This article was reviewed by Samantha DeRose, MA, BCBA, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at Spectrum Behavioral Therapies.
What is ABA therapy? Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a form of therapy that helps individuals with developmental disabilities overcome behavioral challenges and develop a variety of essential life skills.
Learning that your child may benefit from ABA therapy can feel overwhelming. Many parents wonder what ABA really looks like, how it works, and whether it will support their child’s growth. You’re not alone—we’ll walk you through the entire process below.
How Does ABA Therapy Help Children?
ABA therapy uses a two-part process to make behavioral improvements:
- Identifying the stimuli that cause a challenging behavior—let’s say a schedule change.
- Teaching better coping mechanisms and more constructive behaviors.
This approach, combining emotional understanding with practical solutions, makes ABA therapy well-suited for children with autism, who may not understand why they have to act a certain way or why a stimulus makes them upset.
What Makes Today’s ABA Approach Different
Modern ABA focuses on compassion, collaboration, and supporting a child’s autonomy rather than enforcing rigid compliance.
To understand what makes today’s ABA different from the past, it helps to understand the beginnings of ABA therapy.
Ivar Lovaas is believed to be the founder of ABA therapy. His work in the 60s and beyond built the foundations of what ABA could be today.
However, the methods Lovaas used are very different from today. The methods emphasized the science of behavior rather than the lived experiences of people. He focused on compliance and on getting rid of what he considered “abnormal” behavior.
While Lovaas made significant improvements in his patients’ language, social, and motor skill development, modern ABA altered his methods to better meet children’s needs—such as using positive reinforcement and teaching skills in a child’s natural environment.
Today’s ABA emphasizes flexibility, respect, and meeting each child where they are. Sessions often involve natural play, hands-on activities, and positive reinforcement to encourage learning in a way that feels comfortable and engaging.
Parents and caregivers are included throughout the process through communication, coaching, and regular progress updates, helping families apply helpful strategies at home and in the community.
| Old ABA Therapy | Today's ABA Therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Compliance, appearing "normal" | The individual; flexibility, learning skills, self-advocacy |
| Methods | Repetition, punishment | Positive reinforcement, natural learning through play, breaking down tasks into smaller pieces |
| End Goals | To fit into society | To live an independent life |
| Parent Involvement | Rare | Preferred |
Is ABA Controversial?
Yes, ABA can be controversial due to outdated practices no longer used today.
Here are the three most common criticisms:
- ABA hurts children: Unfortunately, Lovass’s research included punishment as a way to reduce self-injurious behavior. This technique is no longer used in modern ABA practice. Instead, the focus is on determining what causes self-injurious behavior and helping the child get what they need without using the behavior. For example, if a child scratches themselves when they have sensory overload, ABA therapy would teach them how to alert someone instead of scratching.
- ABA is traumatic: Those with negative experiences from old methods or poor providers may portray ABA therapy as negative. Many people have positive, affirming experiences with a trusted ABA therapist.
- ABA erases the individual: Some people believe that, instead of supporting an individual, ABA therapy erases what makes them unique, and teaches them to be “robotic.” However, modern ABA techniques are designed to be individual and client-driven.
How Does ABA Therapy Work?
ABA therapy works by using a variety of techniques known to positively shape behavior, the most common ones being:
- Positive reinforcement: This technique focuses on rewarding good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior. It makes the ABA process much more pleasant and emotionally safe for the client as they learn.
- Discrete trial training (DTT): DTT essentially takes a big idea—let’s say brushing one’s teeth every day—and breaks it down into smaller pieces. It might focus on the motion of brushing teeth, creating habits around tooth brushing, and following a schedule.
- Natural environment teaching (NET): NET focuses on teaching children skills in a setting where they would naturally use those skills. This can be done through play or in-home ABA sessions.
- Prompt fading: This technique slowly takes away prompts to do things so the client will do them on their own. For example, the ABA technician stops reminding the client to brush their teeth, and the client does it on their own without prompting.
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): AAC is finding other ways to communicate besides talking. These can include facial expressions, writing, drawing, pointing to objects, or using special devices.
Once the ABA intervention plan is created, a behavioral technician will work with the client in daily or weekly one-on-one sessions using a mix of techniques tailored to the individual’s needs.
ABA therapy can happen both at home and in a center—both options have advantages, but one may be better depending on the client’s needs. The most important thing is to build a routine that the client can accept and follow to ensure that progress is made in each session.
How Progress Is Measured in ABA Therapy
Progress in ABA is determined based on your child’s needs and abilities. The ABA therapist should discuss preliminary goals before the treatment plan starts and update you as progress is made.
Progress is measured by signs such as:
- Meeting goals (of any size)
- Consistently achieving a task or showcasing desired behaviors
- Showing signs of independence (getting their own snacks, brushing their teeth)
- Using fewer maladaptive behaviors
- Adapting to change better
- Showing a better overall mood
- Improving communication
- Progressing social skills (making friends)
- Improving duration times
What Happens During ABA Therapy?
First, your child will get an ABA evaluation, which lets the ABA team know what your child needs and where they are developmentally.
An ABA evaluation consists of three steps:
- Gathering data from parents: We’ll ask about your experiences with your child, their medical papers, and their preferences.
- Meeting the child: The team will meet with your child to directly observe them for a more accurate picture.
- Putting everything together: Once the data is collected, the ABA team will create a custom intervention plan and discuss it with you.
From there, the team will follow the plan to help your child grow. This might involve, for example, learning how to share toys or sit still for long periods. How that’s done depends on the intervention plan created by the therapist.
Depending on your child’s needs, ABA could be anywhere between 10 and 40 hours a week, so the team and your child have a chance to create a bond that will allow easier teaching.
7 Common ABA Therapy Goals
ABA goals will be completely customized to your child’s needs, but they often look like:
- Acquiring needs-based communication skills: This can include verbal and non-verbal communication (pointing, pictures, etc.) to identify needs.
- Improved social skills: Being able to interact with peers, learn how to share, and take turns.
- Using coping mechanisms: In situations where a child is overwhelmed, adjusting to change, or is frustrated, they use coping skills instead of maladaptive behavior.
- Increasing independence: Being able to do daily living tasks such as washing hands, changing clothes, etc.
- Reducing maladaptive behaviors: The child doesn’t resort to maladaptive behaviors such as tantrums, self-harming, or yelling.
- Focusing for longer periods of time: For school-age children, being able to sit still and focus on lessons.
- Following directions: Being able to listen, understand, and accurately follow through on given directions.
What Are the Benefits of ABA Therapy?
There are many benefits to ABA therapy for kids. Here are some of its biggest strengths.
1. Is Evidence-Based
ABA therapy is proven to help those with developmental disabilities—especially autism—overcome behavioral challenges and develop important skills. Decades of research and practice have demonstrated its ability to improve people’s lives.
2. Creates Custom Plans
Properly trained ABA therapists create customized plans for their clients since each person has different needs and abilities. This helps ensure the treatment plan and strategies make sense for the individual.
3. Improves Behavior
Through its practical interventions, ABA can improve behavior and minimize instances of self-harm, aggression, temper tantrums, and more.
4. Strengthens Basic Daily Living Skills
For some clients, daily living tasks can be a significant struggle. ABA therapy can help people develop these skills for an easier and more independent life.
5. Improves Social Skills
Socialization is crucial to a happy life, and it’s a skill that many with developmental disabilities struggle with. ABA therapy can develop these social skills by teaching communication, emotional regulation, and social cues—which will help clients express themselves, make friends, and work with others.
6. Focuses on Adapting, Not Masking
ABA therapy is about adapting, not masking. It helps people understand why certain things upset them and provides coping mechanisms, which helps them adapt instead of suppressing their reactions.
7. Can Be a Family Affair
If needed, ABA therapy allows for family participation. This involves teaching parents to better understand how their child engages with the world, which improves their relationship with their child. It also creates a supportive environment for the child as they learn and grow.
8. Can Be Done at Home or in a Center
Depending on the needs of the client, ABA therapy can be done at home or in a center. As mentioned before, each option has its benefits. We’ll recommend which location is best for a child’s progression and continue to evaluate locations as the therapy sessions continue, which helps ensure progress in therapy.
Who Can Benefit from ABA Therapy?
Both children and adults can benefit from ABA therapy. It’s often recommended for those who are diagnosed with:
- ADHD
- Anxiety disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Down syndrome
- OCD
- Sensory processing disorders
- Speech or language disorders
However, anyone who needs support in the following areas can also benefit from ABA therapy:
- Adaption skills
- Behavioral challenges
- Communication
- Daily living tasks
- Developmental delays
- Emotional regulation
- Excess aggression
- Social skills
Discover Quality ABA Services with Spectrum Behavioral Therapies
Now that you know what ABA is, take the next step. Spectrum Behavioral Therapies proudly supports children and families across Orange County, California, offering personalized ABA programs that help each child grow with confidence.
ABA Therapy FAQs
What skills can ABA therapy help develop?
ABA therapy helps clients develop a variety of skills, including motor, social, communication, daily living, coping skills, and much more.
At what age should a child start ABA therapy?
The best time to start ABA therapy is between 18 months and three years old, which is called early intervention. This age range is best because patterns and habits have yet to be fully developed in the brain.
However, a person can benefit from ABA therapy at any age.
How often are ABA therapy sessions held?
ABA therapy sessions usually occur three to five times a week, though the frequency depends on the client’s needs. Talk to your ABA therapist to understand the schedule before starting.
Looking for more answers? Visit our full FAQ page.
