💛 What Does ABA Therapy Actually Look Like?
When families first hear the term Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), it can sound intimidating or overly clinical. You might picture worksheets, data charts, or strict routines — but in reality, ABA looks much more natural than most people expect.
At its core, ABA therapy is about understanding why behaviors happen and how we can teach meaningful skills that make life easier and more fulfilling for your child and your family.
What ABA Really Is
ABA is an evidence-based approach rooted in decades of behavioral science. It focuses on improving communication, learning, social interaction, and daily living skills through individualized, measurable teaching methods.
In simple terms, we look at:
What your child is trying to communicate through their behavior.
What skills can help them express themselves more effectively.
How to create positive, motivating experiences that help those new skills stick.
ABA isn’t a one-size-fits-all model — and it’s not about “fixing” or “changing” your child. It’s about building skills that help them connect, communicate, and feel more confident in their world.
What a Typical Session Looks Like
Every program is individualized, but most sessions at Play to Learn Behavior Therapy combine both structured and natural learning opportunities. Here’s what that might look like:
1. Rapport Building
The first few minutes are about connection. We engage with your child’s interests — whether that’s bubbles, music, or a favorite toy — to build trust and motivation.
2. Skill Teaching
Once engagement is established, we target specific goals using a mix of structured trials and natural teaching moments. For example, your child might practice:
Requesting items using words, pictures, or gestures
Following short directions
Taking turns during play
Identifying emotions
Participating in daily routines
Teaching happens through evidence-based methods like Discrete Trial Training (DTT) for focused skill-building and Natural Environment Teaching (NET) for real-world generalization.
3. Positive Reinforcement
Children learn best when they’re motivated. Reinforcement might be verbal praise, access to a favorite activity, or simply your child’s joy in mastering something new.
4. Data Collection
While sessions look playful, therapists are continuously collecting data — not to judge, but to track progress and make sure the strategies we use are working.
Parent Collaboration: The Most Important Piece
We believe that therapy doesn’t end when the session does. Parents are central to the process.
After each session, we review what went well, what your child is working on, and how to reinforce those same skills at home. We also model strategies — so you feel confident using them during meals, playtime, or transitions.
That consistency between therapy and home is what drives long-term success.
What Progress Really Looks Like
Progress in ABA isn’t just about new words or completed checklists. It’s about the everyday wins that make your family’s life more connected and less stressful:
Your child learning to request what they need instead of melting down.
Sitting through dinner together without frustration.
Playing with peers for the first time.
Feeling more understood — and more capable.
Those moments might look small, but they represent enormous growth.
What Makes Our Approach Different
At Play to Learn Behavior Therapy, we integrate the science of ABA with the understanding that children learn best through connection and play.
Our sessions are engaging, purposeful, and tailored to each child’s learning style.
We focus equally on skill development and emotional regulation — helping children build not just new behaviors, but also confidence, self-awareness, and independence.
We’re not just teaching children what to do — we’re helping them understand why it matters in a way that feels natural, safe, and empowering.
From the Desk of Anita Tomic, M.S., BCBA
When I think about what ABA therapy really looks like, I don’t think of data or graphs — I think of problem-solving, teamwork, and growth.
It’s watching a child who once struggled to express themselves learn how to ask for what they need.
It’s hearing parents say, “I feel like I finally understand my child.”
It’s progress you can see and feel — not just measure.
At Play to Learn Behavior Therapy, our goal is to bridge science and compassion — providing therapy that’s grounded in evidence and guided by care.
— Anita Tomic, M.S., BCBA
CEO & Behavior Analyst
Play to Learn Behavior Therapy