The Development
Comprehensive Education Services (ACES), a prominent national platform for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, recently announced its acquisition of Ally Pediatric Therapy. Ally, previously a multispecialty autism therapy provider based in Phoenix, Arizona, will now align its operations with ACES’s established ABA-centric care model. This strategic move means Ally Pediatric Therapy will discontinue its in-house multidisciplinary health services, which included speech, occupational therapy, and feeding services. Instead, these specialized needs will be addressed through external care coordination services, ensuring families receive support from trusted community providers.
Jamie Catlett, CEO of Ally Pediatric Therapy, expressed strong confidence in the partnership, citing a shared purpose, aligned clinical model, and collaborative cultures as key factors. Catlett emphasized that the collaboration would allow Ally to uphold its founding principles while benefiting from ACES’s additional resources, enhanced clinical tools, and comprehensive support for both teams and families. Ally Pediatric Therapy, founded in 2015, had demonstrated significant growth, earning recognition on the Inc. 5000 list in 2024 for an impressive 182% three-year revenue growth ending in 2023. ACES, established in 1996, has a long-standing presence in the ABA sector.
Market Impact
This acquisition substantially deepens San Diego-based ACES’s market presence in Arizona. Prior to the deal, ACES operated six locations within the state; the addition of Ally Pediatric Therapy’s nine locations brings ACES’s total Arizona footprint to 15 clinics. Nationally, ACES now operates 92 locations across California, Colorado, Hawaii, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona. The transition to an ABA-only model at Ally reflects ACES’s consistent operational strategy across all its existing locations, emphasizing specialized ABA intervention.
For families currently receiving multidisciplinary services from Ally, ACES and Ally Pediatric Therapy have committed to providing personalized transition support. This ensures continuity of care as families are guided to trusted community providers for physical health services that will no longer be offered in-house. This shift highlights a broader industry trend where larger ABA platforms often streamline services to focus on their core competency, while leveraging external partnerships for complementary therapies. The deal also underscores the continued influence of private equity in the behavioral health sector; SBJ Capital had invested in Ally Pediatric Therapy in 2022, and General Atlantic acquired ACES in 2020, indicating significant financial backing driving market consolidation and expansion.
What’s Next
Looking ahead, ACES plans to maintain all existing clinical and operational leadership at Ally Pediatric Therapy, ensuring a smooth integration and preserving local expertise. Lisa Dawe, CEO of ACES, affirmed that the acquisition would expand access to essential ABA services for Phoenix families while preserving the high quality of care and local relationships they have come to rely on. Furthermore, ACES intends to invest in opening additional clinics across Arizona and will provide enhanced tools and training for its clinicians, signaling a commitment to growth and professional development within the region. The transaction was facilitated by Berkery Noyes and O’Melveny & Myers representing Ally Pediatric Therapy, and Bass Berry & Sims advising ACES, demonstrating the complex legal and financial frameworks involved in such significant industry consolidations.
Fast Facts
| Key Point | Why It Matters for ABA |
|---|---|
| ACES acquires Ally Pediatric Therapy | Consolidates the ABA market, expanding a major national provider’s reach. |
| Ally transitions to ABA-only model | Reflects a strategic focus on core ABA services within large platforms, impacting multidisciplinary care access. |
| Adds 9 locations in Arizona | Significantly expands ACES’s regional footprint, increasing access to ABA services for families in the state. |
| Ally’s 182% revenue growth (2023) | Highlights the rapid expansion potential and demand within the autism therapy sector. |
Expert Perspective
This acquisition underscores the ongoing trend of consolidation and specialization within the ABA industry, driven by strategic alignment and the pursuit of operational efficiency.
Source: bhbusiness.com
