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Sara Feldman, Ph.D., BCBA

Director of Provider Engagement

Sara Feldman, Ph.D., BCBA, is Director of Provider Engagement at Headstart Health, where she helps BCBAs turn the idea of practice ownership into a business they’re proud to build. Before joining Headstart, Sara co-founded The Helm ABA in 2015 and served as CEO, growing the organization from an in-home practice into a multi-location ABA company across Dallas–Fort Worth before selling it in 2024. Her career has spanned the classroom, clinical practice, leadership, and entrepreneurship, giving her a firsthand understanding of both the clinical and business sides of ABA. Sara earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of North Texas, where her research focused on caregiver implementation of trial-based functional analysis. She is also the host of BCBAs Who Build, a Headstart podcast exploring entrepreneurship, leadership, clinical quality, and what it takes to build a great ABA practice.

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Resources by or reviewed by Sara Feldman

An adult and child walk along a park path, with the child holding a leaf.
ArticleCaregiver support, progress, and transition

When is it time to stop ABA therapy?

A guide to reviewing whether ABA still meets your child’s needs and planning support when care changes.

Headstart HealthUpdated Nov 9, 20264 min
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Two adults look at an open planner at a kitchen table while a child draws beside them.
ArticleTherapy fit and care model

How many hours of ABA therapy does my child need?

A weekly number is only part of an ABA recommendation. Learn what the hours include, why they were proposed, and how to talk through the week with your child's clinician.

Headstart HealthUpdated Nov 9, 20265 min
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A child builds with colorful blocks at a table while two adults sit nearby, one holding a notebook.
ArticleCaregiver support, progress, and transition

How long does ABA therapy take to show progress?

Understand why ABA progress can vary, how smaller skills build toward daily-life goals, and when to check in with your child’s care team.

Headstart HealthUpdated Nov 9, 20266 min
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Two adults sit across a wooden table, talking beside a closed folder.
ArticleInsurance, cost, and authorization

Is ABA therapy covered by insurance? What to check before care begins

Insurance can cover ABA. Learn what to ask about your child's plan, a provider, family costs, and any approval needed before care starts.

Headstart HealthPublished Oct 29, 202610 min
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Two adults review papers at a kitchen table while a child plays nearby with wooden blocks.
ArticleAfter a diagnosis

Starting ABA Therapy After an Autism Diagnosis: A Step-by-Step Guide for Families

Understand the steps between an autism diagnosis and starting ABA, with questions about support options, coverage, providers, assessment, and your child's proposed plan.

Headstart HealthPublished Sep 24, 20269 min
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A child builds a wooden-block structure at a living-room table while two adults watch and participate.
ArticleTherapy fit and care model

In-home ABA therapy: What families can expect

A practical guide to in-home ABA sessions, care-team roles, setting fit, and the questions families can ask as they choose and begin care.

Headstart HealthPublished Sep 24, 20268 min
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Image of BCBA providers at a headstart health dinner.
ArticlePractice ownership

The Future of ABA Belongs in the Hands of BCBAs

Dr. Sara Feldman, discusses her time at this years BMBA Summit, and how the future ABA belongs in the hands of BCBAs.

Sara FeldmanUpdated Oct 1, 20264 min
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ABA provider and child using an abacus beneath a letter to families and providers
ArticleABA basics, evidence, and ethics

Ethical ABA Care: A Letter to Families and Providers

Recent concerns about ABA have raised important questions about ethics and accountability. Here's what ethical, family-centered ABA care means to Headstart Health.

Sara FeldmanUpdated Oct 1, 20263 min
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Woman on a video call beside the words Your 2026 glow up
ArticleBCBA career

BCBA Career Growth: Building a Life That Fits

A deep dive on BCBA burnout, autonomy, and career glow ups—why 2026 is the year behavior analysts redesign their work, not just survive it.

Sara FeldmanUpdated Sep 8, 20263 min
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Two professionals talking beneath the words You're not behind
ArticlePractice ownership

You’re Not Behind. You’re in the Messy Middle.

For BCBAs building their own practices: why feeling unsure doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re learning, growing, and building honestly.

Sara FeldmanUpdated Sep 8, 20263 min
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BCBA working with a child beneath the words The Great BCBA Reset
ArticleBCBA career

The Great BCBA Reset: Why 2026 Is the Year Clinicians Are Redefining Their Careers

The Great BCBA Reset: Why 2026 Is the Year Clinicians Are Redefining Their Careers

Sara FeldmanUpdated Sep 8, 20263 min
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Woman writing in a journal beside the words Designing a life you love
GuideBCBA career

Designing a Life You Love: How a Simple Reflection Exercise Became My Annual Reset as a BCBA Leader

A BCBA shares the simple reflection exercise that became her annual reset—shifting from burnout and imbalance to intentional leadership, clarity, and aligned living. Learn how this tool transformed her team and her life.

Sara FeldmanUpdated Sep 8, 20265 min
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