When parents first hear about ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) therapy, many have preconceived notions about what it involves. Unfortunately, these misconceptions can prevent families from accessing the most proven effective treatment for autism. Let’s separate the myths from reality and show you what modern, compassionate ABA actually looks like.
The Biggest Misconceptions About ABA
Myth 1: “ABA is just rote learning where children become like zombies”
Reality: Modern ABA is the complete opposite. As one of our clinicians explains: “It’s not true that all learning takes place at the table in a highly structured ‘drill’ format. Depending on the goals of the individual child, a program typically consists of intensive teaching sessions, natural environment teaching sessions (NET), and social or play goals as well.”
What makes our approach different is that we focus on:
- Play-based teaching methods
- Child-led learning
- Respecting the child’s autonomy
- Encouraging motivation through positive reinforcement
- Celebrating small victories
Myth 2: “ABA uses punishment and harsh methods”
Reality: We use reinforcement-based strategies exclusively. Our approach is founded on positive reinforcement, not punishment. We believe that reinforcing positive behaviours is the most effective way to shape long-term behaviour.
As stated in our clinical approach: “Currently, there is consensus in the field that intrusive methods should not be used as first choice treatments, and should only be used in the few situations when more proactive, positive-based strategies have been given due course and demonstrated to not be effective.”
Myth 3: “ABA only uses candy to teach new skills”
Reality: Any comprehensive program run by qualified professionals will continuously do a thorough analysis of what motivates your child to want to learn. This may include stickers, tickles, toys, and many other individualized motivators – not just food.
We focus on finding what naturally motivates each child and use those interests to make learning engaging and meaningful.
What Sets Our Modern ABA Apart
We’ve Been Doing Naturalistic ABA for Nearly 20 Years
While other clinics are just catching up, naturalistic teaching and holistic approaches have always been our foundation. As our leadership explains: “Now with the landscape of the ABA field and where it’s going, there’s a lot of emphasis on naturalistic teaching, holistic teaching, multidisciplinary. That has always been our approach. Other clinics are just catching up to that now.”
Our Approach is Comprehensive and Individualized
We don’t treat the diagnosis – we treat the child and the family. It doesn’t matter if your child has autism, social skill delays, behavioural challenges, Down syndrome, or ADHD. We work with families to help children be successful regardless of the label.
We Create Willing Learners
The first step in any effective program is creating a willing learner through what we call “pairing with reinforcement.” This means:
- Making yourself and the environment fun and reinforcing
- Giving lots of “freebies” – non-contingent reinforcement
- Finding out all the things your child loves
- Becoming essential to their play while making everything enjoyable
- Building meaningful relationships between your child and their therapists
The Problem with Inexperienced Providers
Unfortunately, not all ABA providers deliver the same quality of service. We often see families who come to us saying: “I was at this other clinic and they were doing natural teaching, but my child didn’t learn any skills. They just followed my child around for three and a half hours.”
The difference is expertise and experience. It is quite complicated to teach a child naturally who has autism – you have to be very skilled in how to do that. What happens with some clinics who don’t have the expertise is that they might say they do child-based, child-led, play-based, natural environment teaching, but they’re not really doing it effectively. They’re just following the child around like at a daycare.
We’re not a daycare – we’re a therapeutic clinic and we do really good intensive teaching. But we do it in a way that’s natural and effective.
Our Historical Foundation in Excellence
Industry-Leading Training
When we first opened our clinic, we had Dr. Sundberg, who developed the VB MAPP assessment that all clinics use, come and train us. We got specific training from organizations on natural environment teaching that no longer exist, giving us historical roots in this naturalistic approach.
Commitment to Evidence-Based Practices
We showcase our dedication to professional development through:
- Constant learning and conference attendance
- Staff presenting at conferences
- Investment in extra training and certifications for our team
- Being industry leaders rather than followers
As one of our senior staff noted: “We just had one of our behaviour analysts present at a conference two weeks ago. We also go to conferences and do presentations. So we have this whole concept of being industry leaders.”
Why Families Choose Modern ABA
Real Results from Real Families
One parent shared: “We can’t tell you how many parents come in who have gone to another clinic for play-based therapy. And within the first month we have their child talking because the therapist just followed the kid around.”
Another family explained their decision: “When we found out our child had autism, what concerned us the most was the high percentage of autistic people who never communicate verbally. We wanted our child to talk. We spoke with other providers and were discouraged to find out sign language and other forms of non-verbal communication were focused on heavily. Our provider assured us that they would work as hard as they could to not sell our child short and to try to get him verbal.”
The Portia Family Approach
We often talk internally about all of our clients as our “Portia family.” It’s a family vibe where children develop meaningful relationships with staff, therapists, and other families. This creates an environment where children want to learn and engage.
What Modern ABA Actually Looks Like
Natural Environment Teaching
- Learning happens in play-based settings
- Skills are taught during naturally occurring opportunities
- Children learn through activities they enjoy
- Teaching is embedded in fun, engaging activities
Compassionate and Holistic
- Focus on communication and social skills
- Child-led programming that follows the child’s interests
- Rapport building as the foundation
- Positive reinforcement as the primary teaching tool
Family-Centered
- Parent training and support
- Sibling training when appropriate
- Grandparent and extended family training
- Support for the whole family system
Don’t Let Misconceptions Hold Your Child Back
If you’ve been hesitant about ABA because of outdated perceptions, we encourage you to learn about modern approaches. The question isn’t whether ABA works – over 30 years of research confirms its effectiveness. The question is finding providers who implement it with skill, compassion, and expertise.
Has ABA failed you before? Come in for a free screening and speak to a clinician. Many families have found success with our approach after disappointing experiences elsewhere.
Experience the Difference
Modern ABA, when implemented correctly by experienced professionals, creates an environment where:
- Children are happy and engaged
- Learning is natural and fun
- Families feel supported and empowered
- Progress is measurable and meaningful
Don’t settle for outdated methods or inexperienced providers. Your child deserves the gold standard of care that combines proven effectiveness with compassionate delivery.