Texas Care Program
START – Social Skills & Aggression Replacement Techniques
START helps children and teens replace impulsive or aggressive reactions with practical social and emotional skills. Youth learn to recognize what sets them off, stay in control, resolve conflict, and make better decisions — at home, at school, and with friends.
Ideal for: Children & adolescents
Focus: Social skills, anger management & decision-making
How START Works
Built on three core areas
Social Skills Training
Everyday skills for communicating, getting along with others, and handling difficult moments in positive ways.
Anger Control
Recognizing anger and emotional triggers early, and using proven techniques to stay calm and in control.
Moral Reasoning
Understanding consequences, taking other people's perspectives, and building empathy to guide better choices.
Sessions use modeling, role-play, feedback, and practice outside the session, so new skills carry over into real life — not just the therapy room.
What We Focus On
Skills youth build in START
Recognizing anger and emotional triggers
Anger-management techniques
Conflict resolution
Communication skills
Decision-making
Understanding consequences
Perspective-taking and empathy
Avoiding fights and aggressive responses
Practicing positive behaviors in real-world situations
The Goal
Help youth replace impulsive or aggressive responses with practical social and emotional skills.
Where START Fits
Part of a continuum of care
START supports two stages of our developmental continuum: Childhood Behavioral & Social Development (alongside Barkley's Defiant Child & Teen) and Adolescent Social & Emotional Development (alongside Skillstreaming the Adolescent).
Is START right for your child or student?
Our team will help you find the right program and level of support. Reach out to make a referral or ask a question.