There is a lot of information available on the internet about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and ABA Therapy, and much of it can be confusing. Our list of frequently asked questions is intended to help answer the most common questions we often hear from parents and caregivers and help to clear any confusion that may exist.

Do you have further questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Care Team today!

What is ABA Therapy?
Therapies rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) are based on the science of learning and behavior. ABA therapy was first developed in the 1970’s and has decades of research to support its effectiveness for making meaningful changes in individual behavior. These changes are made by modifying an individual’s environment to support and reinforce the behaviors and skills that will promote independence and continued development of essential skills. ABA therapy has evolved tremendously through the years and is now inclusive of ethical obligations and improved practices to ensure it is applied in a compassionate, trauma-informed, and least intrusive manner, as well as a responsibility to obtain assent from clients whenever possible.  There are many teaching methods and approaches which fall under the umbrella of ABA. It is endorsed by the U.S Surgeon General and is the current therapeutic gold standard to improve the lives of those affected by autism.

What does ABA Therapy do?
ABA therapy, when done correctly, not only decreases excessive undesired behavior like aggression and other potentially dangerous behavior, but can also help improve an individual’s attention, understanding of communication, social skills, safety skills, regulation of emotions, as well as increase language and expressive communication skills.

When should my child get started with ABA Therapy?
Your child should begin ABA therapy as soon as possible after receiving an autism diagnosis. Research has proven that the earlier kiddos begin receiving therapy, the greater the likelihood of learning and retaining long lasting and life changing skills. Additionally, the sooner therapy begins, the sooner a child can begin catching up on the critical skills that will promote desired levels of independence and development as he/she grows older. Every child learns at a different pace and may face unique barriers which may impact the rate of learning.  InBloom provides therapy with kiddos as young as 2 years old and our team creates personalized therapy plans to promote continued growth and advancement for each kiddo.

How are parents involved in therapy?
Caregiver involvement is critical to getting the most out of ABA therapy. Research has shown that caregiver participation results in positive outcomes across a variety of different skills and behaviors. InBloom, as well as insurance payors, require caregivers to be involved in coaching/education sessions at least twice per month. Throughout the course of therapy, individual goals are set for caregivers to support their progress, as well as their child’s progress. Coaching sessions are conducted by your child’s Board Certified Behavior Analyst and involve a high level of collaboration to ensure that the skills targeted for therapy are those that are most meaningful and impactful for your child and for your family.  Additionally, the caregiver coaching sessions are necessary in order to promote generalization of desired skills and behavior across a variety of settings, situations, and people. It is most often the case that kiddos need some help learning how to transfer their acquired skills outside of the context of therapy and across different people.

Where does ABA Therapy take place?
Research has shown that ABA therapy provided in a structured learning environment leads to higher rates of learning. So that is why InBloom initially provides most direct services in our learning centers. Given it is important to ensure the skills and desired behavior learned in the center setting transfer to a child’s life outside of the center, specific sessions are planned in a child’s home and community to work on this generalization of skills. Additionally, caregiver coaching and practice sessions are planned with the ABA team outside of the center to ensure a child’s desired behavior and acquired skills transfer to the other settings and caregivers who are a part of his/her day-to-day life.

How many hours per week will my child be in therapy at your learning center?
InBloom focuses exclusively on comprehensive care for kiddos entering our program. Depending on your child’s individual needs, time in therapy may range from 20-40 hours per week. As your child meets his/her goals and progresses, the amount of therapy time prescribed is reduced. Simply put, we want your child to succeed and demonstrate overall independence with the skills that are most meaningful for him/her, as soon as possible, so that ABA therapy is no longer needed. We look forward to celebrating every graduation from therapy.

How does InBloom provide ABA?
InBloom’s facilities and clinicians create an environment conducive to providing an abundance of learning opportunities where kiddos thrive and achieve amazing things.  There are a variety of teaching approaches that fall under the ABA umbrella. Some examples of the ABA approaches implemented at InBloom include: Verbal Behavior Therapy, Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT), Natural Environment Teaching (NET), Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), Incidental Teaching, etc. 

The methodologies used depend on your child’s needs with regard to learning and also the targeted skills and goals. The methods used are individualized to achieve optimal results. At first, some approaches may be highly structured with less distractions and less variation in their presentation. Other approaches are less structured and more naturalistic in their presentation, with some learning opportunities being intentionally contrived and some others occurring spontaneously. No matter the method, our therapy team follows the kiddo’s lead to help ensure he/she is having fun and staying motivated. More often than not, they don’t even realize they are learning in the process. That is always our goal! 

InBloom’s learning centers also have dedicated spaces for mealtimes, arts and crafts, circle time, and other activities. Circle time is a group activity where kiddos work on a variety of group skills and social skills with their peers. Some examples of skills worked on in circle time include, greeting peers, responding to peers, sitting in a group, attending to a story, participating in songs and games, imitating peers, taking turns, and much more.

How does InBloom make sure we have an amazing therapy team?
We hire only the best clinical professionals in the industry to work on our team. Each member of the team goes through an extensive interview process, rigorous training program, and very detailed background and reference checks. Additionally, ongoing training is provided for every clinician at every level. We hold firm to our mission and believe that our team members should never stop learning and improving. All ABA clinical team members receive monthly and quarterly performance evaluations and competency checklists to ensure exemplary performance is acquired and maintained.

What is the age range of kiddos who receive therapy at InBloom?
Kiddos who are new to our program are between the ages of 18 months and 5 years. As your kiddo’s skills develop to the point where they can successfully attend school, we continue to offer comprehensive services for them up to 12 years old. Each kiddo, no matter their age or developmental level, receives a personalized plan to help them reach their individual goals.

Is therapy at InBloom one-on-one?
Yes, each kiddo has a therapy team that consists of one Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). Therapy is delivered in a one to one ratio. One RBT to one kiddo at a time.

Questions about insurance can be answered by visiting our Insurance page here.