What is social skills development at Ryse?
Social skills development is ABA therapy focused on helping autistic individuals connect with the people around them — making eye contact when it’s comfortable, taking turns, sharing, reading facial expressions and tone, starting and holding conversations, and joining group play. At Ryse ABA Therapy, our BCBA designs a personalized, play-based plan and we practice these skills in your home and across your Southern Utah community, so they become part of real, everyday life.
Social connection looks different for every person, and that’s the point. We’re neurodiversity-affirming: the goal isn’t to mask who your child is, but to give them more tools to share their world and feel understood by others.
Who it’s for
Social skills therapy at Ryse is for autistic individuals ages 2 to 65 who want to build stronger connections. That might be a toddler learning to play alongside a sibling, a school-age child navigating recess and friendships, a teen working through group conversations, or an adult building confidence at work or in the community. Most competitors stop at kids — we support the full 2–65 range because connection matters at every stage of life.
If you’re in St. George, Washington, Hurricane, Santa Clara, Ivins, La Verkin, or Cedar City and your loved one finds social moments hard, this is built for you. An autism diagnosis and active insurance coverage are required to begin.
What to expect
Care happens in your home and community — not a clinic across town. A Registered Behavior Technician works directly with your child on individualized goals, guided by a personalized plan from our BCBA. Because we teach social skills in real settings — the living room, the park, a friend’s birthday party, the store — the skills are more likely to stick and carry over to daily life.
Sessions are play-based and warm. We follow your child’s interests, celebrate small wins, and adjust constantly based on data we collect along the way. You’re part of every step: we coach families so the progress continues long after a session ends.
The benefits
Social skills work can open the door to friendships, smoother family moments, and more independence. Depending on each person’s goals, families often work toward things like:
- Joining and sharing play with peers and siblings
- Starting, continuing, and ending conversations
- Recognizing and responding to others’ feelings and cues
- Handling transitions and group settings with less stress
- Building the confidence to participate at school, work, and in the community
ABA is an evidence-based approach to autism support — described by the CDC and overseen by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board — and we deliver it individualized to each person. We never promise a fixed outcome or “cure”; we focus on meaningful, measurable progress toward goals you choose with us.
Why families choose Ryse
Families choose Ryse because they can start now — no waitlist. When you’re worried about your child, months of waiting feels impossible, so we open the door right away across Washington and Iron County.
- No waitlist — start this week. No long delays while precious time passes.
- We verify your insurance for you. A free benefits check removes the guesswork before you commit.
- BCBA-led care. Every plan is built and overseen by our Clinical Director, Noah Rasmussen, BCBA.
- In your home, in your community. Care is built around your family and your real-life routines.
When we Ryse together, we achieve more.
Ready to start?
If your loved one is working toward stronger friendships and connection, we’re ready when you are — no waitlist, BCBA-led, and built around your family in Southern Utah.
Call us at (385) 549-5656 or request a free insurance check to see what’s covered. An autism diagnosis and active coverage are required to begin care.
Clinically reviewed by Noah Rasmussen, BCBA, Clinical Director, Ryse ABA Therapy.
Frequently asked questions
What is autism social skills therapy?+
Autism social skills therapy uses ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) to help children, teens, and adults learn to connect with others — taking turns, reading body language, starting conversations, and joining play. At Ryse, a BCBA builds a personalized, play-based plan and we practice these skills where they matter most: at home and in your community.
How long is the waitlist for ABA social skills therapy in St. George or Southern Utah?+
Ryse ABA Therapy has no waitlist — families start right away. Many providers have months-long waitlists, but we believe that delay costs valuable time. Once your child has an autism diagnosis and active insurance, we verify your benefits and can typically begin care that same week across Washington and Iron County.
Does insurance cover social skills ABA therapy in Utah?+
In most cases, yes. ABA therapy is an evidence-based autism treatment that many Utah insurance plans cover when there's a documented autism diagnosis and active coverage. We verify your benefits for you for free before you start, so you understand exactly what's covered — no surprises. Call (385) 549-5656 for a free insurance check.
At what age can my child start social skills therapy?+
Ryse serves ages 2 through 65. Early social skills work can be especially meaningful for toddlers and young children, but social connection matters at every age — so we also support teens and adults working on friendships, workplace interactions, and community independence. Care is always tailored to the person, not the age.
How do I get my child started with social skills ABA in Washington County?+
Three steps: (1) Your child needs an autism diagnosis. (2) We verify your insurance benefits for you — free. (3) We start, usually the same week. Our BCBA, Noah Rasmussen, builds a personalized plan and we begin in your home or community. Call (385) 549-5656 to begin.
What's the difference between in-home and clinic-based social skills therapy?+
In-home and community-based ABA teaches social skills in the real settings where your child lives, plays, and goes — the park, a sibling's room, the grocery store — so skills transfer to everyday life. Clinic-based therapy happens in a center. Ryse focuses on in-home and community care so progress shows up where it counts.