Your Guide to Choosing an ABA Therapy Location

Choosing a therapist is an important decision, especially when it comes to the care of your child. Finding the right specialists to conduct Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy requires research and can feel overwhelming. This guide will help serve as an outline of what to ask behavioral centers to choose an ABA therapy location.

Important ABA Therapy Considerations:

• Counseling service offerings
• Cost and insurance
• Communicating clearly
• Setting goals and expectations

Using these topics as the start of your checklist, you can feel sure your therapist is answering all of your concerns. If you’re searching for ABA therapy in Michigan or elsewhere, we can help you get started in your search.

Defining ABA Therapy

Before you begin researching ABA therapists in Michigan or local to your area, let’s define ABA therapy.  ABA therapy focuses on the learning and behavior of children with autism or other behavioral disorders.  ABA therapy uses a variety of programs and methods to improve many aspects of an individual’s everyday life:

• Motor skills
• Speech
• Language
• Communication
• Cognitive skills
• Independence

There are even more benefits that ABA therapy can provide to children or adults with behavioral disorders. If your child shows early signs of autism disorder, intervening early on with ABA therapy is critical. By being a keen observer of your child’s behavior, you can learn to spot early symptoms of behavioral issues such as childhood developmental delays.

ABA Therapy Service Offerings

One of the most critical parts of finding a new therapist is making sure they offer the specific type of care you are looking for. You may be searching for a behavioral therapist specializing in ABA therapy, which will narrow down your search results. The Blossom Children’s Center offers ABA therapy to Michigan residents, as well as multiple therapy options.

Services:

• Occupational therapy
• Art therapy
• Speech and language therapy
• General counseling
• Support services

These therapy services may be used for treatment individually or in combination with ABA therapy. An ABA therapist or Board Certified Behavioral Analyst ( BCBA) will develop an individualized and comprehensive ABA therapy plan for each patient.

Cost and Insurance

If you have medical insurance, you may need a primary doctor’s referral to seek ABA therapy so check with your health care provider first. Your insurance can filter and recommend therapy services that are in your network. With insurance, you will want to make sure you know any co-pay or out of pocket costs for each visit. If you seek ABA therapy at our Novi office, you can give us a call or provide your insurance information in the online consultation form to check your coverage with our center.

Understanding the coverage and cost of therapy services is critical, especially when long-term care is likely on the table. Whether it’s your insurance provider or a therapist’s office, there are plenty of ABA therapy resources to help you learn if your insurance is accepted and if the out-of-pocket is suitable for you.

Communicating Clearly with Your Therapist

It’s essential to have an open communication line with your child’s ABA therapist, especially from the start. This open communication will stem from a clear understanding of the behavioral challenges your child has been facing. From your first phone call or consultation, be prepared to discuss the challenges your child may be facing in detail.

To better prepare, take some time to jot down a list of key talking points – you can even start by including your child’s daily routine as this is an integral part of improving behavior. You can also keep a list of any challenges or inappropriate behavior such as outbursts. Be sure also to note any areas of delays like speech and communication. This way, your ABA therapist has a full view of the extent of your child’s behavioral disorder and can come up with a personalized therapy program.

Setting Goals and Expectations of your Therapist

Once a clear understanding of your child’s needs is established, you can request a follow-up meeting where the ABA therapist can present goal setting and a program plan. You don’t have to commit a therapist after the first meeting – instead, work with them to set expectations of the type of therapy your child may expect under their care. Review these examples of types of questions to ask your ABA therapist to help guide the conversation.

You can brief yourself on some counseling approaches to better understand what your therapist might suggest. Check out the ten most common counseling approaches you may encounter here.

ABA Therapy in Michigan

When it comes to finding a therapy center, location also plays a large factor. Blossom Children’s Center is an ABA therapy center based in Michigan that also offers various specialized therapy services. Our office is optimally located in Novi to serve patients seeking ABA therapy in Southeast Michigan. Finding an office local to you can also offer support in terms of nearby events that your child may find beneficial or entertaining.

Our team comprises occupational therapists, behavior analysts, speech and language pathologists, and other highly-trained professionals with the common goal of improving behavior to enhance lives. If you are interested in finding ABA therapy in Michigan, learn more about our team and therapy services to get started, or give us a call at our Novi office to ask any questions you may have.

Finding the Right Fit for ABA Therapy

On the journey to finding the right ABA therapist, you may not find the perfect match right away. Be cautious that introducing a therapist to your child will be an adjustment but take comfort in knowing that your therapist will be working tirelessly to make the transition smooth. Don’t be afraid to ask any and every question of your ABA therapist.

Living with autism disorder can be taxing for the individuals or their support group. Children and parents need to understand the connection between mindfulness and autism disorder to help ease life stresses with autism disorder. We don’t want finding the right therapist to be another strain in your life, so let us help you answer any questions you may have about ABA therapy.

Visit our Novi office or schedule a consultation with the Michigan ABA experts at Blossom Children’s Center to get started.