Meet A First Step Towards Hope ABA Clinic in Joliet Illinois

In the heart of Joliet, Illinois, a  beacon of hope is shining for families navigating the journey of autism and developmental disorders. A First Step Towards Hope ABA Services LLC, founded by Dr. Hope Merritt, BCBA, is here to provide compassionate, evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children and teens in the community.

Dr. Hope Merritt brings both expertise and heart to her practice. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with education from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Hope has dedicated her career to connecting with parents, educators, and professionals through local events and outreach. Her mission extends far beyond traditional therapy sessions—she's committed to building meaningful relationships that empower children to thrive while giving families the comprehensive support they need.

What Makes A First Step Towards Hope Different

At A First Step Towards Hope, ABA therapy goes beyond the textbook. We offer high-quality, autism support services with the background to support individuals in developing skills and learning socially appropriate behaviors to reach their full potential. Their approach combines personalized support with practical tools and compassionate care, creating an environment where children can build confidence, find stability, and move forward with hope.

We’re excited to be opening a new facility that will be a community hub where families can find the resources, education, and support they need. Our practice serves individuals ages 2-18, focusing on extinguishing maladaptive behaviors while increasing socially appropriate ones, teaching new skills, and helping each child reach their full potential.

At A First Step Towards Hope (AFSTH), we believe that diversity is a cornerstone of meaningful, compassionate, and effective care, committed to cultivating an inclusive environment where individuals of all races, ethnicities, cultures, languages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and belief systems feel seen, valued, and respected.

Let’s take the first step together.

For families in Joliet and surrounding areas who are seeking comprehensive ABA services, A First Step Towards Hope offers more than therapy—we offer partnership. Our. staff is committed to collaborating with and supporting caregivers throughout the entire process, because we believe in taking the first step towards hope together.

Contact us today to get started!