Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy can provide immense benefits for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related developmental disabilities. Finding the right ABA professional is key to ensuring your child receives comprehensive, individualized treatment. Asking the right questions during your search can help you determine if a potential ABA clinic will be a good fit.

Credentials and Training

• Are you a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)? These rigorous certifications ensure the provider has received adequate supervised training at the Masters or Bachelors level respectively.
• How many years have you been practicing? More years of experience typically translates into greater expertise fine-tuned over many hours with clients. Newly certified BCBA professionals may still be developing their skills.
• What ongoing training or professional development do you participate in? The field of ABA is rapidly evolving, so it’s crucial providers engage in regular professional development to stay current. Continuing education demonstrates a commitment to implementing state-of-the-art techniques.
• Do you have training in specific methodologies like RFT, PRT or VB? Specialized certifications in recognized ABA models like Relational Frame Theory (RFT), Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) or Verbal Behavior (VB) may suit some children’s unique needs better versus generic ABA.

Assessment and Treatment Plans

• How do you perform initial assessments and determine treatment goals? The assessment process provides crucial insights into the child’s unique deficits and problem behaviors so therapy can be tailored appropriately.
• How often do you re-assess progress and update treatment plans? Goals should regularly evolve based on the child’s improvements so they are always working toward the next developmental milestones.
• How are goals and objectives selected? Goals should target the most impairing symptoms or behaviors. Input from parents, teachers and other providers ensures goals will enhance functioning.

Intervention Techniques

• What specific techniques do you utilize in sessions? Understanding the provider’s typical techniques, such as discrete trial training or incidental teaching, allows you to assess if the approach aligns with your child’s learning style.
• How do you address challenging behaviors like aggression or self-injury? Ask about function-based interventions to get to the root cause of maladaptive behaviors. Punitive methods should raise a red flag.
• How is play, creativity or the child’s interests incorporated? Child-directed play boosts motivation. The best ABA programs blend structure with fun.

Family Involvement

• How are parents/caregivers involved in therapy? Collaboration with family is essential, so ask how they integrate parent goals and training.
• Do you provide parent training? Training families enables managing behaviors consistently across home and therapy settings.
• How is family feedback incorporated? A strong ABA behavior analyst will actively solicit feedback and adjust protocols based on family input.

Logistics

• How often are sessions and how long do they last? Duration and frequency need to realistically fit into your family’s schedule and availability.
• Is therapy clinic-based or in-home? In-home sessions support generalizing skills into the natural environment. Clinic settings though offer other children to model.
• What is the cancellation policy? Understand policies around rescheduling or cancellations in case plans need to change.

Data Collection & Progress Monitoring

• How is progress tracked during sessions? Detailed data allows identifying the most effective techniques to maximize progress.
• How often will we receive progress reports? Frequent and transparent communication of progress is essential.
• How is data accuracy/consistency ensured? Consistent data collection and progress monitoring enables meaningful, apples-to-apples comparisons.

Philosophy & Approach

• What is your overall philosophy toward ABA therapy? Seek an approach fitting your family values around learning and behavior goals.
• How do you stay current with ABA research and best practices? Lifelong learning is key in this rapidly evolving field.
• Can you share testimonials or references from past clients? References can provide valuable insights into families’ experiences.

Collaboration with Other Providers

• How do you collaborate with other providers like speech therapists? Multidisciplinary collaboration benefits the child, ensuring aligned goals across ABA and other therapies.
• Do you participate in school meetings and collaborate with education teams? Enables reinforcing ABA goals in the classroom.

Why Choose Apollo Behavior for Your Child’s ABA Therapy?

Finding the right ABA therapy provider for your child can feel overwhelming. You want to ensure your child receives truly individualized care from experienced professionals.

Our passionate team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) offer a blended approach to ABA therapy incorporating the latest advancements.

At Apollo Behavior, we integrate Relational Frame Theory techniques into sessions to foster natural language development through play. This modern behavioral perspective makes learning engaging and meaningful.

In addition, we provide:

• One-on-One Focus – Each child receives a personalized ABA program tailored to their needs. Strategies align with principles of ABA to ensure effectiveness.
• Center-Based Group Sessions – Your child will develop social, communication, independence and life skills through group routines guided by our experienced BCBAs and RBTs.
• Parent Training and Support – We collaborate closely with families through parent coaching and training to ensure consistency across settings.
• Customized Progress Assessments – Your child’s development is continually monitored with customized assessments to update goals and strategies.
• Evidence-Based Techniques – Our behavior analysts adhere to the latest research and best practices in ABA methodology.

At Apollo Behavior, our passion is empowering children with autism to reach their full potential. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and schedule a consultation to discuss your child’s specific needs.