ABA Interventions List

Originally Written for the publisher Wiley’s client: https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/

The types of ABA interventions used to treat behavioral health problems and dysphoric symptoms of autism. Because these conditions are often comorbid with mental health problems like anxiety and depression, one of the types of ABA interventions used is traditional talk therapy.

Applied behavior analysis is used to treat individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), aiming to improve their ability to socialize and communicate while reducing dysphoric symptoms. 

Autism presents itself disparately –it is, after all, a spectrum. That is why ABA interventions vary. In addition, ABA accounts for the fact that, as each case of autism presents itself differently, the remedies will also differ accordingly to some extent. 

The same applies to behavioral health problems, which range from treating underlying personality disorders to treating young children with an intensely disagreeable temperament. 

The core principle of ABA is teaching clients their ABCs: “antecedents, behavior, and consequences.” 

Behavioral health problems often derive from clients lacking a proper understanding of the causal chain of events involved in their behaviors. Therefore, ABA therapy seeks to educate clients on their behaviors through treatment, positive reinforcement, social skills training, discrete trial training, and explicitly antecedent-based interventions. 

Here are the most commonly used ABA interventions by ABA therapists:

Functional Behavioral Assessment

The unique needs of each client in the context of applied behavior analysis make it a highly personalized field of treatment. 

Applied Behavior Analysis considers this at the beginning of treatment and throughout treatment. It also needs to consider that treatment often generates developmental personality changes for clients.

Functional Behavior Assessments are designed to determine how symptoms have affected the client's developmental trajectory and whether the client is a danger to themselves or others. 

The ultimate purpose of functional behavioral assessments is to determine the core cause of behavioral health problems. Therefore, it is a process used not only in Applied Behavior Analysis but also in schools. 

Positive and Negative Reinforcement 

Parents must be highly familiar with the idea of reinforcement by instinct because so many parents use it to discipline their children.

Negative reinforcement is when a negative stimulus is applied to someone to get them to behave in a certain way. For example, taking video games away until the trash is taken out is a form of negative reinforcement. 

Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, is when a positive stimulus is applied to someone directly after they've behaved in the desired fashion. For example, giving a treat after taking out the trash is a form of positive reinforcement. 

Reinforcement ABA intervention techniques are the most commonly used among therapists. They teach clients and clients' parents to practice at home. 

The stimulus in both cases cannot be too intense, and parents unaware of this fact can harm their children unless taught explicitly otherwise. 

When clients learn to use reinforcement techniques, they must learn how to engage with themselves. Therapists can help clients identify behaviors causing distress and advise them to think about those behaviors and what positive and negative stimuli could help avert them. 

For example, the arduousness of job hunting can be so stressful as to deter autistic people from the process altogether. 

In that context, a self-directed reinforcement method could involve rewarding oneself with ample time for hobby activities after completing a reasonable number of job applications –where "reasonable" can be self-defined and become gradually more challenging, but at one's own pace. 

These self-directed methods are often called “behavior contracts.” The agreement you make with yourself in these contracts is that behaviors you want to be encouraged will be rewarded in a specified way –self-punishment is not advisable.   

Causal-Chain of Behaviors 

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and socialize and, as a result, brings about symptoms of sensory dysphoria. 

Often, this results in being perceived among neurotypical folks as "quiet" or "awkward" and even "rude." Unfortunately, this perception alienates those with autism, making symptoms worse and sometimes leading to negative behavioral outbursts. 

The causal chain that led to such an outburst is quite often imperceptible subjectively to someone with autism or a non-neurodevelopmental behavioral disorder.

One might ask themselves, "why did I do that?" and move on without giving it too much thought. But perhaps pondering that question a little longer could have therapeutic benefit –that's at least the philosophy of ABA interventions. 

Not knowing the facts surrounding the events that have occurred in one's life –and even before it—leaves a lot open to interpretation. Someone who is already feeling dysphoria is more likely to give a negative interpretation of events, to the effect of making a mountain out of a molehill. 

Cognitive distortions of this kind can be combatted by deep introspection and dialogue on the facts that led to their arrival in the first place. 

One finds that we are an amalgam of disparate causes, as opposed to reducible to a single cause. Just because all events have a cause does not mean it's the same cause in all cases. 

Knowing this makes asking, "why am I like this?" make little sense, but in a relieving way, as it assumes a single cause that cannot exist. It isn’t our parent’s, society’s, or our own fault for who we are inside –instead, the fault lies with each to varying extents, multiplied by dozens of other equally guilty causes. 

Discrete Trial Training (DTT) 

Therapy is known colloquially as being conducted in a one-on-one setting. Causal-chains of behavior ABA interventions can occur through discrete trial training in one-on-one settings.

Therapists sit with clients and teach them their "ABCs," giving them small tasks to complete and breaking down what occurred at each step. 

For example, an antecedent was asking the client to jump, the behavior was the client's jumping, and the consequence of the jumping was a small reward from the therapist, like a compliment or treat. 

The types of ABA interventions used for behavioral health that use positive reinforcement often involve teaching clients and parents how to augment ABA at home.

DTT is different because a therapist systematically uses reinforcement techniques in therapy sessions, collects data, and adjusts approaches as necessary –typically daily for months and years. 

Modeling 

One of the effects of an impaired ability to communicate and socialize is that it can also impair one’s ability to empathize with others.

ABA interventions are designed to gradually socialize clients to be more capable of empathy –i.e., recognizing other people's emotions and mental states. 

Modeling is a technique used by ABA therapists to aid in this process by providing explicit examples of other people in particular emotional and mental states.

Likewise, modeling provides examples of what's socially acceptable in particular contexts. For instance, showing a video of someone entering a job interview clean and well-dressed and shaking the interviewer's hand while making eye contact. 

The therapist can help clients who have trouble identifying these conventional features of the media being presented to them. They can help encourage clients who understand them to go out into the world and practice!

In some cases, one of the reasons modeling works so well is that clients have never had genuinely positive role models. However, certain media accompanied by a trusted therapist can have a massively positive effect on such individuals. In addition, positive modeling alone fully resolves some behavioral health issues. 

The Core Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis 

Becoming an applied behavior analysis therapist is an extreme service to society. However, it can be profoundly meaningful to practitioners, as you can see the positive development of clients unfold before your eyes in real time. 

Teaching clients their ABCs and doing so with an understanding of their unique health situation is the core principle of applied behavior analysis. In addition, positive reinforcement requires that clinicians know what positively and negatively affects clients, which will range substantially from client to client. 

Making these determinations requires functional behavior assessments throughout treatment. This personalizes the healthcare provided to clients where such personalization is most appropriate. 

The highly personalized nature of Applied Behavior Analysis makes it a highly nuanced clinical field, which is in high demand but with relatively low supply. Given the importance of applied behavior analysis therapists' work, it is vital that more of them emerge.

Careers in applied behavior analysis are available and needed now more than ever. In addition, jobs outside of therapy can be found by having a degree in applied behavior analysis and are paths worth considering for those looking to help others, but at a less intense level. 

The first step in such emergence is going to school. Depending on the state of residence and other circumstances, ABA therapists need rigorous training and educational credentials to practice, along with dozens of hours of supervised and unsupervised experience. 

If you are interested in pursuing a degree in applied behavior analysis so you can start your career as an ABA therapist, click here to learn more about the path!