance coverage, and make sure every detail is in place before ABA therapy begins.
Building trust and open communication from the start is our priority, so you feel confident and prepared for the journey ahead.
ABA therapy can work on skills that help children complete parts of everyday routines with less assistance. The exact goals depend on your child’s current abilities and what would be most useful in daily life.
Transitions and unexpected changes can be addressed during therapy when they are affecting everyday participation. The team may work on communication, preparation, and gradual practice based on your child’s needs.
Yes. Your family’s priorities help shape the treatment plan. You can share which daily routines are challenging and which skills you’d like your child to build.
Much of ABA therapy is individualized, but the preschool setting can create opportunities to practice skills around other children when that fits the treatment plan.
Some children need help in different parts of their day. Hand Over Hand offers center-based, home-based, and school-related services, and the clinical team can discuss which settings may be appropriate based on your child’s needs.
Sensory issues can change how autistic children experience the world around them. Everyday input that seems minor to one child can feel overwhelming to another,
If your child is starting ABA therapy, one of the biggest questions you may have is what the day will actually look like. Parents often
Transitions can be hard for any child, but many autistic children find it especially difficult to move from one activity, location, or routine to another.
Learn what to do after an autism diagnosis, from reviewing the evaluation and exploring therapy options to finding school-based services, understanding insurance, and choosing the right support for your child and family.
Learn what to do after an autism diagnosis, from reviewing the evaluation and exploring therapy options to finding school-based services, understanding insurance, and choosing the right support for your child and family.
ABA therapy can help young children build social skills through guided practice, positive reinforcement, and everyday interactions with others. Social interaction comes easily to some
