Thumb Area Psychological Services - Cass City, Michigan

Kathy C.

Very knowledgeable individuals. Help is just a phone call away. Why don’t you give these trained professionals a chance. You won’t be disappointed. After working in the mental health services for a very long time, all I can say is that I am very impressed by their dedication and commitment.

Ashley A.

So if you find yourself looking at reviews for this ABA clinic, you probably love someone that’s on the Autism Spectrum. I know I found myself looking at reviews a long time ago trying to find the best place for my son to learn and grow. And I know sometimes ABA can get a bad reputation, and that is scary! I’m here to give the most true and real review because this is the type of review I needed to read when making the decision for my son. My son and myself have been very happy with the services and staff at Turning Point ABA clinic. Some of the most beautiful woman inside and out work there. They are so excited to share exciting goals he has met or any progress or fun moment they shared. They support him through the tough times that ASD brings and the most rewarding moments. I know they love my child through and through. The behavior techs have souls of angels and have amazing positive energy daily!!! My son has made so many gains in his time there and it’s truly amazing! I can’t wait to see how much he’ll grow with the amazing therapy and support of the woman at Turning Points. I can’t say your child will have as an amazing outcome as my son, but my only regret about Turning Point and my son is not enrolling him sooner.

Baylee M.

I have been working here for almost a year now and I couldn’t love it any more. The staff is very friendly and extremely helpful. I really enjoy working with the kids and watching them learn more and more every day. ABA therapy isn’t very well known but I love to explain to people what it is like and all the benefits that come along with it. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking ABA therapy.

Rejected K.

I became a RBT (Registered Behavioral Therapist) in Salem, Oregon. After moving back to my hometown in Michigan, I was thrilled to find out about TAPS. Providing ABA therapy was the most rewarding profession I had ever had. At CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disorders) I played a major role in helping non-verbal children start to communicate. Whether it was via ASL, or a tablet, or just randomly blurting it out, there was major verbiage improvements due to the NETs (Natural Environment Trials).

At TAPS they ONLY perform DTTs (Discrete Trial Training). The difference between NET and DTT is that one is learning in a NATURAL environment, and the other is sitting down at a table following demands. 8 hours of complying to the demands of one person; stand, jump, sit, fold your hands.

Another thing that caused a YUGE red flag was when the BCBA told me that verbal praise was not a positive reinforcer, and I wasn't using enough edibles. Yes, they use edibles in most ABA clinics... But to rely on edibles as the main form of positive reinforcement, to me, seems unethical. It's how I train my dogs.

Another issue I had was that the programs were being written by one person... To respond to demands. I'm not sure what else I was even teaching these gifted children. At CARD we taught them the difference between an adults job and a kids job. What's expected and what's unexpected. Social cues, like saying "bless you" and "excuse me". What an emergency consists of, and when to call 911. "Normal" things Autistic children need to learn to be able to grow into an independent, society functioning, adult.

At CARD every client had a BIP and every therapist had access to it. (A BIP is a Behavior Intervention Plan that it individualized to each client.) When a child goes into a behavior, depending on the antecedent (the event that occured immediately before the behavior), we had an individualized course of action to follow. At TAPS you do the same consequence for every behavior, which was typically to repeat the demand until the child follows said demand.

Sidenote: I tried this on my two year old twins... They started repeating what they wanted until they got it. I stopped immediately.

Moral of the story: CARD improved my parenting skills, TAPS made me want to never use "ABA" on my children.

I put ABA in parenthesis because I do not believe TAPS is using an ethical form of ABA. Studies show that ABA is best taught in a natural environment. This is the complete opposite of that. It's sit down, follow demands, label items on flashcards, maybe find the purpose of an item. I did not see improvements with most children.

One nonverbal child had been on the same SOUND for approximately 6 months. When I suggested ASL (sign language, commonly used with nonverbal Autistic kiddos) I was immediately turned down. (The head Psych can't even sign "please" correctly. Which to my assumption, is the reason behind this.)

You'd be able to see all of this written down, except the therapists rarely take notes. In fact, at TAPS the main "notes" a therapist is required to record are on a prefilled ABC (Antecedent Behavior Consequence) form. Yes. A paper form. Prefilled... We check boxes. There are ZERO forms for any notes to be written on. I have no idea how this place is still operating.

After almost fainting due to the stressful work environment, I ended up asking the head Psych if it was all a Government Conspiracy Horror Movie... I would still describe TAPS as such today.

Rebecca B.

I highly recommend them. Their counselors are nice and make you feel comfortable.

Jessica M.

Great opportunities offered here and very friendly & qualified staff...highly recommend any service offered

Kathleen M.

Best staff!

Camryn K.

Great services and staff! Would recommend to anyone!

Kathy C.

Very knowledgeable individuals. Help is just a phone call away. Why don’t you give these trained professionals a chance. You won’t be disappointed. After working in the mental health services for a very long time, all I can say is that I am very impressed by their dedication and commitment.

Ashley A.

So if you find yourself looking at reviews for this ABA clinic, you probably love someone that’s on the Autism Spectrum. I know I found myself looking at reviews a long time ago trying to find the best place for my son to learn and grow. And I know sometimes ABA can get a bad reputation, and that is scary! I’m here to give the most true and real review because this is the type of review I needed to read when making the decision for my son. My son and myself have been very happy with the services and staff at Turning Point ABA clinic. Some of the most beautiful woman inside and out work there. They are so excited to share exciting goals he has met or any progress or fun moment they shared. They support him through the tough times that ASD brings and the most rewarding moments. I know they love my child through and through. The behavior techs have souls of angels and have amazing positive energy daily!!! My son has made so many gains in his time there and it’s truly amazing! I can’t wait to see how much he’ll grow with the amazing therapy and support of the woman at Turning Points. I can’t say your child will have as an amazing outcome as my son, but my only regret about Turning Point and my son is not enrolling him sooner.

Baylee M.

I have been working here for almost a year now and I couldn’t love it any more. The staff is very friendly and extremely helpful. I really enjoy working with the kids and watching them learn more and more every day. ABA therapy isn’t very well known but I love to explain to people what it is like and all the benefits that come along with it. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking ABA therapy.

Rejected K.

I became a RBT (Registered Behavioral Therapist) in Salem, Oregon. After moving back to my hometown in Michigan, I was thrilled to find out about TAPS. Providing ABA therapy was the most rewarding profession I had ever had. At CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disorders) I played a major role in helping non-verbal children start to communicate. Whether it was via ASL, or a tablet, or just randomly blurting it out, there was major verbiage improvements due to the NETs (Natural Environment Trials).

At TAPS they ONLY perform DTTs (Discrete Trial Training). The difference between NET and DTT is that one is learning in a NATURAL environment, and the other is sitting down at a table following demands. 8 hours of complying to the demands of one person; stand, jump, sit, fold your hands.

Another thing that caused a YUGE red flag was when the BCBA told me that verbal praise was not a positive reinforcer, and I wasn't using enough edibles. Yes, they use edibles in most ABA clinics... But to rely on edibles as the main form of positive reinforcement, to me, seems unethical. It's how I train my dogs.

Another issue I had was that the programs were being written by one person... To respond to demands. I'm not sure what else I was even teaching these gifted children. At CARD we taught them the difference between an adults job and a kids job. What's expected and what's unexpected. Social cues, like saying "bless you" and "excuse me". What an emergency consists of, and when to call 911. "Normal" things Autistic children need to learn to be able to grow into an independent, society functioning, adult.

At CARD every client had a BIP and every therapist had access to it. (A BIP is a Behavior Intervention Plan that it individualized to each client.) When a child goes into a behavior, depending on the antecedent (the event that occured immediately before the behavior), we had an individualized course of action to follow. At TAPS you do the same consequence for every behavior, which was typically to repeat the demand until the child follows said demand.

Sidenote: I tried this on my two year old twins... They started repeating what they wanted until they got it. I stopped immediately.

Moral of the story: CARD improved my parenting skills, TAPS made me want to never use "ABA" on my children.

I put ABA in parenthesis because I do not believe TAPS is using an ethical form of ABA. Studies show that ABA is best taught in a natural environment. This is the complete opposite of that. It's sit down, follow demands, label items on flashcards, maybe find the purpose of an item. I did not see improvements with most children.

One nonverbal child had been on the same SOUND for approximately 6 months. When I suggested ASL (sign language, commonly used with nonverbal Autistic kiddos) I was immediately turned down. (The head Psych can't even sign "please" correctly. Which to my assumption, is the reason behind this.)

You'd be able to see all of this written down, except the therapists rarely take notes. In fact, at TAPS the main "notes" a therapist is required to record are on a prefilled ABC (Antecedent Behavior Consequence) form. Yes. A paper form. Prefilled... We check boxes. There are ZERO forms for any notes to be written on. I have no idea how this place is still operating.

After almost fainting due to the stressful work environment, I ended up asking the head Psych if it was all a Government Conspiracy Horror Movie... I would still describe TAPS as such today.

Rebecca B.

I highly recommend them. Their counselors are nice and make you feel comfortable.