ABA Therapy for Parents: Your Guide to the Basics
For caregivers who are curious about Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy, we’ve put together a quick guide to ABA therapy for parents that covers the basics. Keep reading to learn what ABA therapy is, how it works, and more of the essentials you need to know if you’re thinking of pursuing ABA therapy for your child.
What is ABA Therapy?
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy is a popular, evidence-based approach for managing the behaviors of children and adults with autism.
The primary focus of ABA therapy is behaviors and consequences – i.e., positively reinforcing wanted behaviors and giving appropriate negative consequences for unwanted behaviors. ABA therapy is also useful for gaining a better understanding of the function that certain behaviors serve for your child so their needs can be met in more productive ways.
Benefits of ABA Therapy Training for Parents and Children
Studies have shown both short- and long-term benefits from the ABA approach. Working with an ABA therapist can:
Reduce problematic behaviors in the home, at school, and in other social settings
Identify the unmet needs behind certain behaviors
Create and measure clear behavioral goals for your child
Improve a child’s confidence, communication skills, and social acuity
For parents, ABA therapy offers a solution for behavioral modification that centers around their child’s unique needs. Rather than simply trying to get them to act in a more “appropriate” manner, ABA therapy is tailored to each individual, with narrow goals and challenges that give your child more of the skills they need to succeed at home and in the outside world.
How ABA Therapy Works
There are a wide variety of techniques used in ABA therapy. A trained, board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) will perform a comprehensive assessment to determine what techniques will be most helpful with your child and what their individual goals are.
Some of the techniques used include:
Differential reinforcement
Task analysis
Prompts
Extinction
Each technique has proven benefits in behavior modification. And while they work in different ways, the core principles are largely the same: using positive or negative stimuli to help children learn wanted behaviors and prompt positive behaviors involuntarily.
By linking positive stimuli to desired behaviors, you increase the likelihood of these behaviors. You also give children with autism a predictable framework for figuring out what’s expected of them and when.
Brief History of ABA for Parents
ABA therapy has been around for more than six decades. It was developed by behavioral psychologist Ivar Lovaas with the express purpose of helping children with autism.
In its earliest iterations, ABA therapy was criticized for focusing too heavily on negative consequences for problem behaviors. Modern ABA therapy, however, does not use harmful punishments and is based on positive reinforcement (praising wanted behaviors) and elimination of stimuli (withholding rewards).
Despite its problematic origins, ABA therapy has evolved into a widely accepted approach for behavioral modification. Today’s ABA therapists are highly trained in effective techniques that address unwanted behaviors gently and without harsh negative reinforcements.
What Does an ABA Therapy Session Look Like?
ABA therapy is highly individualized, so it’s hard to say exactly what a session may look like for your child.
Sessions may be performed in a therapy office or in everyday settings like a classroom or at home. At Autism Specialty Group, our ABA process includes one-on-one sessions between a child and an assigned therapist, with each session lasting a minimum of two hours. Generally, a child will do 10 to 25 hours per week of ABA therapy as determined to be medically necessary.
Choosing an ABA Therapist
So what should you look for in an ABA therapist? Training and experience are both key, and a good therapist will have no trouble providing you with their qualifications. You should also look for “BCBA” after the therapist’s name to ensure they are board certified.
Beyond these basics, you’ll also want to ask some questions to determine whether a specific therapist will be the right choice for your child. Some questions you may want to consider:
How will you determine behavioral goals for my child? How will you measure their progress?
How do you think my child, in particular, will benefit from ABA therapy?
What role do you expect parents to play in the ABA therapy process? Will you provide us with resources and exercises we can use on our own?
Go with your gut when choosing an ABA therapist, keeping in mind that your child will be spending many hours per week with them. It’s important that the therapist is someone you and your child communicate well with and that they’re eager to meet your child where they’re at in terms of current behaviors and skills.
More ABA Resources for Parents
Autism Specialty Group offers additional resources to help you and your child succeed within the ABA therapy framework. Visit our blog to read more about ABA therapy, or contact us to schedule a consultation.
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