If you’ve considered starting services with ABA therapists in Texas for your child, you might already know that ABA is considered the “gold standard” of therapy for addressing and improving certain problematic behaviors, ranging from social skills to academic abilities.
But can anyone watch a YouTube video and conduct ABA Therapy? Nope. It has to be administered by qualified ABA therapists.
But what is an ABA therapist and what do they do?
Well, to put it simply, ABA therapists in Texas are licensed clinical therapists who have pursued additional training in the principles and methods of ABA to specifically become an ABA therapist.
In order to become one, they must have the required graduate-level academic experience in ABA principles. The requirements vary for each type of therapist, but most of them hold a bachelor’s degree in a similar field.
Okay, so that’s what an ABA therapist is.
Now, what do they do?
Well, to put it simply again, ABA therapists use strategies such as positive reinforcement to help their patients modify their behavior positively. This happens once their supervising Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) has analyzed the patient’s problems and the way they learn. This knowledge gives them the tools they need to use ABA Therapy to the best of its ability.
Analyze? What do you mean?
Every child is different, so the ABA therapist cannot simply apply a standard method of teaching. They will need to identify the areas that need attention, and from there, they will be able to create goals and skill-building programs for the patient.
But it is important to note that skill building programs are established by the supervising BCBA and are based on the first and ongoing assessments. ABA therapists do not conduct the assessments, and they’re not responsible for designing skill building programs and setting goals.
The BCBA on the team will take on these responsibilities, and will consult the family/caregivers so the most effective and individualized behavioral and skill building goals are created.
So if the BCBA does all that, then what is the role of the ABA Therapist?
Typically, an ABA therapist’s job includes implementation of the Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), skill building lessons (which are commonly known as “programs” in the field of ABA), and engaging in play with their patient, which is usually one-on-one.
They will spend a lot of time engaging in play, conversation and activities with their patient. This helps to establish and maintain rapport and positive relationships.
Play? Why play?
Well, ABA has proven that learning opportunities can be created and captured during play and conversation. The ABA therapist will implement learning into the play, so that to the patient, it seems like they’re just enjoying playtime, when in actual fact, a skill or behavior is being improved.
But what kind of skills?
The skills the ABA therapist could include, and not limited to, are: sharing and turn taking, reciprocal conversation (asking each other questions and answering each other’s questions), imaginative play (pretending to act like characters), waiting and tolerance (such as waiting for your turn or tolerating winning/losing appropriately), pretend play, environmental labeling, and the list really does continue.
The work of an ABA therapist is designed to be dynamic, creative, educational, compassionate, and fun. They are there to implement and improve skills that positively change the way a patient behaves in every aspect of their life.
About Taskids Texas:
As the leading ABA provider in the Dallas and Fort Worth area, we provide individualized treatment plans using a spectrum of scientifically validated therapies. We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor each treatment plan to the individual needs of our patients. We help children and adolescents with Autism and other Developmental Delays reach their goals.
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