ABOUT ABA
Myth: ABA is only for young children with autism.
Myths & Facts
Fact: ABA or "Applied Behavior Analysis" is a data-driven therapy that uses the science of behaviorism to identify what environmental factors are responsible for our behavior. Once we learn what motivates us, we can use that information to develop better habits and become the best version of ourselves. Have you ever used a chore chart with stickers for your child? That's behaviorism! Have you ever treated yourself to a glass of wine after completing a stressful work project? That's also behaviorism! We use behaviorism to reinforce our behavior every day. ABA is simply a means of applying those ideas to maximize their effectiveness.
Myth: Anyone can do ABA with the resources we have online nowadays!
Fact: Have you ever been sick and Googled your symptoms? We all know how inaccurate internet sources can be. There is no substitution for a trained professional. All of our professionals have earned at least a master's degree in a field of psychology in addition to the additional years of training they receive to become board certified behavior analysts and registered behavior technicians. Do not be fooled by therapists who claim to provide ABA but have not completed their approved courses or passed the board exams provided by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. These fraudulent practitioners can often do more harm than good! In fact, if you like research as much as we do, check out this 2016 study demonstrating the difference in quality of ABA services supervised by BCBAs vs. non-BCBAs.
Myth: ABA uses restraint, punishment, and other methods that traumatize children.
Fact: This myth has been gaining traction in a variety of online spaces lately. The adults who share these negative experiences today were children at a time when ABA was a very different practice. As a relatively new therapy (developed in the late 1960's), ABA took some time to find its footing. In the same way that doctors no longer put leeches on sick patients, we no longer use outdated techniques like punishment. As professionals bound by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board's code of ethics, we will always use the least restrictive option. Additionally, as evidence-based practitioners, we follow the scientific literature when making clinical decisions, and studies indicate that reinforcement is faster and more effective than punishment in creating behavior change. In short: we at MBT do not support the use of punishment as part of your child's ABA program. We are, instead, in the process of becoming a trauma-informed practice.
Still in doubt?
We understand. While we pride ourselves on our evidence-based practices, research papers are dry and are not for everyone. Sometimes we just need to hear about the lived experiences of a real human being. We hope the following stories can help you gain a new perspective and learn a bit more about ABA today.
Getting started...
Step 1
Funding
Step 2
Agreement
Step 3
Assessment
Milestones Behavioral Techniques accepts reimbursement from Cigna and other international health insurance providers. However, most of our patients receive funding through a Persoonsgebonden Budget (PGB) provided by the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). You can contact your gemeente to inquire about a "gezinscoach," who will help you arrange a budget that best fits your needs. If an initial report is requested to justify funding, we are happy to provide this. We also accept private pay clients.
Once funding has been secured, you will be informed of your rights as a patient. Our service contract provides detailed insight into our policies and procedures and will give you an opportunity to ask any questions or discuss your concerns with us. We will also collect an intake form and an availability form to begin determining which providers are best suited to your schedule and your child's treatment.
After your paperwork has been submitted, a trained member of the MBT staff will schedule the initial assessments to determine your child's current performance level across a variety of developmental skills. This can take anywhere from 2 - 6 hours and may be scheduled across multiple sessions. Our assessment methods also often include formal and informal interviews with you and your child to get a clearer picture of the goals you have for the future.
Step 4
Planning
At this point, we will have analyzed and processed the assessment results and assigned a team to your case, including a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and one or more Behavior Technicians (BT or RBT). Your BCBA will need approximately 3 - 9 hours to write your child's initial assessment report, create a profile for them on CentralReach, and design an individualized treatment plan that includes data-tracking and instant analysis to keep you informed every step of the way. We strongly encourage our clients to monitor their child's CentralReach account routinely, as open and constant communication often produces the best outcomes for our patients.
