7 Ways a Great ABA Clinic Involves Parents in Their Child’s Care

ABA Therapy, Parent Education

You’re Not Just Dropping Off

Early on, a lot of parents tell us the same thing: ‘I want to help my child, I just don’t know how.’ That’s exactly what a good ABA clinic should help with. For a preschooler especially, what happens at home matters just as much as what happens during sessions.

Here are seven ways a great clinic involves parents, so you know what to look for when you’re choosing a team or checking in on the one you have. At Westside, this is how we aim to work with families, too.

1. They Teach You, Not Just Your Child

Parent training should be built into your child’s plan, not tacked on at the end¹. Good training isn’t a handout. It usually means someone explains a strategy, shows you how it works, lets you practice, and gives you feedback, a method often called behavioral skills training². Ask how often training happens and who leads it.

2. They Set Goals With You

You know what a hard morning looks like and what would make your family’s day easier. A great clinic asks. Ask how the team involves parents in treatment planning and how your priorities show up in your child’s goals³. If something doesn’t feel right for your child, you should feel comfortable saying so.

3. They Share Progress in Plain Language

You shouldn’t have to decode a graph. A strong clinic meets with you regularly to go over data and answer questions⁴. Ask how often you’ll get updates, what they’ll look like, and what the team does when progress slows down.

4. They Give You a Direct Line to the BCBA

Your child’s BCBA designs the plan, so you should be able to talk with them. One red flag is a clinic where all parent communication goes through the RBTs only, or where ‘training’ just means you can observe sessions⁵. Ask how often you’ll meet with the BCBA and how you can reach them between meetings.

5. They Help You Use It at Home and Out in the World

Skills only count if they show up in real life. When parents and other caregivers understand the strategies, they can use them at the grocery store, at bedtime, and on the playground⁶. A great clinic helps you plan for those moments. For example, if your child is learning to greet people, you might practice with siblings or grandparents at dinner.

6. They Listen and Adjust

A plan that looks great on paper might not fit your family’s routine. Maybe the schedule is too tight, or a strategy doesn’t work in your house. A good team wants to hear it and changes the plan. Parents who feel involved in their child’s program tend to report more confidence and more satisfaction with it⁷.

7. They Support the Whole Family

Having a child in therapy affects everyone at home, including brothers and sisters, grandparents, and other caregivers. A great clinic thinks about them too. That might mean helping siblings understand what’s going on, showing a grandparent how to use a strategy, or pointing you toward extra support when family stress is high. Our counseling team is one of the ways we support families who want more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be involved in my child’s ABA therapy?

Parent involvement is a core part of effective ABA. Many insurance plans also require this, because children learn more skills and keep them longer when parents are involved. Your team will work with your schedule and meet you where you are. Doing what you can, with support, is a great start.

How much time does parent training take?

It varies by clinic and by child. Ask how often training happens and how long each session is so you can plan around it.

What if I work full time?

Tell the team early. A good clinic will look for ways to include you that fit your schedule, like meetings at times that work for you or short, focused practice at home.

Can grandparents or other caregivers take part?

Often, yes. Ask the clinic how they include other caregivers so that everyone who spends time with your child is using the same approach.

Here’s more on how family-centered ABA supports parents and siblings.

What if I disagree with a goal?

Say so. Goals should reflect what matters to your child and your family, and a good team will talk it through with you.

You’re an Important Part of the Team

The best ABA clinics make you feel like a partner, not a spectator. If you’d like to see how that looks at Westside, we’d be glad to talk. You can also get a feel for what an ABA therapy session looks like or schedule a clinic tour. Learn more about ABA at Westside, call us at 815-783-2544, or submit a contact form.

Know a parent trying to figure out how involved they should be in their child’s ABA? Share this with them. It might be the answer they’ve been looking for.

Clinically verified by Brenda Boehm, MA, BCBA, LBA, Regional ABA Director, Westside Children’s Therapy

Where to Go Next

• How to Track Your Child’s Progress in ABA Therapy
• Applied Behavior Analysis at Westside Children’s Therapy
• Counseling at Westside Children’s Therapy
• Contact Westside Children’s Therapy

Sources

1. Questions to Ask Before Starting ABA Therapy. Centria Healthcare.
2. Benefits of Caregiver Involvement in ABA Therapy Programs. Family Centered Practices Group.
3. Questions to Ask Before Choosing an ABA Therapy Provider. Possibilities ABA.
4. 12 Questions to Ask an ABA Therapy Provider Before You Enroll. Treetop ABA.
5. The ABA Provider Checklist. Divine Steps Therapy.
6. Family & Caregiver Involvement in ABA Therapy. Behavior Frontiers.
7. Barriers and Facilitators of Parent/Caregiver Involvement in Home-Based Applied Behavioral Analysis Programming. PMC.

Authored By

Brenda Boehm

MA, BCBA, LBA, Regional ABA Director, Westside Children's Therapy

Brenda Boehm holds an MA in Special Education and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA). She has worked in the ABA field since 2000, beginning her career in Wisconsin and building more than two decades of experience supporting children with autism and their families.

Her work has included serving as a Clinic Director in Australia, launching both home-based and center-based ABA programs in Malaysia for families in Malaysia and Singapore, and starting centers in Wisconsin and Illinois before joining Westside as a Regional ABA Director in 2026.

An experienced ABA leader, Brenda brings a strong track record in multi-site leadership and clinical operations, with a focus on clinical quality and operational performance. She is passionate about building mission-driven teams and driving excellence through data-informed decision making, OBM principles, and strategic leadership.

Outside of work, Brenda enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenage sons, walking her dog, playing cards (especially Euchre), and visiting family in Wisconsin.