ABA Therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis is an evidence-based approach to teaching functional skills and reducing behaviors that interfere with daily participation. Here is what that means in practice.
- ABA teaches functional skills in measurable steps: requesting, following routines, participating in play.
- Instruction is play-based and built around your child motivation and current skill level.
- Parent training is written into the plan, so skills generalize beyond the session.
Jump to:
- What ABA is
- When an evaluation is warranted
- What treatment involves
- What we target
- Parent training
- How to begin
- Questions parents ask
What ABA is
Applied Behavior Analysis examines how behavior is learned, and how the environment either supports or interferes with it. In practice that means identifying why a behavior occurs, then teaching a more effective alternative.
We begin with an assessment: your child preferences, current skill level, and the function of the behaviors that concern you. From there we set individualized, measurable goals and teach them in graded steps, reinforcing progress so that new skills are maintained.
Skills are taught in the settings where they are needed, at home, at school and in the community, so that they generalize. Progress is recorded at every session, and the plan is revised when the data indicate it should be.
- It is not intended to make a child indistinguishable from peers.
- It is not punitive, and it is not limited to table-top drills.
- It is not delivered without the family.
Ethical practice centers the child dignity and assent, and the family priorities. The objective is communication, autonomy and participation.
When an evaluation is warranted
- Difficulty requesting or expressing needs, with resulting frustration.
- Marked distress around transitions or changes in routine.
- Limited engagement in play or interaction with peers.
- Daily routines such as dressing, mealtimes or sleep onset are consistently disrupted.
- Behaviors that present a safety risk to your child or to others.
- An autism diagnosis, or a physician referral for ABA.
A diagnosis is not required in order to request an evaluation. If ABA is not the appropriate service, we will say so and direct you to the discipline that is.
What treatment involves
- Assessment. Preference assessment, a baseline of current skills, and a functional assessment of the behaviors of concern.
- Individualized plan. Measurable goals, written with you and prioritized by what matters in your household.
- Graded instruction. Each skill is broken into components and taught to mastery, using your child own motivation.
- Reinforcement. Progress is reinforced so that the behavior is maintained over time rather than only during sessions.
- Data review. Every session is recorded, and the plan is revised on the evidence rather than on impression.
What we target
Requesting, refusing, making choices and being understood.
Dressing, mealtimes, sleep routines and morning transitions.
Turn-taking, sharing, joint attention and sustained engagement.
Regulation during transitions and unexpected events.
Reducing reliance on prompts across everyday routines.
Replacing unsafe or interfering behaviors with functional alternatives.
Parent training
Generalization depends on what happens between sessions, which is why parent training is written into the treatment plan rather than offered alongside it.
We teach the specific procedures you will use at home, a small number at a time, and review them at each visit. If a procedure does not fit your household, we replace it with one that does.
How to begin
- Contact us. Describe what you are observing at home. That is enough to start.
- Assessment. We evaluate current skills, preferences and the function of the behaviors of concern.
- Individualized plan. Measurable goals, reviewed with you and coordinated with your child physician and school.
For coverage, here are the plans we work with.
Questions parents ask
How soon should we expect progress?
It varies by child and by goal. Some targets change within weeks, others take considerably longer. What is consistent is that progress is measured, and you see the same data we do.
Is my child the right age for ABA?
ABA is used from early childhood through adolescence. The procedures change with age and developmental level. The principles do not.
How involved do I need to be?
Parent training is a component of treatment, not an optional extra. You do not need to attend every session, but you do need to be part of the plan.
Can ABA run alongside other therapies?
Yes, and coordination generally improves outcomes. All five disciplines are in one clinic and share findings. How that coordination works.
What does it cost?
Costs and payment, explained plainly, including private pay and Step Up.
Keep reading
- What ABA therapy actually is, and what it is notThe method, the evidence, and the criticism, addressed directly.
- Developmental signs by ageWhen it is worth requesting an evaluation.
- Five therapies, one teamHow our disciplines coordinate around a single child.
- What insurance covers in FloridaHow coverage works for pediatric therapy in this state.
Unsure whether ABA is indicated?
Describe what you are observing at home and we will tell you whether an evaluation is warranted.