
What Does an ABA Therapy Session Look Like? A Step-by-Step Guide
What Happens in an ABA Therapy Session?
If you’re considering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for your child, you might wonder, “What does a typical session look like?” ABA therapy is highly individualized, but every session is designed to help children with autism develop skills, reduce challenging behaviors, and build independence.
In this blog, we’ll take you behind the scenes of an ABA therapy session. From the initial assessment to hands-on activities, you’ll learn how therapists work with your child to create meaningful progress in their daily life. Are you looking for personalized ABA therapy for your child? Contact Brighter Tomorrow Behavioral Services to learn more about our in-home and community-based services.
Step 1: Starting the Session with a Warm-Up
Every ABA therapy session begins with a warm-up period to help your child feel comfortable and ready to engage. This step builds rapport between the therapist and your child, making therapy a positive and enjoyable experience.
What Happens During the Warm-Up:
- The therapist greets your child warmly and checks their mood and energy level.
- The session might start with a favorite activity, such as playing with a favorite toy or engaging in sensory play.
- This time helps your child transition smoothly into therapy mode.
- Tip for Parents: If the session occurs at home, you can support the transition by ensuring your child’s therapy space is distraction-free and ready to go.
Step 2: Reviewing the Behavior Plan and Goals
Each ABA session is guided by an Individualized Behavior Plan (IBP) that outlines your child’s specific goals and the strategies used to achieve them. Before diving into activities, the therapist reviews these goals and adjusts the plan as needed.
Examples of ABA Therapy Goals:
- Improving communication skills (e.g., learning to ask for help).
- Developing social skills (e.g., taking turns during play).
- Teaching functional life skills (e.g., brushing teeth or following a daily routine).
- Reducing challenging behaviors (e.g., aggression or tantrums).
How Brighter Tomorrow Helps: At Brighter Tomorrow Behavioral Services, we collaborate with parents to ensure that therapy goals align with their children’s needs and family priorities.
Step 3: Skill-Building Activities Using ABA Techniques
The heart of the session involves working on your child’s goals through hands-on, engaging activities. ABA therapists use evidence-based techniques to teach new skills while making the experience fun and rewarding.
Common ABA Techniques:
- Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Breaks tasks into small, manageable steps with clear instructions and immediate reinforcement. For example, teaching your child to identify colors by prompting and rewarding correct responses.
- Natural Environment Teaching (NET): Teaches skills in real-life contexts, such as practicing “asking for juice” during snack time.
- Positive Reinforcement: When your child demonstrates desired behaviors, reward them with praise, stickers, or access to a favorite activity.
Example Activity: If your child is learning to take turns, the therapist might play a simple board game and use prompts to encourage turn-taking. Every successful turn is reinforced with praise like, “Great job waiting your turn!”
Step 4: Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Real-Time
If your child exhibits challenging behaviors during the session, the therapist responds with strategies outlined in their IBP. The focus is on understanding the function of the behavior and teaching appropriate alternatives.
How Therapists Manage Challenging Behaviors:
- Redirection: Gently shift your child’s focus to a more appropriate activity.
- Modeling Replacement Behaviors: Demonstrating and reinforcing positive behaviors that achieve the same goal (e.g., teaching your child to ask for a break instead of throwing a tantrum).
- Data Collection: Recording when and why the behavior occurs to adjust future interventions.
Tip for Parents: Consistency is key! Collaborate with your therapist to apply the same strategies outside of sessions.
Step 5: Wrapping Up with a Review and Parent Feedback
Every ABA session concludes with a review of your child’s accomplishments and a discussion with parents about the next steps. This ensures that progress continues between sessions and allows parents to stay actively involved.
What Happens During Wrap-Up:
- The therapist summarizes the session, including skills practiced and behaviors observed.
- Parents are encouraged to ask questions and share updates about how the child is doing outside therapy.
- The therapist may provide simple strategies or activities for parents to practice at home.
Example: If your child practices asking for help, the therapist might suggest ways to reinforce this skill during daily routines, such as mealtimes or playtime.
Why ABA Therapy Works: A Personalized Approach
Every child’s ABA therapy journey is unique. At Brighter Tomorrow Behavioral Services, we create customized therapy plans to help your child build confidence and achieve their goals. Using evidence-based techniques and involving parents at every step ensures that therapy is effective and meaningful.
See ABA Therapy in Action
An ABA therapy session is more than just “teaching skills”—it’s about empowering your child to navigate their world confidently. Every session, from fun activities to structured interventions, is a step toward progress.