Connection over compliance signals a clear shift from traditional “do as I say” approaches toward an emphasis on safety, empathy, and relationships.
A FRESH TAKE ON BEHAVIOR SUPPORT
Many people have heard of applied behavior analysis, or ABA, as a therapy for children with autism or other neurodivergences. Maegen opened her first autism clinic in 2015, introducing Breakthrough Behavior to Monterey County families looking for more helpful and caring options. Nearly 10 years later, behavior therapy has significantly evolved, with Maegen and her team at the forefront of change. Skills-based training, or SBT, has become the key.
Instead of focusing on stopping unwanted behaviors or demanding strict compliance, SBT begins with something far more human: understanding what a child is trying to communicate. In everyday life, challenging behaviors—like yelling, running away, or refusing tasks—often stem from frustration, fear, or an unmet need.
“Children show us with their behavior what they can’t yet say with their words,” Maegen explains. “If we slow down, connect, and teach them a better way to get their needs met, everyone’s life improves.”
HAPPY, RELAXED, AND ENGAGED
At the center of Maegen’s work is the idea that children learn best when they are happy, relaxed, and engaged—or HRE, a concept developed by Dr. Gregory Hanley, the founder of SBT. This means a child feels safe, calm, and interested in what’s happening—a state most parents intuitively recognize as the “sweet spot” when their child is open to learning.
Rather than beginning therapy with demands, Maegen starts by creating this HRE state. She lets the child choose an activity, follows their lead, and builds trust. Only after the child feels secure and connected does she gently teach new skills such as asking for a break, coping with disappointment, or transitioning between activities (the list goes on!). This makes the process feel less like therapy and more like playful coaching, where learning happens naturally.
CONNECTION OVER COMPLIANCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Over the years, Maegen noticed that many parents were struggling with the same daily flashpoints: rushed mornings, bedtime resistance, or emotional outbursts over small changes. The more parents tried to enforce compliance, the more power struggles emerged. So she flipped the script.
“Instead of starting with ‘Brush your teeth!’ or ‘Get your shoes on!’ we first create a moment of connection,” she says. “We play, we laugh, we cuddle. Then we move to the task. The difference is night and day.”
In 2021, Maegen founded Behavior Concierge as a direct option for families seeking flexible treatments for more common behavioral issues, from telehealth appointments to in-person training sessions. Parents around the Central Coast have seen and felt the difference.
- Calmer mornings, because parents first connect with their child through a short game, story, or playful moment before moving to routines.
- Smoother bedtime routines, with children less resistant when expectations are framed after
bonding time. - Fewer meltdowns, as both parents and children learn strategies to handle “big feelings” together.
SKILLS FOR PARENTS, NOT JUST KIDS
Although she began her career working directly with children, Maegen found that coaching parents may be the most powerful intervention of all. She teaches caregivers how to read the early signs of stress, how to spot those HRE moments, and how to gently stretch their child’s skills during those windows. Parents learn to:
- Identify and support their child’s emotional state
- Use warm, clear communication instead of escalating demands
- Model self-regulation strategies so children can copy them
“Once parents know how to do this,” Maegen says, “they see their child differently. They don’t just see a behavior problem—they see a child asking for help.”
REAL STORIES, REAL CHANGE
One Monterey mother recalls how morning routines used to be a battleground with her son. “He would scream and hide under the table when it was time to get dressed. Maegen showed me how to start with connection—just five minutes of playing LEGOS with him. After that, he put his shirt on without a fight. It was like magic.”
Another parent says bedtime went from a nightly power struggle to a peaceful ritual. “We now start bedtime with a cuddle and deep breathing. She falls asleep faster and wakes up happier.”
BRINGING JOY BACK INTO PARENTING
The work reinforces that parenting doesn’t have to be about constant correction. By prioritizing connection, families discover more joy, more laughter, and more confidence in handling challenges. This doesn’t just help children behave differently, it helps parents feel calmer and more competent. “Parents often tell me, ‘We have fun again,’” Maegen says. “That’s the best compliment I can receive.”
REDEFINING ABA FOR THE FUTURE
What Breakthrough Behavior and Behavior Concierge are doing in Monterey County reflect a broader shift in the field of ABA, away from rigid compliance and toward relationship-based teaching. SBT, with its emphasis on safety, trust, and communication, represents this new, compassionate science. By teaching children skills they truly need and empowering parents to be their child’s best teacher, this work is changing lives one family at a time.
As a mother herself, Maegen understands how exhausting caregiving can be. Her passion is to show families they can find calm and connection, even in the toughest moments. With her guidance, mornings become easier, bedtime feels gentler, and children grow up with parents who see them not just as students but as partners in learning.
Maegen has been working to improve the lives of children and their families in Monterey County for more than 15 years. A career anchored in care and support has become one of transformation using revolutionary new tools and methods in behavior therapy. Whether it is Breakthrough Behavior for children needing more extensive therapies or Behavior Concierge for easing everyday behaviors, Maegen and her team are making a difference, one connection at a time.
MAEGEN PIERCE is a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and mother of three daughters. Maegen has spent more than two decades helping neurodivergent children and their parents find a gentler, more joyful path to learning and growth.
