Exploring Life & Business with Nhan Le of Essential Speech and ABA Therapy Fulshear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nhan Le.

Hi Nhan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Our journey to opening an ABA clinic began when our son was diagnosed with non‑verbal Autism at three years old. As parents new to the world of Autism, we were determined to learn everything we could to support him. Through extensive research, we discovered that ABA therapy was the most effective path for his needs.

After three years of consistent ABA therapy, we saw meaningful progress in his daily life. That growth inspired us to explore the possibility of opening a clinic of our own. Since we were new to the business side of ABA services, we began looking for a franchise that could guide us through the process.

That search led us to Essential Speech and ABA Therapy. After several conversations with the founder, Nafisa Obi, it became clear that her expertise, values, and leadership aligned perfectly with what we hoped to build. With her support, we moved forward in partnership to open a new ABA clinic serving the Fulshear/Katy community.

We built the company from the ground up, starting with a brand‑new facility in the Firethorne community. From there, we conducted an extensive interview process and ultimately welcomed Karina Garcia Capetillo, BCBA, to our team. The BCBA truly serves as the lifeline of an ABA clinic, as they are the licensed professional responsible for developing individualized treatment plans based on each child’s needs and goals.

The interview process felt very natural because we were simply looking for someone we would trust to work with our own child—and Karina was the perfect fit. Although we are owner‑operators of the business, I attribute much of our success to her.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Despite completing extensive research on Autism and evidence‑based interventions such as ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy, we were still relatively new to the industry—our learning began out of necessity as we searched for the best support for our son. My background is in Finance, where I worked for 15 years, and my wife has been a Registered Nurse for nearly a decade, so this field was far outside our original areas of expertise.

Because of that, we encountered a number of obstacles and challenges along the way, including navigating insurance contracting and credentialing, assembling the right team to support Karina, our BCBA, meeting compliance and regulatory requirements, developing new operational systems and processes, maintaining high clinical quality, building trust with families as a brand‑new clinic, and raising awareness within the community.

Staffing has been both rewarding and challenging. We’re not just looking for people to fill roles—we’re looking for individuals who are deeply aligned with our core values: Excellence in Care, Empathy, Integrity, and Collaboration. That level of intentional hiring takes time. We have a very thorough training and onboarding process because we want our team to truly buy into the mission. Our goal isn’t just to serve more kids—it’s to serve them well.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Essential Speech and ABA Therapy Fulshear is a family‑driven, community‑focused clinic specializing in high‑quality Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with Autism. Our clinic was founded from a deeply personal place—our own journey as parents navigating Autism services for our son. That experience shaped our mission: to create a clinic where families feel supported, understood, and confident in the care their child receives.

What We Do
• Provide individualized ABA therapy rooted in evidence‑based practices
• Offer comprehensive assessments, treatment planning, and ongoing progress monitoring
• Deliver compassionate, child‑centered ABA care that supports communication, independence, and daily living skills
• Collaborate closely with families to ensure goals are meaningful and aligned with each child’s needs

What We Specialize In / What We’re Known For

• Personalized ABA programs tailored to each child’s unique strengths, needs, and challenges

• A strong focus on early intervention, primarily serving children ages 2–7

• Offering both Speech Therapy and ABA Therapy under one roof for a more coordinated, comprehensive approach to care

What Sets Us Apart
• With a strong background in Finance, I’ve seen firsthand how much of the ABA industry has shifted toward private equity and corporate consolidation. As a parent of an autistic child, my approach is fundamentally different. Our focus isn’t on the bottom line—it’s on building a team of people who share the same commitment, compassion, and drive to improve every single day.
• We uphold exceptionally high clinical standards. Our BCBA leads with integrity, individualized care, and a deep dedication to ethical practice. She shares our vision of continuous growth and brings that mindset into every aspect of her work with children and families.
• We operate intentionally as a small, relationship‑driven clinic. Every child and family receives personal attention, and we maintain a close‑knit environment where communication is always open. I make it a priority to remain just a phone call away whenever a parent needs support.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The qualities that have contributed most to our success are a genuine, deeply rooted commitment, a positive attitude, and an optimistic outlook—the kind that comes from being parents of an autistic child first and business owners second. Every decision we make begins with a simple guiding question: “Would this be good enough for our own child?” That perspective shapes how we hire, how we communicate with families, how we support our staff, and how we uphold the highest standards of clinical care.

This commitment shows up in our consistency, transparency, and our willingness to improve every single day. It keeps us humble, keeps us learning, and keeps us focused on what truly matters: delivering meaningful, ethical, high‑quality care to the children and families who trust us.

Building a team that reflects—and complements—these values is essential to our success. In addition to Karina Garcia Capetillo, who helped us build the clinic from the ground up, our Operations Assistant, Jackie Flores, exemplifies these same qualities. She was promoted from within after serving as an RBT, and her dedication, work ethic, and alignment with our mission made her a natural fit for a leadership role.

Erica Johnson, the first RBT we onboarded, set an outstanding example for all future staff. Her strong work ethic and positive attitude established the standard we continue to uphold today.

Rosa Nagle, our first RBT graduate, has shown exceptional curiosity and a genuine passion for learning. Her commitment to growing in the field of ABA and her consistently positive attitude have had a meaningful influence on the entire team.

Our remaining team members—Kindalynn Hulse, Yas “Zaire” Moore, Karmen Lee, and Rebecca Ordones—share these same qualities. Together, they form a well‑rounded, dedicated team that truly reflects the values we prioritize as a clinic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://speechandaba.com/fulshear
• Instagram: speechandabafulshear
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speechandabaFulshear