ABA Therapy: Pros, Cons, and Why I Left the Field
Introduction Hello! If you are a parent of a child with autism considering ABA therapy, or an individual considering working in the field of ABA therapy, I hope this blog post may be helpful for you. In this article I will weigh some of the pros and cons I've found in my experience working in ABA and in reading the criticisms of ABA therapy by others within the autism community. Terms for Reference RBT : Registered Behavior Therapist - works directly with the child or teen to administer ABA treatment plan. BCBA : Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Supervises the RBT and creates the behavioral plan implemented by the RBT. Background I received my RBT certification at the start of 2021 and started working in ABA therapy on a full-time basis, serving kids with autism ages 3-13. After about 6 months on the job, I discovered some of the opposition to ABA online. The criticisms came both from adults with autism and neurotypical professionals who serve clients with autism. I also found m...