One of the most important components of Applied Behavior Analysis is the family/caregiver’s involvement in their child’s therapy and development of skills. This involvement comes in the form of the unconditional love and support that each caregiver has always given – that’s what brought them to Trumpet Behavioral Health, to begin with – discussing treatment plans and every step of their child’s program and providing informed consent to treatment and taking part in caregiver collaboration and training.
At Trumpet Behavioral Health, we value the caregiver and provider relationship.
We prioritize and encourage including families as much as they want to be. Additionally, we recognize that both children and their caregivers feel the effects of day-to-day challenges and triumphs. We make sure that caregivers know from the onset of services that they’re welcome to observe any session they want to, and also that they may actively participate in sessions. Part of their participation is to help generalize the skills that their child is acquiring so that they can use and see them outside of the clinical setting and services.
Research shows that caregiver collaboration and involvement provides the best results in services.
Collaboration provides as many chances as possible to help their child with maintaining the ability to be as independent as possible. At TBH, we ask caregivers to get involved in a session anywhere from one to four times per month. Involvement and collaboration with a child’s caregiver may look like a one-on-one meeting with the clinician to review data, and results, and to consult about anything relating to the client. It may also consist of direct involvement in the client’s session, and working with the clinician or therapist to learn how to achieve some goals in a hands-on manner.
Learn more: Parent Training & Support
Caregiver involvement allows us to see and evaluate the progress toward our clients’ short and long-term goals.
It also allows for discussions to happen between the caregiver and clinician regarding programs, and goals, and to revise programs if needed. Additionally, we encourage caregiver collaboration to give caregivers the forum to address any of their questions or concerns to the clinician and to provide training and additional information regarding current programs. When caregivers prioritize involvement with a session, we are able to help them with implementing procedures and targets at home and in their everyday environment so their child continues to thrive beyond therapy.
Regardless of the child, caregiver, or session structure, our primary goal is to facilitate independence and a better quality of life for each and every client we work with. It’s why we are here. It’s why I love my job. And it’s why I love getting to work with clients and their families day in and day out.
If you’re interested in ABA therapy for your child with autism, contact us today.