It doesn’t matter if you have a child who’s on the autism spectrum or typical, you want the best for them. This is especially true when it comes to ABA therapy in Valdosta because you want your child to have the best available therapy to help him or her learn the skills they need to be able to interact with their community. At Compass Behavioral & Developmental Consultants, we know how important it is to make sure your child is getting the best ABA therapy available, so we have a few questions you can ask when trying to choose a therapy center.

What do proper therapy sessions look like?

ABA therapy doesn’t necessarily look the same for everyone who goes through it. For some children, it’s going to be very structured and repetitive. This helps the child learn how to label specific objects as well as focusing on the task at hand for a short period of time. Teaching labeling can be done by using flashcards or small objects that are presented to the child and rewards are given based on their ability to properly identify them.

For other children, ABA therapy looks very different. It can be based around play to help teach verbal skills and how to deal with changing activities. Teaching verbal behavior often comes with the child requesting activities or toys based on labeling. As they’re able to properly label an item, they’re able to get it to play with. This play is given based on a predetermined amount of time so they can eventually learn how to transition away from it.

How often can my child go to therapy?

The amount of time spent in therapy is recommended based on the original autism diagnosis. For some children, four hours for two or three days each week is sufficient. Those who have a greater need for therapy might spend eight hours each day of the week getting therapy. The therapy center you choose for your child must be able to accommodate the recommended time each week to therapy.

How involved should parents be in therapy?

Parental involvement is a big piece of effective ABA therapy. The things that your child is learning at the therapy center should be able to transfer to their home life and you can play a major role in instilling these skills into their everyday life. Additionally, you’ll help to make decisions regarding the approach to therapy as well as some of the skills that you believe your child could benefit from the most. As a parent, you should be concerned if a therapist or the center doesn’t want you involved in the process.

Can my child get in-home therapy in addition to clinical?

At-home ABA therapy is a great supplement to clinical therapy as it allows your child to learn in a more practical environment. Not all therapy centers will offer in-home therapy but it’s an excellent way to ensure that your child is learning the things that you want as well as providing you with a chance for hands-on involvement in therapy.

Contact us to learn more about our ABA therapy

At Compass, we can work with your child through the applications and principles of ABA therapy Valdosta. Get in touch with our team to learn more about our available therapy services and how we can effectively work with your child with autism. Give us a call at 800-832-9419 or send a message using our online contact form and we can get you in touch with our office nearest you.