Autism Clinic Houston

We’d like to introduce The Texas Young Autism Project, an organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of special needs children and their families. They provide personalized ABA services that are unique to the needs of every child and help children on the spectrum achieve better results through cognitive behavioral therapy, speech therapy, feeding programs, and more.

Additionally, they offer adjustable schedules and weekend availability for busier families. To learn more about the Texas Young Autism Project, check out our interview article with Dr. Geri M. Harris, the Chief Operations Officer.

Geri, please tell us a little bit about your organization… 

We are a clinical-psychology office specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We have two licensed clinical psychologists on staff, as well as several Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBAs) to evaluate, diagnose, and design a custom treatment plan for your child. We also offer individual and family counseling services to children, teenagers, and adults struggling with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, ASD, social problems, or difficulty adjusting to the general stressors of life. We conduct evaluations to aid in treatment recommendations to anyone who would like help.

What makes Texas Young Autism Project special? 

We are the original ABA treatment center in Houston, Texas, and were started with direct training from one of the pioneers of ABA, Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas. We have an excellent team of behavior technicians, including Master’s and Doctoral level students. We truly care about every client whom we treat. Your time with us will be well spent on an individualized treatment program.

What was it that made you want to start this business?

My father, a clinical psychology professor at the University of Houston, began the business in the late 1990s at the University after receiving training directly from Dr. Ivar Lovaas. Once we realized that we could provide services that would inspire a positive change in the lives of children and families, we expanded the business to offer services in both Houston and Katy.

Why do you both love being a business owner?

We love being business owners because it allows us the flexibility to take on the more challenging cases with whom many organizations do not want to deal with. We are also able to stay open on most major holidays so that treatment continues uninterrupted. And most importantly, we can provide a positive workspace for mental health care workers who are looking to gain experience in the field. The combination of helping clients and staff simultaneously is unbeatable!

Where do you Texas Young Autism Project in the following years?

 We have recently completed a full renovation of our clinic and we cannot wait to show it to you! In the next year, we are working to upgrade our telehealth services to increase accessibility even during difficult times. Within the next five years, we hope to open another treatment service center in an underserved area so that parents can obtain treatment for their families without having to be inconvenienced daily.

What is your mission statement?

We are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children.

What are the biggest issues for running this business?

We are always trying to serve more clients. More specifically, we want to make ABA a possibility for all children, not only those born into affluent families or with excellent insurance. This can be a tall order as ABA is so labor and time intensive but we are constantly striving to reduce costs while still providing adequate compensation for our employees.

How is your team structured?

Both clinics are led by clinical psychologists and BCBAs. Senior therapists with the most experience working under BCBAs to manage teams of behavior technicians. We also have a staff of business personnel working tirelessly to encourage insurance companies to continue approving treatment for families. Currently, we have approximately 50 employees.

Where can people learn more about your business?

Please check out our website at www.texasyoungautismproject.com to learn more about all the services we provide. You can also call our main office at 713-353-0254 to speak directly to a BCBA who will help guide you through the application process.

Houston Psychologist

Looking for a Licensed Clinical Psychologist that you can trust? If so, look no further than Dr. Liz Ross, a local therapist who helps her patients with chronic medical conditions, insomnia, pain, trauma, and more. Dr. Ross understands that life can offer unexpected challenges, which can result in overwhelming and stressful lifestyle changes and issues. She always takes a collaborative approach to cognitive behavioral therapy and works with her clients to provide regular feedback and help them develop appropriate goals. To learn more about Dr. Ross and how she can help you with your issues, check out our interview article with her below.

Dr. Ross, what is your background?

I received my doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Houston in 2013. During my graduate career, I was highly involved in research, clinical training, and student leadership. I completed my internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio and my post-doctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Throughout my training, there was a strong emphasis on the biopsychosocial approach to treatment.

After the completion of my fellowship, I began working at TIRR Memorial Hermann. As an inpatient staff psychologist, I helped patients with spinal cord injuries and other major medical conditions to cope with one of the most stressful and impactful events in their life. As part of the treatment team, I collaborated with and learned from other medical disciplines. I held an additional role, providing outpatient psychotherapy for patients with chronic pain, sleep disorders, major medical conditions, and PTSD. Eventually, I was promoted to outpatient intervention coordinator where I was tasked with overseeing all outpatient psychotherapy services.

After five years of working at TIRR Memorial Hermann, I left to pursue private practice. In my private practice, I offer individual, couples, and family therapy both in-person and through telehealth. I specialize in working with individuals with chronic medical conditions, pain, trauma, sleep disorders, and major life stressors. I utilize treatment strategies with research support such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based approaches. I have affiliations with Baylor College of Medicine, Methodist Hospital, J. Flowers Health Institute, The Orchard on the Brazos, and Advantage Point Behavioral.

What makes your practice unique?

I offer a collaborative approach where the client is at the center of treatment. Therapy should be a warm, non-judgmental environment where the client is able to articulate their own goals and needs. As a therapist, I often ask for feedback on which approaches are most effective for that individual. I realize that therapy is not “one size fits all,” and thus the treatment plan is tailored to the unique needs of each client. My goal is to empower my clients with coping strategies to be able to handle the trials and tribulations of life. These strategies have research support in helping individuals of many different backgrounds overcome challenging situations. I find my work incredibly rewarding.

Why did you want to own your own private practice?

I had always wanted to start my own private practice but was waiting for the right time to make the leap. I had the unique opportunity to learn how to run an outpatient clinic while working as the outpatient intervention coordinator TIRR. This experience provided me with the training and confidence to navigate the behind-the-scenes work of running a private practice. I had felt good about my training and clinical skills but, until that time, did not have any experience with the business portion. I have been fortunate in finding a number of supportive colleagues in the industry and in other industries who have also provided invaluable guidance.

What is the biggest advantage of working for yourself?

Owning my own business provides me with autonomy and flexibility in my practice. In addition to reaching a broader network of clients, I also am able to structure my own strengths to best serve the needs of those who I can offer help to. Owning my own business has had the additional benefit of helping me to relate to my clients who are entrepreneurs and business owners themselves.

What are your goals for the following years?

 Most recently I have been approved by APIT to provide telehealth services in a number of other states including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina. My hope over the next 5-10 years is to expand my telehealth services to these areas. In addition, I hope to incorporate group therapy into my practice.

What are the biggest issues for running this business?

Balancing my time spent with clients in session and running the business, as well as choosing which opportunities to pursue.

Do you have employees?

I recently hired a wonderful assistant to help with client scheduling. I also share my office suite with several other psychologists who are great referral resources.

Where can people learn more about your business?

You can visit my website at https://drlizross.com/