Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Doran.
Hi Stefanie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey into ABA actually began through my own daughter. I was studying psychology when my youngest started struggling with speech, and her therapist suggested that she might benefit from ABA. At the time, I had no idea what ABA was, but once I started researching, I completely fell in love with the science. I changed my degree concentration to Applied Behavior Analysis, became an Registered Behavior Therapist (RBT), and stepped into the field working directly with autistic children.
Very quickly, I realized how special these kids are. They think in such unique, brilliant ways, and working with them made me feel like I had finally found my purpose. While working towards my BCBA certification, I gained deep experience in clinic and developed a passion for compassionate, play-based therapy … basically therapy that looks and feels like joy, not compliance. I also discovered how much I loved helping non-speaking children find their voice by shaping tiny steps into meaningful communication.
I eventually became an Assistant Clinical Director, but I also realized that I wanted more time with my own daughters. Additionally, I saw gaps in the ABA field that I knew I could approach differently.
I wanted a place where therapists were valued as essential members of the treatment team, where parents felt supported instead of alone, and where BCBAs weren’t burnt out doing everything except true clinical work. Most of all, I wanted a company grounded in compassion, faith, and genuine care for families.
So, on a huge leap of faith, I created Pillars Behavioral Health. It started as a dream built at my kitchen table, and today it has grown into an incredible team of people who truly love what they do. We support families, empower therapists, and create programming that is child-led and joyful. And we’re just getting started! I can’t wait to continue growing and serving more families with the heart and intention that built this company.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I came into this journey with a strong clinical background and leadership skills from the Navy, but running a business was an entirely different world! Every step, especially in the beginning, was a learning experience. I quickly discovered just how complicated insurance, credentialing, and authorizations truly are. One of the hardest challenges though has been when families have had to wait for services because of delays outside our control… especially certain Medicaid approvals that can take three to six months. We even had a group of families wait six months simply because our Medicaid approval hadn’t finalized yet, and that was incredibly hard to watch.
There was also a period early on when I had to learn (the hard way) who not to work with. Let’s just say some of the initial support services we hired created more chaos than clarity. But I can say that through that, they taught me exactly what not to do in the future.
On the leadership side, the hardest part has been finding the balance between compassion and practicality. I naturally want to make everyone feel supported and heard – employees, families, everyone – but I’ve also had to learn that a business needs structure, expectations, and boundaries to function. That has been a huge area of growth for me.
Financially, the reality of taxes, payroll, insurance requirements, and the everyday cost of running a company hit me like a surprise pop quiz I didn’t study for! I’ve always dreamed of building programs to support my employees in times of need and giving back to charities, but it has taken almost a full year just to break even.
And through all of this…there have been tears. Many, many tears. I always joke with my Director of Operations that every tear just means we learned something new that day. You can’t grow without mistakes, and you can’t learn without a little bit of sweat and a lot of crying…but honestly, those moments have shaped us into a stronger and much more resilient company.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Pillars Behavioral Health provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to individuals with autism. We specialize in early communication which involves helping children find their voice through play and shaping small sounds into meaningful words.
ABA is a powerful, flexible science that can teach communication, imitation, following directions, play skills, social skills, emotional regulation, tolerance, and independence. It supports everything from early language and pretend play to complex life skills for teens and young adults.
What sets us apart is how we do ABA. Historically, ABA had a reputation for being compliance-driven. We built our company to be the opposite – compassionate, trauma-informed, child-led, and joyful. We believe kids learn best when they feel safe and happy. For younger kiddos, therapy looks like pure play with programs woven seamlessly into the fun. For older kids and teens, we embed goals into activities they love…whether that’s gaming, art, books, or time outdoors.
We also created programs that fill major gaps in the field. Our Life Skills Program (ages 12–21) supports teens and young adults who are too often turned away by other ABA providers. Our Spanish-language program ensures bilingual families fully understand and participate in their care, with translated materials and bilingual BCBAs and therapists.
What truly sets us apart is the heart we pour into both our families and our therapists. We want everyone who joins us to feel seen, supported, and valued. From creating safe spaces for our staff to talk openly, to developing welcome packages that help families feel embraced from day one…compassion is at the center of everything we do.
At our core, we’re a company built on faith and the belief that every child deserves dignity, joy, and individualized support. We’re proud to offer ABA that feels kind, connected, and truly centered on the child.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think the quality that has contributed most to my success is compassion. It guides every decision I make from how I treat families, to how I support my therapists to how I shape the culture of our company. Compassion helps me see people’s needs, not just their roles, and it drives me to create a company where every child, parent, and staff member feels genuinely cared for. In a field that historically struggled with empathy, I think leading with compassion has made all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pillarsbehavioralhealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pillarsbehavioralhealthllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566747852579&sk=about
