Are you feeling tired of and frustrated with continuously repeating instructions and worried about phone calls from school? Are you at your wit’s end, unsure what to try next? You want something practical, something that explains your child’s behavior instead of blaming them.
As a parent trying to understand distressing behavior, you might just turn to Google (or ChatGPT). And if you’ve come across ABA, you’re probably wondering, “what is applied behavior analysis, and how does it actually work?”
At Pennsylvania Comprehensive Behavioral Health (PCBH), we use ABA-informed approaches as part of our Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS). We support children and families across Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, and York counties. Our goal is to turn confusing behavior into understandable patterns and then into teachable skills.
Applied behavior analysis is the science of understanding and changing behavior. It looks at how actions are shaped by the environment; specifically, what happens before and after a behavior occurs.
ABA focuses on real-life situations. It uses data to build useful skills and reduce behaviors that get in the way of learning or relationships.
Practitioners have used ABA for decades to support kids with autism, ADHD, and other developmental or behavioral challenges. It is backed by strong evidence as an effective approach for teaching communication, social skills, and daily living skills.
That’s a mouthful of acronyms, we know, but the ABCs of applied behavior analysis is one of its core tools. We use it to make sense of why a behavior is happening, sense for us, the parents, and your child.
This is what happens right before the behavior. It is the "trigger." Example: You ask your child to turn off the tablet.
This is the specific action your child takes. Example: Your child screams and throws the tablet on the floor.
This is what happens right after the behavior. It’s the result. Example: You give them five more minutes on the tablet just to stop the screaming.
ABA looks at this pattern carefully. If a behavior keeps happening, it’s usually because the consequence is "working" for the child. In the example above, the screaming worked; it got them more tablet time.
By changing the antecedent (how we give the instruction) or the consequence (how we react to the screaming), we can shape new, positive behaviors.
When parents ask about ABA, they’re interested about what it will look like in daily life. ABA isn’t difficult, and it’s not a rigid program that’ll add more stress to your home. Instead, it’s a set of tools guided by a few specific principles.
ABA is an excellent behavioral tool, but it takes time and patience.
We work with behaviors we can see and measure, such as:
Big tasks like "getting ready for school" can feel overwhelming. ABA breaks them down into small, teachable pieces:
Each step is taught, practiced, and reinforced. This helps children who struggle with planning or focus to succeed without feeling overwhelmed.
One of the most important aspects of applied behavior analysis is that it builds skills through positive reinforcement.
In ABA, we don’t view behavior as "bad," but a means to an end for your child. To decrease a challenging behavior (like hitting or screaming), we do two things at once:
If a child screams to get a toy, and we consistently give them the toy to stop the noise, the screaming "worked."
In ABA, we change the consequence so that screaming no longer results in getting the toy. When a behavior stops working, it eventually decreases.
We can’t just stop a behavior; we must replace it. If your child wants a toy, we teach them a better way to ask.
When they see that asking nicely gets the toy faster than screaming ever did, they’ll naturally switch to the new, positive skill.
While ABA is widely known for treating kids (and adults) with autism, ABA is effective for many children, including those with:
ABA is not about labeling a child. It gives them better tools to navigate the world.
Our PCBH team often starts with an FBA. This is a structured way of identifying the "ABCs" of your child's specific struggles. A trained professional observes the behavior to understand what your child is trying to gain or avoid.
Through our IBHS program, we use ABA-informed strategies to provide:
Because PCBH also offers outpatient therapy and psychiatric evaluations, your child gets a full safety net of care.
No. While ABA is the gold standard for autism treatment, its principles (like positive reinforcement and breaking tasks down) are highly effective for ADHD, behavioral disorders, and general skill-building.
Modern ABA focuses heavily on positive reinforcement. We want to catch your child being good and reward that. We aim to teach what to do rather than just stopping what not to do.
Every child is different. Some families need short-term support to fix a specific routine (like bedtime), while others benefit from longer-term support for complex developmental needs. We review progress regularly to adjust the plan.
Not at all. Our goal is to help your child be their best self, not someone else. We teach skills that increase their independence and ability to express their own personality safely.
You can reach out to us directly. We’ll guide you through the process, which usually starts with an evaluation to determine the medical necessity for IBHS or other services.
If your child’s behavior is leaving you feeling lost, we’re here. With the right support, confusing behaviors can become opportunities for growth.
At PCBH, we combine the science of behavior with compassion, so you can find peace in your home again.
Let’s talk about ABA and your family.
Disclaimer: While we hope you find these resources helpful and empowering, please remember that this blog is for educational purposes only. Content found here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or therapy. Every individual’s journey is unique, and we encourage you to consult with a qualified behavioral health professional for personalized care.
If you or a loved one is currently in crisis or experiencing an emergency, please do not wait—call 911 or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 immediately.
