What does an ABA therapist do?

An ABA therapist works one-on-one with a child to teach everyday skills like communication, play and self-care, following a plan a supervisor writes.

On most teams, the person with your child day to day is a technician, often a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). They run short teaching activities, reward new skills with praise or something your child likes, and record data every session. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) assesses your child, writes the treatment plan, reviews the data, supervises the technician and changes goals as your child progresses.

Sessions can happen at home, in a center, at school or by telehealth. Many BCBAs also coach parents, so the same strategies work at meals, bedtime and errands. When you compare providers, ask who will actually work with your child.