How ABA Is About More Than Just Behavior

When it comes to ABA Therapy - or Applied Behavior Analysis - many people immediately jump to the conclusion that the purpose of therapy is solely about behavior modification. While it’s an understandable assumption, modern ABA therapy like what Bloom Behavioral Healthcare practices is about so much more than that. 

Behavior tends to be an outward reflection of what is going on inside, often things the child doesn’t fully understand yet or know how to express. For children with autism, overwhelm comes easily. Sensory issues, transition difficulties, communication struggles, emotional dysregulation, or even a combination of all of the above can show up as what appears to be a behavioral problem. It’s actually a lack of tools and skills needed to navigate situations in a way that makes sense to them. The core goal of ABA therapy is to look beyond the behavior to understand what’s happening under the surface. From there, we can work on building skills that will improve daily life. 

Skills Built Through ABA Therapy

At Bloom Behavioral Healthcare, our approach revolves around each child as an individual. We’re not trying to fit any child into a societal mold that attempts to change who a child is. We discover each child’s strengths and build on those through structured support that encourages healthy growth. As these skills grow, behavior will shift as your child grows more empowered. 

Communication

One vital skill addressed within ABA therapy is communication. A lot of frustration can stem from feeling like their needs are not being heard or met. Using ABA methods, we work with your child to improve their ability to communicate in ways that feel natural and accessible to them. This doesn’t necessarily mean through spoken word. Communication can come in many ways, including with visual aids, gestures, body language, and more. The priority is to find the best method for the child so they can fully express their needs, preferences, and feelings with less frustration. 

Emotional Regulation

Emotions can be tricky, especially when a child is unsure exactly what they are feeling. ABA therapy aims to improve emotional regulation by teaching children how to identify their feelings, as well as ways to recover when those feelings can’t be remedied right away. This takes time, with these skills improving through repetition and small, manageable steps that match the child’s specific circumstances. As they begin to understand their feelings, their confidence will increase and make these big feelings seem less overwhelming.

Social/Relationship Skills

In ABA therapy, we also work on building connections and strengthening relationships. This doesn’t look the same for each child, but generally speaking we work on supporting foundational skills such as taking turns, being flexible, holding attention, and being aware of social cues. In practice, these pieces will build over time to make your child feel more empowered and confident through interactions with peers and family. 

Independence and Autonomy 

We believe strongly in the importance of developing independence and autonomy. Supporting independence may look like encouraging and improving daily routines, self-care tasks, transitions, or problem-solving skills. As children grow more confidence in these skills, even a small amount of independence can empower them to participate more fully at home, school, or anywhere they may go, while showing up as themselves. That confidence can also make it easier for a child to voice their opinions and advocate for themselves. 

How Bloom Behavioral Healthcare Can Help

Bloom Behavioral Healthcare understands that growth goes far beyond behavior. Our main purpose is to meet your child where they’re at, working with them and your family to create an individualized plan that supports communication, emotional regulation, social development, confidence and more. We do this with your child’s unique personality in mind - we never want to change who a child is, just help them more fully understand how to navigate life in the ways that work best for them. 

If you’re interested in learning more about how ABA therapy with Bloom can support your child’s development, we’d love to chat with you! Contact us today to learn more about our services.