If you are a parent considering an ABA therapy session for your child, it is natural to wonder what might entail. Understanding what happens during an ABA session can help set expectations and ease any anxieties you may have. This blog will walk you through a day in the life of an ABA therapy session, highlighting the structure, techniques, and goals that help children learn and grow in meaningful ways.
Individualized planning
Setting the stage
Before diving into a session, it is important to understand that every ABA therapy session is individualized. This means that no two days are exactly alike, as programs are tailored to each child’s unique needs, goals, and preferences. ABA therapists work closely with families to determine what skills are most important, whether it is improving communication, enhancing social skills, reducing challenging behaviors, or increasing independence.
Beginning the session
Establishing rapport
A typical ABA session often begins with a warm greeting. Whether it’s taking a moment to play with a favorite toy or engaging in a preferred activity, therapists use the start of each session to establish rapport and make the child feel comfortable. Establishing a positive relationship is critical for effective learning, as it helps build trust and ensures that the child is ready to participate in activities.
Therapists might also conduct a quick preference assessment, offering a few different items or activities to determine what the child is interested in at that moment. This helps set the tone for a fun and engaging session.
Structured teaching and skill development
ABA therapy often involves both structured and naturalistic teaching. In the structured part of the session, therapists use methods like Discrete Trial Training (DTT) to break down complex skills into smaller, teachable steps. For example, if a child is learning to identify colors, the therapist may present different colored items and provide reinforcement when the child correctly labels them. Each correct response is rewarded, which could be in the form of verbal praise, a high-five, or access to a preferred toy or snack.
Structured teaching is highly data-driven, meaning that therapists keep detailed records of the child’s responses and progress. This helps ensure that interventions are effective and can be adjusted as needed to meet the child’s evolving needs.
Natural environment teaching (NET)
In addition to structured activities, ABA sessions often include Natural Environment Teaching (NET), where skills are taught in the context of everyday play and routine activities. For instance, if the child is learning to request items, the therapist might place a favorite toy just out of reach, encouraging the child to use language to ask for it.
NET makes learning more meaningful by embedding skill development into naturally occurring activities. This helps the child generalize their new skills across different environments and situations, ensuring they are able to use these skills at home, in school, or in the community.
Breaks and reinforcement
Learning can be challenging, so it’s important to balance work with plenty of breaks and reinforcement. ABA therapy incorporates planned breaks and reinforcers to keep the child motivated and engaged. Reinforcers can vary from child to child—some children might enjoy stickers or a favorite snack, while others may be motivated by social praise or time spent playing with a favorite toy.
Breaks are not just a chance for the child to rest; they are also an important opportunity for the therapist to build rapport and engage in fun, unstructured activities that the child enjoys. These moments help foster a positive learning environment and ensure that the child stays enthusiastic about participating in therapy.
Managing challenging behaviors
For many children, ABA therapy also includes strategies to address challenging behaviors. During a session, a therapist might conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) to better understand why a particular behavior is occurring. By identifying the function of the behavior—whether it is to gain attention, escape a task, or access a preferred item—therapists can create targeted interventions to reduce the behavior and teach more adaptive alternatives.
For example, if a child is engaging in tantrum behavior to avoid a task, the therapist might teach the child to request a break appropriately, rather than relying on the challenging behavior. The focus is always on teaching new, more effective ways for the child to communicate their needs.
Social skills practice
ABA sessions often include opportunities for social skills practice, especially if social development is a target area. Depending on the setting, this might involve working with peers, siblings, or even the therapist to practice turn-taking, sharing, making eye contact, or initiating conversations.
For instance, a child might practice taking turns with a therapist during a board game. By reinforcing appropriate social behaviors, the therapist helps the child develop important skills that can be used in real-life interactions, such as at school or during playdates.
Ending the session
Parent communication
A key component of ABA therapy is parent communication. At the end of a session, therapists often take time to share progress, review successes, and discuss any challenges that occurred during the session. This collaboration ensures that parents understand what their child is working on and how they can help reinforce skills at home.
Therapists might provide parents with specific strategies or activities to practice between sessions, such as prompting a child to use words to request items or encouraging social interactions during family activities. By involving parents in the therapeutic process, ABA helps create a consistent learning environment that extends beyond the therapy room.
A typical day, a lifetime of growth
A day in the life of an ABA therapy session is dynamic, engaging, and individualized. It involves a combination of structured teaching, naturalistic learning, social skill development, and ongoing communication between therapists and parents. The ultimate goal is to create meaningful changes that will improve the child’s quality of life, fostering independence, communication, and social engagement.
While every child’s journey is unique, ABA therapy provides a framework for skill development that is tailored to the individual. With patience, consistency, and collaboration, ABA therapy helps children reach their fullest potential, one session at a time.