Welcome to Stepping stones!

SteppingStones Founder's Family

At Stepping Stones, we are passionate about helping children and families thrive.

Our mission is to provide high-quality, child-led, evidence-based support tailored to the unique needs of every child and family we work with. We prioritise the child’s wellbeing by teaching life skills and providing emotional, behavioural, and academic support.

Although we are experts in supporting children on the Autism Spectrum, we thrive in supporting whole families, including neurotypical children.

Please look at our “Autism Services” and “Workshops” pages to find how we can help!

what makes us different?

Our therapy sessions are designed to be playful, engaging, and fun. We focus on creating an environment where children feel safe and motivated to learn. Whether we are working on building communication skills, fostering independence, or addressing behaviours of concern, our tailored programs meet each child where they are and help them reach their full potential. Everything we do is based on the science of learning and behaviour, and adapted to each child’s needs.

We also recognize the importance of family involvement in the therapy process. Through parent coaching and workshops, we empower families with the tools and strategies to support their child’s progress at home and beyond. Our mission is to understand what is important to you and help you achieve your goals.

We love working with schools and other professionals to ensure a well-rounded approach to boost children’s learning and well-being wherever they are.

Meet our founder

  • Larissa Quiroga, msc., bcba, ukba(cert)

    Director and Case Manager

  • a little background...

    Larissa is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst with over a decade of experience supporting children aged 2-10 and their families. After earning a first-class degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis and gaining vast experience in both mainstream and special education, she founded Stepping Stones to bring personalised, child-led, compassionate, and effective services to families who need it most.

    "I built Stepping Stones because I saw the profound impact that evidence-based, child-centred support can have on families. My dream is to support children and their families in improving their quality of life and provide them with the tools that will help them build a brighter future." – Larissa Q.

  • Certified Member of the UK Society of Behaviour Analysts

    Member #101819

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you use ABA?
Yes, our approach takes the scientific principles of Positive Behaviour Support from ABA while integrating other evidence-based and compassionate practices designed to respect your child’s individuality and improve their quality of life.
What is ABA?
ABA stands for Applied Behaviour Analysis, it is the science of behaviour used to understand and improve behaviour, as well as teaching new skills. Modern ABA focuses on teaching meaningful skills to help children and families thrive. At Stepping Stones, we ensure our sessions are fun, child-led, and respectful of each child’s unique needs and personality.
Do you only offer ABA therapy?
No, our services go beyond ABA. Through other evidence-based approaches relevant to child development, we provide:
  • Parent Coaching: Learn practical strategies to support your child at home.
  • Staff Training: Equip educators with tools to create inclusive learning environments.
  • Skill Development Programmes: Designed to foster independence, communication, sensory regulation, and social skills in fun, engaging ways.
Will you try to change who my child is and their autistic traits?
Not at all. We celebrate neurodiversity and never target behaviours that are part of your child’s identity or help them regulate. Instead, we focus on teaching skills that improve their quality of life, such as communication, social interaction, independence, and emotional regulation.
Do you work with children who don’t have Autism?
Yes! While many of our clients are Autistic, we also support neurotypical children and those with other developmental or behavioural needs, focusing on skills like communication, independence, and emotional regulation.
Where do the sessions take place?
We strongly believe that delivering the sessions where the child spends most of their time ensures meaningful changes. All our 1:1 sessions will take place in your home, nursery and/or school (within Tyne and Wear, UK). We also provide online parent coaching and staff training worldwide.
What can I do if I cannot afford to get private services?
There are multiple ways to obtain financial support through the local authorities and charities. We can guide you through the process of obtaining these.
Do I need to choose only one service?
Of course not! Each family is different, so we offer personalised packages to make sure you get the right level of support. We highly recommend a combination of the services to improve the quality of the outcomes.

Let us help!

We would love to hear more about your family’s needs and explore how we can support you. Please feel free to contact us for a free initial consultation or to learn more about our services.

Together, we can help your child thrive and set the foundation for a bright future.