ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy is a research-based therapy that helps children with autism learn everyday skills, such as communicating, playing with other children, following routines and handling frustration. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) builds a plan around your child’s goals, and therapists teach each skill in small steps with lots of practice and praise.
Reviewed by Kristen Vaughn, BCBA, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Apollo Behavior. Last reviewed November 2026.
How does ABA therapy work?
ABA is based on a simple idea: behavior that gets a good result tends to happen again. Therapists use that idea to teach new skills and to replace behaviors that cause problems with better ways for a child to get what they need. Therapy follows the same steps for every child:
Assessment. A BCBA watches your child, talks with you and uses standard tools to see what your child can already do and where they need help.
Goals. The BCBA writes a treatment plan with specific, measurable goals, such as asking for a snack with words, signs or a device, or using the toilet.
Teaching in small steps. Each skill is broken into steps your child can learn one at a time. Therapists show the step, help as needed and then fade their help.
Reinforcement. When your child uses a new skill, they get something they like: praise, a toy, a favorite activity. That makes the skill more likely to happen again.
Tracking progress. Therapists record data every session. The BCBA reviews it and changes the plan when something isn’t working.
Using skills in real life. Skills are practiced with different people, in different places and during everyday routines, so your child can use them at home and school.
What skills does ABA therapy teach?
Communication: first words, asking for things, answering questions, and other ways to communicate such as signs, pictures or a speech device.
Social and play skills: sharing, taking turns, joining a game, playing near and then with other children.
Daily living skills: toilet training, eating a wider range of foods, dressing, washing hands.
School readiness: sitting in a group, following directions, waiting, moving from one activity to the next.
Behavior: replacing tantrums, aggression or self-injury with safer ways to ask for help, a break or a favorite item.
What does an ABA therapy session look like?
For young children, most ABA therapy looks like play. A therapist might use bubbles to teach a child to ask for “more,” a toy car race to practice taking turns, or snack time to practice choosing between two foods. Some skills are taught in short, focused sessions at a small table, and the rest are practiced during play, meals, bathroom routines and transitions.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): a clinician with a master’s degree and national certification. The BCBA assesses your child, writes the treatment plan, supervises therapy and meets with parents.
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT): a trained, certified therapist who works one-on-one with your child and follows the BCBA’s plan.
Parents: parent training is part of ABA. Your BCBA shows you how to use the same strategies at home so your child’s skills carry over.
What are the main ABA teaching methods?
Discrete trial training (DTT): short, structured practice of one skill at a time, with clear instructions and immediate praise. Read more about DTT.
Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI): a comprehensive program for young children, usually under 5, with many hours of ABA each week across all areas of development. Read more about EIBI.
Natural environment teaching (NET): teaching during play and daily routines, following the child’s interests.
Pivotal response treatment (PRT): play-based teaching that targets key skills, such as motivation and responding to more than one cue, that help many other skills improve.
Task analysis: breaking a routine like handwashing into small steps and teaching them in order.
Functional behavior assessment: working out why a challenging behavior happens so the BCBA can teach a better way to meet the same need. Learn about the four functions of behavior.
It depends on your child’s age, needs and goals. Programs that focus on a few specific goals may be 10 to 20 hours a week. Comprehensive programs for young children who need help in many areas are often 25 to 40 hours a week. Your BCBA recommends hours after the assessment and adjusts them as your child progresses. See how ABA hours are decided.
When should ABA therapy start?
ABA can start as soon as your child is diagnosed, and many children start between 18 months and 5 years old. Children who start younger often make larger gains, because they are learning during a time of fast brain development. Read why early intervention matters.
Does ABA therapy work?
Decades of research support ABA for children with autism, especially for building communication, daily living and social skills and for reducing challenging behavior. Results depend on how many hours a child receives, how early they start and how closely the plan is followed at home.
At Apollo, 72% of children who complete 12 months or more move on to school. For children who start at age 3 or younger, that number is 84%. See how we measure outcomes.
Is ABA therapy covered by insurance in Georgia?
Usually, yes. Georgia law requires many insurance plans to cover autism treatment, including ABA, and Georgia Medicaid covers ABA for children under 21 with an autism diagnosis. Children who don’t qualify for Medicaid based on family income may qualify through the Katie Beckett program. Apollo is in network with Anthem, Cigna, Optum, Kaiser, Aetna and Georgia Medicaid, and our team checks your benefits before therapy starts.
Common questions about ABA therapy
Is ABA therapy only for children with autism?
ABA is used for many kinds of learning and behavior needs, but it is known mainly as a therapy for autism, and most insurance coverage for ABA requires an autism diagnosis.
Is ABA therapy all drills at a table?
No. Modern ABA, especially for young children, is mostly play-based. Short, focused teaching is mixed in with play, meals and routines, and therapists follow your child’s interests to keep them motivated.
Will my child need ABA therapy forever?
No. ABA is meant to build skills so your child needs less support over time. As goals are met, the BCBA lowers hours and plans a move to school or other services.
Apollo Behavior has 20 ABA therapy centers across Georgia, from Acworth and Johns Creek to Columbus and Warner Robins, and most families start therapy 2 to 6 weeks after their first call. Find an Apollo center in Georgia, call 404-410-7600 or fill out our new client form.
What Is ABA Therapy?
ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy is a research-based therapy that helps children with autism learn everyday skills, such as communicating, playing with other children, following routines and handling frustration. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) builds a plan around your child’s goals, and therapists teach each skill in small steps with lots of practice and praise.
Reviewed by Kristen Vaughn, BCBA, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Apollo Behavior. Last reviewed November 2026.
How does ABA therapy work?
ABA is based on a simple idea: behavior that gets a good result tends to happen again. Therapists use that idea to teach new skills and to replace behaviors that cause problems with better ways for a child to get what they need. Therapy follows the same steps for every child:
What skills does ABA therapy teach?
What does an ABA therapy session look like?
For young children, most ABA therapy looks like play. A therapist might use bubbles to teach a child to ask for “more,” a toy car race to practice taking turns, or snack time to practice choosing between two foods. Some skills are taught in short, focused sessions at a small table, and the rest are practiced during play, meals, bathroom routines and transitions.
In center-based ABA, children also spend time with other kids, which gives them daily practice with social skills. See what a typical day at an ABA center looks like.
Who provides ABA therapy?
What are the main ABA teaching methods?
BCBAs also use approaches such as concept formation and relational frame theory to teach more advanced language and thinking skills.
How many hours of ABA therapy does a child need?
It depends on your child’s age, needs and goals. Programs that focus on a few specific goals may be 10 to 20 hours a week. Comprehensive programs for young children who need help in many areas are often 25 to 40 hours a week. Your BCBA recommends hours after the assessment and adjusts them as your child progresses. See how ABA hours are decided.
When should ABA therapy start?
ABA can start as soon as your child is diagnosed, and many children start between 18 months and 5 years old. Children who start younger often make larger gains, because they are learning during a time of fast brain development. Read why early intervention matters.
Does ABA therapy work?
Decades of research support ABA for children with autism, especially for building communication, daily living and social skills and for reducing challenging behavior. Results depend on how many hours a child receives, how early they start and how closely the plan is followed at home.
At Apollo, 72% of children who complete 12 months or more move on to school. For children who start at age 3 or younger, that number is 84%. See how we measure outcomes.
Is ABA therapy covered by insurance in Georgia?
Usually, yes. Georgia law requires many insurance plans to cover autism treatment, including ABA, and Georgia Medicaid covers ABA for children under 21 with an autism diagnosis. Children who don’t qualify for Medicaid based on family income may qualify through the Katie Beckett program. Apollo is in network with Anthem, Cigna, Optum, Kaiser, Aetna and Georgia Medicaid, and our team checks your benefits before therapy starts.
Common questions about ABA therapy
Is ABA therapy only for children with autism?
ABA is used for many kinds of learning and behavior needs, but it is known mainly as a therapy for autism, and most insurance coverage for ABA requires an autism diagnosis.
Is ABA therapy all drills at a table?
No. Modern ABA, especially for young children, is mostly play-based. Short, focused teaching is mixed in with play, meals and routines, and therapists follow your child’s interests to keep them motivated.
Will my child need ABA therapy forever?
No. ABA is meant to build skills so your child needs less support over time. As goals are met, the BCBA lowers hours and plans a move to school or other services.
Do I need a diagnosis before starting ABA?
Insurance usually requires an autism diagnosis to pay for ABA. If your child doesn’t have one yet, Apollo offers autism diagnostic evaluations. For next steps after a diagnosis, see what to do the first week.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Georgia?
Apollo Behavior has 20 ABA therapy centers across Georgia, from Acworth and Johns Creek to Columbus and Warner Robins, and most families start therapy 2 to 6 weeks after their first call. Find an Apollo center in Georgia, call 404-410-7600 or fill out our new client form.
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