Home › ABA Therapy – NJ & PA
ABA Therapy in NJ & PA
What Is ABA Therapy?
At GentleCare, our ABA therapy in NJ and PA is built on applied behavior analysis (ABA), a science-based therapy that helps children learn new skills and change behaviors in ways that are meaningful for them and their families. Proven principles of how children learn guide every strategy, activity and goal in your child’s ABA therapy sessions.
Applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy, uses what we know about learning and behavior to understand and change behavior in ways that improve a person’s life and well-being.
The goal of ABA therapy is to help people make meaningful and lasting changes in their lives. Because ABA focuses on creating positive change for each person, ABA therapy must be individualized to reflect the unique interests, goals, and characteristics of each child.
Before beginning ABA therapy, a dedicated Care Coordinator will gather more information about your child and your family. You will complete an intake form and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will use this information to select the best tools to use during your child’s initial assessment. They will then perform a comprehensive assessment for your child and observe your child’s behavior at baseline, paying close attention to environmental changes that lead to certain behaviors. Based on these observations, the BCBA will develop a treatment plan that is individual to your child and focuses on their current strengths and needs. The BCBA outlines a clear, manageable timeline of treatment goals and then reviews the plan with you and your family. We incorporate the whole family into the treatment process, ensuring you can support your child with confidence during and after completing our program.
During ABA therapy sessions, ABA therapists use various evidence-based teaching approaches, including:
- Establishing small goals for behavioral improvements and gradually moving toward larger, more significant behavioral changes.
- Changing the child’s social and learning environments to minimize behaviors that may be harmful or interfere with learning and maximize their progress towards learning new skills.
- Reinforcement, prompting, modeling, peer-led learning opportunities, and other behavioral teaching techniques.
Throughout the ABA process, our therapists collect data about clients’ progress to track their skill-building and behavioral management. We monitor, assess, and discuss behavioral changes and celebrate every win with our clients and their families.
What ABA Therapy Services Does GentleCare Provide?
Focused ABA Treatment
Focused ABA is best for children working toward a limited number of behavioral goals or “targets.” This treatment is not restricted by age requirements, cognitive abilities, or co-occurring conditions.
In general, focused ABA treatment involves some or all of the following goals:
(a) Targeting and reducing an acutely problematic behavior, such as:
- Self-injury
- Aggression
- Threats
- Pica
- Elopement (running away or wandering off)
- Feeding and mealtime challenges
- Other forms of noncompliance and disruptive behavior
(b) Improving behaviors for a small number of key functional skills, such as:
- Instruction-following
- Social communication skills
- Sleep hygiene
- Self-care skills
- Safety skills
(c) Personalized caregiver training sessions led by BCBAs, teaching methods to reinforce positive behaviors and foster development.
Comprehensive ABA Treatment
Comprehensive ABA treatment, also referred to as early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), is best for children working toward multiple goals within multiple developmental domains, including cognitive, communicative, social, emotional, and adaptive functioning.
EIBI is one of the most common forms of comprehensive treatment and seeks to increase the child’s overall skill repertoire.
A comprehensive ABA program may be recommended for children:
- Who require individualized teaching across a number of different foundational skill areas (like language, social interactions, independent play, and daily living skills)
- Who engage in more frequent or more severe levels of behaviors that may be harmful or interfere with learning—such as tantrums, noncooperation, aggression, and self-injurious behavior and other complex concerns.
While each treatment plan is uniquely tailored to the specific child, a comprehensive ABA program generally involves:
- 25 to 40 hours of direct treatment per week, provided by a behavior technician, plus direct and indirect supervision by a BCBA
- Personalized caregiver training sessions led by BCBAs, teaching methods to reinforce positive behaviors and foster development.
- Working 1:1 with an ABA therapist and in small groups, as appropriate.
Social Skills/Small Group ABA Program
Social skills ABA services might be appropriate for children who would benefit from additional coaching and guidance during social interactions and when building social relationships. Social skills ABA therapy is usually provided in small groups of children or adolescents who have similar goals and social needs.
In these groups, children are supported by ABA therapists and BCBAs as they work on a range of social interaction and relationship skills such as sharing and turn-taking, making conversation, and understanding and navigating social situations.
What We Offer
Using evidence-based treatment in a relaxed, engaging environment allows children to learn in a naturalistic setting.
Care Where You Need It
Experience expert care where you need it. We offer center, home, and community-based ABA services.
Individualized Support
An individualized treatment plan is designed for each child. Our services can include ABA therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.
Trainings & Workshops
We host free monthly “Navigating Autism” workshops for families, providers and the community, covering a wide range of autism-related topics.
Social Skills Groups
Our Gibbsboro, NJ Center hosts our early childhood ABA program and ABA-based social skills groups.
In-Home & Community-Based ABA Therapy in NJ & Greater Philadelphia
GentleCare provides in-home and community-based ABA therapy for families throughout New Jersey, from South Jersey and Camden County to Central and North Jersey, and across Greater Philadelphia. Our clinical team offers individualized support, caregiver training and more, in the comfort of your home, so your child can grow and thrive in everyday life.
Individualized In-Home Services
We come to you! Your family will be matched with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a Behavior Technician who deliver individualized services built around your child’s interests and everyday life at home. Our in-home ABA therapy uses a naturalistic approach to focus on:
- Increasing communication
- Promoting socialization
- Practicing adaptive skills
- Reducing challenging behaviors
Caregiver Training
Your BCBA will provide you with resources, support, and Caregiver Training. Caregiver Training aims to increase the use of ABA strategies at home and equip caregivers with the skills and materials they need to extend therapy benefits outside of sessions.
Collaborations
With your consent, your BCBA is able to collaborate with other members of your child’s team to ensure consistent approaches between professionals. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Doctors
- Speech Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Teachers
Your BCBA is also available to support you during IEP meetings.
Full-Day Center-Based ABA Program in Gibbsboro, NJ
Our 1:1 individualized ABA therapy program at our Gibbsboro, NJ center serves children across Camden County and South Jersey, with flexible hours built around your child’s needs and your family’s schedule.
Our Autism Therapy Center in Gibbsboro, NJ
Our state-of-the-art autism center in Gibbsboro, NJ serves children in and around Camden County and South Jersey. It includes clinical treatment rooms, a play gym and outdoor play area, training rooms, a library, an art and sensory room, quiet spaces and more.
