What is ABA?

Written by: Dr. Karla Heredia, Psy.D., LMFT

Our BCBA therapists provide one-to-one services, meaning your child gets the full, undivided support of an expert.  Additionally, we offer family training, which helps parents and siblings learn how ABA works and understand how they can support their loved ones.  

We are committed to providing kids and families in our community with the resources they need to adapt, learn, and grow.  If you are interested and ready to sign up, contact us today to get on our schedule.  To learn more about ABA and how it can help, read on!

WHAT IS APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA)?

ABA is a structured therapy method and gold-standard treatment option for addressing behavioral issues, learning difficulties related to autism and other neurodevelopmental differences, and more.  ABA therapy can only be provided by an expertly trained clinician known as a BCBA, or Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.  

First, your BCBA will conduct a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) to help pinpoint the target issues to focus treatment around.  This allows the BCBA to specifically tailor and adapt treatment to the needs of the individual.  

Next, the BCBA works one-on-one with the child to do skills training and behavioral reinforcement.  Behavioral reinforcement simply involves using rewards to shape and promote progress towards the goal.  For example, if a child struggles with interrupting others in conversation, the therapist will reward them for waiting their turn to speak.

Finally, as your child makes progress and learns new skills, your therapist will adjust the goals and identify new behavior targets.  Over time, your child can learn to become more functional and independent.  

In addition to individual work, ABA also includes family training and support. With the right knowledge and guidance, parents and families can make a dramatic positive impact on their child’s progress.  

Family training is designed to help you: 

·  Understand underlying issues that cause behavioral difficulties

·  Learn ways to respond to emotional outbursts

·  Discover strategies for improving your child’s wellbeing

·  Utilize expert resources and support in the community.

If you, your child, or a loved one are struggling, the team at Heredia Therapy Group is here to help. Contact us today to get started.

WHAT DOES ABA THERAPY TREAT?

ABA therapy is evidence-based for treating a wide range of behavioral issues. Some common examples might include:

·  Difficulty with daily tasks (e.g., brushing teeth, eating, cleaning)

·  Poor academic performance

·  Poor social skills and other communication difficulties

·  Rule-breaking

·  Harming oneself or others

·  Anger outbursts

·  Maladaptive behaviors

·  Motor skill issues (e.g., learning to write)

·  And more

Sometimes, these issues are caused by trauma, such as abuse or neglect.  Sometimes, they happen as the result of developmental differences (such as autism, ADHD, learning disability, etc.) which make adapting and socializing difficult.  And sometimes, issues can crop up because of the home environment, such as inconsistent rules or parent conflict.  This is why BCBA therapists work both with the individual and the family to help get everyone on the path to wellness and functional success.  

We know what it’s like to struggle and worry about loved ones with behavioral issues; and, we know things can get better.  No matter how difficult things might seem, there is hope.  

WHAT ABA SERVICES DO HEREDIA THERAPY GROUP PROVIDE?

We are here for you!

Once you get signed up to work with our team, our BCBA therapist will help set up the functional behavioral assessment.  In addition, we also provide a full, comprehensive assessment to cover additional areas of functioning, including: such as communication, social, behavioral, safety, self-help and executive functioning. 

· Intellectual functioning 

· Communication skills

· Safety concerns

· Adaptive functioning and self-help

· Emotional functioning (e.g., depression, social anxiety, etc.)

· School or academic functioning 

· Executive functioning (e.g., attention, organization, planning)

· And more!

Once we know what might be going on and what the diagnosis might include, the BCBA will design an adapted behavior plan for your child’s needs. We can then start a regular schedule for individual ABA therapy and family training.  

In addition to ABA therapy, we also have other resources available to help you and your child, such as social skills training (check out our social skills groups!), individual talk therapy (or counseling), and family therapy.  

If you have questions about our ABA services or would like to sign up today, send us a message!  We would love to hear from you.

INTERESTED? LET’S WORK TOGETHER!

Interested in hearing more about Heredia Therapy Group?  Want to learn more about us?  Check out our Meet the Team section to read about who we are and what we do!  Our hope is that you feel welcome and encouraged so that, when you are ready, we can get started your wellness journey.  

Written by: Written by: Dr. Karla Heredia, Psy.D., LMFT 92394