A look inside an ABA Session

Interested in what your ABA session may look like? While each person’s needs vary, there are common features that are frequently seen in a typical ABA Session. Please use this as guide.

Feature 1- Pairing

In simple words, much of a typical ABA session is spent building relationships. This can be done by playing with the individual’s favorite toy or activity. For children, play is their natural language. This means in order for our work to be successful, we must ensure we are honoring this.

When you first begin ABA, pairing is the only goal. For the first 1 or few sessions, your ABA therapist will simply be curious about your child’s likes/dislikes. This looks like joining in on your child’s interests. The ABA therapist will also share their own cool play ideas during this time. For a parent, this may initially seem counter intuitive when there are goals they are focused on achieving through ABA; but building a relationship is one that should not be skipped. When it is time to implement goals, your therapist will begin with really easy goals and increase difficulty over time, under the direction of their BCBA.

Feature 2- Providing Choices and Positive Reinforcement

Your session will be spent infused with choices for your child’s day. Often children choose activities or toy items they really love. We are happy to ensure they are not only requesting for these things, but getting their needs met as a result. Positive reinforcement is also done through verbal praise(such as “amazing job!"). Using the science of behavior analysis, positive reinforcement is necessary to shape new behaviors. Our sessions are heavily enriched with this, and typically provided on a schedule determined by the BCBA.

Feature 3- Instruction

We provide instructions and teach through the session. We may use common objects found in the environment or we may use picture cards or books. When we begin teaching we use prompting to fade our assistance so that your child may respond independently at some point.