Live beyond an autism diagnosis

Centers and In-Home Therapy Across North Texas

The Helm Difference

If you aren’t sure exactly what to expect from ABA therapy, that’s ok – because the Helm probably isn’t like anything you’ve tried before. We care deeply for every family we serve and it shows with each and every interaction they have with our team. The Helm ABA was founded to empower families and schools to use cutting edge therapy that improves safety, independence, and quality of life for the families we serve.

weekly parent training, open door policy, aba therapy

About Us

What Sets The Helm Apart

  • Individualized Therapy Approach
  • Dedicated and Highly-Qualified Therapists
  • Weekly Parent Training
  • Open Door Policy
  • Meaningful Progress for the Whole Family
Our Services

We accept many insurance carriers

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aba therapy near me, autism treatment, autism therapy, behavioral therapy for autism, aba therapy for autism, dallas, allen, lewisville, plano

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”

-Publilius Syrus

Our Mission

The Helm ABA was founded to empower families and schools to use cutting edge behavioral therapy rooted in the principles of behavior analysis to increase safety, independence, and quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

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cutting edge behavioral therapy for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families

Leadership Team

Sara Feldman, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA
Founder and Chief Clinical Officer
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Lee Ann Jones, M.Ed.
Founder and Chief Administrative Officer
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Rafael Alfonzo
President and CEO
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Tamar Kustoff
Director of Operations
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Tasia Johnson, RBT
Authorization Coordinator
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Elizabeth Kennedy
Intake Coordinator
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Katie Nagy, MS, BCBA, LBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Clinical Director - Allen
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Lacey Yates, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Clinical Director - Irving
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Lindsey Lambert, MS, BCBA, LBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Clinical Director - Lewisville
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We have been a family blessed with the help of the team at The Helm. Our son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he was 2.5 and The Helm was one of the places recommended by our developmental psychologist. I am a physician and still found it hard navigating this new medical problem and knowing what to do next. I called many places and from step one Lee Ann was the most helpful explaining the process with paperwork, assessment, available services, insurance, etc. we were able to start therapy quite soon after diagnosis and had sessions at home daily for 3 hours. The quality of staff, the system they have in place for the therapists, the coordination by the BCBA supervising therapist and early response put us at ease that we were on the right path. Ultimately the steady positive changes we saw with our son overcame any fears we had about autism holding our son back for the rest of his life.

We used many forms of intervention that we felt were individually tailored for our family – for potty training, anger management, dietary intervention and even let them know when we could not maintain something suggested in family training, and they would just take our request and implement another plan. Our son has now graduated/transitioned out of therapy and is currently in pre-K in a regular classroom with him on par with his class in academics, has friends and no behavior issues. Most important of all we have a happy son who loves to play with his big sister.

I know that I will always read all there is on autism and watch my son for any features. But I hope my review adds to positive aspects that I wish someone would have told me when I started the journey – start early, don’t put off your suspicions, get your child evaluated now! The label does not hinder,  in fact it falls to the side once you have the diagnosis to facilitate therapy. ABA intervention, especially done with the right people, makes a big difference. It does not pressure or upset the child at all, and you are not stuck in therapy for life! I know if any behavioral issues come up in the future I have The Helm, and they will help us and the outcome is going to be positive. Said with heartfelt thanks.

– Former Helm ABA Family

Sara Feldman

Ph.D., BCBA, LBA
FOUNDER AND CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER

Dr. Feldman is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a certified teacher in General and Special Education with experience in clinical, public school, and juvenile justice settings. She earned her Doctorate in Special Education with an emphasis in autism from the University of North Texas in 2018 and her Master's in Special Education with a concentration in autism and applied behavior analysis from Texas State University in 2012.

Previously, Sara has worked in the public school system as a teacher, Instructional Specialist, Behavior Specialist, and Autism Specialist. She is passionate about supporting students and families within the public education setting and believes with the right level of collaboration between teachers, parents, and support specialists, all students can be successful at home and at school.

Rafael Alfonzo

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Rafael Alfonzo is an experienced entrepreneur and small business operator. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management (Go Engineers!?), and The George Washington University Law School.

Rafael has previously co-founded and operated a solar power developer and later managed an IT services company. He also served in the U.S. Marines and practiced law before launching his first company. Rafael has three family members with autism and is passionate about providing individualized care for kids and support for their families.

Lee Ann Jones

M.Ed.
FOUNDER AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Lee Ann earned her B.S. in Communication Disorders from Eastern Kentucky University and her Master’s in Special Education, with a focus on Autism (Consultation and Collaboration), from Arizona State University. With over 15 years of experience in the field of special education and autism services, Lee Ann has dedicated her career to supporting children with special needs and their families.

For the past 10 years, Lee Ann, alongside her business partner Sara, has owned and operated The Helm ABA, building a reputation for providing compassionate, effective, and research-based behavioral services. In her role as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Founder, Lee Ann is committed to ensuring that The Helm ABA continues to thrive as a center of excellence in the field, while maintaining a focus on supporting the diverse needs of families and fostering positive, long-lasting outcomes for children.

Lee Ann’s passion for her work is deeply personal, as she is the sibling of an individual with autism. This personal experience drives her to support other families on their own journeys, helping them navigate the challenges and celebrate the victories of raising a child with special needs. With a focus on collaboration, communication, and compassion, Lee Ann strives to create meaningful, impactful change in the lives of children and their families.

Corrinne Mercer

M.Ed., BCBA
BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Corrinne is a certified teacher in elementary education, special education, and secondary mathematics. She graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a BSIS in Special Education in 2013 and has been teaching in various school settings such as inclusion support, resource classes, and functional academics classrooms since then.

She graduated from Texas State University with a Master's of Education with a concentration in autism and applied behavior analysis. Through her program at the university and her experience working for an ABA company in the Austin area, Corrinne has experience as an ABA therapist in clinical and in-home settings as well implementing principles of ABA in her classrooms.

Corrinne is thrilled to continue working with children in the home and is dedicated to creating a fun and collaborative learning environment.

Lindsey Lambert

MS, BCBA
BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Lindsey graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2015 and Master of Science in Behavior Analysis in 2018 from the University of North Texas. She spent her time in college working as an ABA therapist with children diagnosed with autism in clinic, school and in-home settings. Lindsey is passionate about training staff to implement high quality ABA therapy, feeding expansion and development of play skills in children diagnosed with autism. As a new BCBA, Lindsey is eager to step into a leadership role at The Helm and help promote meaningful changes in the lives of individuals and families affected by autism.

Tamar Kustoff

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Tamar's journey with The Helm is a remarkable example of dedication and growth. Starting in 2018, she has worked her way up from a Registered Behavior Technician to the Director of Operations, demonstrating both expertise and leadership in the field. Her background in Speech Language Pathology, with a minor in Applied Behavioral Analysis from the University of Kansas, has been a strong foundation for her career.

Originally from Israel, Tamar moved to the United States in 2008, and her work with children spans more than five years, from babysitting to internships in speech therapy. It was during her practicum that she found her passion for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a field she has since devoted herself to with great purpose.

As the Director of Operations, Tamar is not only focused on the day-to-day management of the organization's operations but also deeply committed to improving the lives of children and families through ABA therapy. Her personal and professional experiences come together to make her an invaluable member of The Helm, where she takes pride in the positive impact her work has on the families she serves.

Taylor Pike

M.Ed, BCBA
BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Taylor received her B.A. from the University of Alabama with a major in communication disorders and a minor in child development. After graduating, she become a teaching assistant at The Capitol School of Austin where several of her students had special needs. During her time in the classroom, she discovered her passion for ABA which led her to pursue a M.Ed. with a major in special education from Texas State University. In graduate school, she worked as an ABA therapist in both clinic and in-home settings. She also provided support in a school setting for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. Taylor believes strongly in the power of teamwork and in the mission of providing exceptional strength-based child and family-centered therapies based on the principles of ABA. Taylor brings compassion, empathy, and respect to every individual and family she works with.

Tasia Johnson

RBT
AUTHORIZATION COORDINATOR

Tasia has been working with children in various settings for over 20 years. She started working in highschool as an after school care teacher for an elementary school and fell in love with teaching. She worked as a reading tutor through college and transitioned into the role of fourth grade teachers assistant.

After taking time to focus on raising her now 10 year old son, Tasia discovered the world of ABA and never looked back! She began working with the Helm in 2019 and continues to shine and grow with the company. Through the years and various roles, Tasia has become an expert in the insurance industry. She is excited to put that knowledge to use to help advocate for our clients at The Helm as our Authorizations Coordinator.

Elizabeth Kennedy

INTAKE COORDINATOR

Elizabeth received her B.S. in Psychology from Fort Hays State University. While completing her undergraduate degree, she began working as a Psycho-social Group Facilitator, where she helped shape positive behaviors in children diagnosed with severe emotional disturbances.

Elizabeth also advocated for special needs children in the school setting as a Behavioral Health Coach, where she provided additional 1:1 support to these students.

As the new Intake Coordinator, Elizabeth is thrilled to lend an empathetic ear to all individuals and families affected by autism along with connecting them to helpful resources.

Paul Archibeque

MS, BCBA
BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Paul entered the field in 2006 as an inclusion aide in a special education classroom. The next year he began his ABA journey as a behavior technician serving kids with autism in the home, community, and school settings. After about 8 years as a technician, he enrolled in a Masters/BCBA program. While in graduate school he served as an ABA supervisor, social skills group lead, scheduler, and hiring lead. In 2018, Paul moved to New Mexico (where his family is from). Being Native American, he had the desire to work with the Native population and underserved groups. During his 4 years in NM, Paul traveled all over the state teaching ABA in schools and pueblos. It was during this time when Paul also began working in the center setting after receiving his BCBA in 2021. Since getting credentialed as a BCBA and moving to Texas in 2022, Paul has been in the Clinical Director and regional lead role. He really enjoys leading a center and the responsibility that holds. In the future, Paul has goals for speaking at conferences, starting a podcast, publishing a book, and filming a documentary. When he is not at work, Paul enjoys going to the gym, serving at his church, reading, and attending Texas Rangers games.

Katie Nagy

MS, BCBA, LBA
BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Katie received her Masters of Science in Adapted Physical Activity from Slippery Rock University before obtaining her post masters' certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. Katie earned her BCBA certification in 2015 and since then has worked with children, ages 18 months to 21 years, in school, clinic and home settings as well as private day school and residential placement.

Katie has previous leadership experience and enjoys empowering her team to provide the highest quality of treatment to the clients and families we serve. She strongly believes in working with families to create a treatment experience individual to them, supporting long lasting positive change.

Lacey Yates

M.Ed, BCBA, LBA
BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with 10 years of experience in the field. I have had the privilege of serving clients from 18 months to 15 years old in a variety of settings (clinic, home, inclusive preschool, community). I have served as an RBT, BCaBA responsible for training, BCBA as a Clinical Supervisor, and as a Clinical Director. My biggest passion is seeing clients, their families, and those team members working with them succeed and grow. I truly believe collaboration, passion, evidence-based intervention, and some fun all lead to high-quality services that produce meaningful life changes.

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