start here: Learn About ABA Therapy and Support Options
What is ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)?
ABA Therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis)
the application of principles of behavior to make meaningful and lasting change. It seeks to understand how behaviors are learned and how the environment affects such behaviors. ABA based therapy is a flexible treatment plan that follows a set of guiding principles that can be adapted to individuals in a variety of settings.
What ABA Therapy Offers:
Step-by-step teaching tailored to each child’s needs
Focus on communication, social skills, and independence
Learning through play and everyday routines
Support available at home and in our clinic
Guidance and training for parents, caregivers, and educators
ABA Therapy Can Help With:
Communication Challenges – building language, speech, and non-verbal communication
Social Skills – learning to share, take turns, make friends, and interact with others
Daily Living Skills – such as eating, dressing, brushing teeth, and following routines
Behavioral Concerns – reducing tantrums, aggression, self-injury, or repetitive behaviors
Learning Skills – improving focus, following instructions, and completing tasks
Play and Leisure Skills – developing imagination, creativity, and cooperative play
School Readiness – preparing children to participate successfully in classroom settings
Independence – encouraging problem-solving and self-help skills for everyday life
KEY principles
Rewarding a skill to encourage it to happen again.
Example: A child says “water,” and the therapist gives them a drink right away. This motivates the child to keep using words.
Giving help when needed, then slowly reducing support.
Example: At first, a therapist guides a child’s hand to brush their teeth, then gradually steps back until the child can do it independently.
Teaching a skill step by step.
Example: A child learning to tie shoes first practices holding the laces, then making a loop, and eventually tying the full knot.
Showing a behavior so the child can copy.
Example: The therapist waves “hello,” and the child copies the wave, learning a new social greeting.
Helping a child use skills in different settings.
Example: A child learns to ask for help during therapy, then practices asking at home, at school, and in the community.
Safely decreasing challenging behaviors by teaching alternatives.
Example: Instead of screaming when frustrated, a child is taught to use words or gestures to ask for a break.
is an ABA approach where learning happens during everyday activities and play, instead of only at a table. By teaching in natural settings—like mealtime, playtime, or community outings—children practice skills in real-life situations, making it easier for them to use those skills outside of therapy.
Common Myths
I’ve heard that ABA therapy is too rigid and its mostly table top activities and flash cards.
ABA based therapies have a lot of variety. They can be done in almost any setting and with materials that are important to the learning targets. A big focus is the incorporation of the client’s interests. With younger learners, that is often done through play and Natural Environment Teaching procedures. With older clients, support plans incorporate projects, discussions, and various activities. Additionally all goals in ABA based therapies are targeted in a way that teaches ways to respond in various situations. This means teaching in the environment and conditions in which the skills are to be utilized in real world settings.
I’ve heard that ABA is only for children with ASD, not for adults and not for neurotypical children.
Research shows that ABA based therapies are effective a teaching skills to all individuals across ages and domains not only children with autism. Behavior Analysis focuses on how learning occurs and best strategies to teach those skill. This included working with children that are diagnosed with developmental differences and those without. Teens and adults can benefit from support in Behavior Management that focuses on building strategies for independence, self-management, and emotional regulation especially with strategies in Acceptance and Commitment Training.
I’ve heard that ABA only address problem behaviors and nothing else.
When we talk about ‘behavior’ in Applied Behavior Analysis, we are discussing just about anything a person does. This can include communicating needs, getting dressed, completing work, planning an activity, or even specific ‘problem behaviors’. Applied Behavior Analysis looks at helping an individual thrive in their environment both by teaching new skills and reducing challenging behaviors.
Addressing challenges is done by first understanding the cause, or function, of the behavior. We know that those challenging behaviors occur either as a form of communication, not knowing particular skills, or environmental difficulties. We then look for ways to change the environment or teach new skills so ‘problem behaviors’ are less likely to occur.
I’ve heard that ABA therapy requires 40 hours a week to be effective.
The amount of support needed varies from person to person. It depends on what skills are being worked on the type of support involved in teaching these skills. For younger learners, it can be helpful to have more hours of ABA support. However, the assumption of having 40 hours of direct therapy is in a session with a therapist is incorrect . Often recommendations are made to increase family or school participation to incorporate ABA strategies throughout the day rather than increasing 1-on-1 sessions with a therapist.