What To Expect From In-Home ABA Therapy

At Trumpet Behavioral Health, we understand that all children are unique, so their treatment locations should be, too. We offer ABA therapy at our autism treatment centers, and also provide home- and community-based services. Your Trumpet therapy team will work with your family to decide which therapy location works best for your child, or if they would benefit from a blend of settings.

Today, we’re going in-depth into in-home therapy to discover why we offer this type of treatment, how to prepare for it, and what your family can expect if in-home therapy is recommended for your child.

When Should ABA Therapy Be Done At Home?

In-home ABA therapy is helpful when establishing routines or behaviors that should happen in the home. For example, when practicing hygiene or family interactions, home-based therapy can help children with autism learn valuable skills in the target environment, making it easier for them to replicate this skill on their own. Additionally, since the home is a familiar environment, this type of ABA therapy can help children feel more comfortable learning new skills before they practice them in different environments. Ultimately, your therapy team will discuss your child’s goals with you and determine the best setting of care to help your child reach them.

READ MORE: Home-Based vs. Center-Based Therapy

If your ABA therapy team decides your child would benefit from in-home autism treatment, they’ll coordinate your child’s start date with you and help you prepare for his/her therapy sessions. Luckily, ABA therapy is flexible and can be done almost anywhere – therapists just need a structure for teaching and some basic materials for implementation. However, there are a few tips you can follow to make sure your child’s in-home session is successful:

• Ensure there is a dedicated space for the therapy team to work in. The space doesn’t have to be big, and can even be an area of a room that’s typically used for other things. To find the perfect location, check with your therapy team to see what kind of skills they’ll be practicing with your child.
• Make sure there are toys and activities your child enjoys available to the therapy team to use.
• Before the session begins, make sure your child isn’t engaged in an activity they really love. Instead, they should be doing something relatively neutral – this way, when the therapist offers fun activities, your child will be motivated and engaged in the session. If your child is doing an activity they’re really interested in and have to stop, he/she will be less likely to want to go to therapy.

What Is In-Home ABA Therapy Like?

In-home therapy treatments blend instruction in structured settings (like sitting at a table or on the floor) with instruction in the natural environment (like the kitchen, bedroom, or family room). The location of each session is determined based on the goals of your child’s treatment plan. Younger children tend to spend more time in natural environments, so their sessions may look a lot like playtime. As your child ages, more structure and routine is typically established, so sessions may take on more of a school or lesson format. Additionally, self-help and adaptive skills will likely be integrated into your child’s autism treatment plan as they age. This means in-home ABA therapy may give your child the opportunity to practice life skills like brushing their teeth, making a snack, or taking a walk using safety skills.

If you’re wondering if in-home ABA therapy is right for your child, contact us at Trumpet Behavioral Health. Our team will conduct a completely individualized assessment and create a unique treatment plan that addresses your child’s specific needs and identifies the ideal setting of care.

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