Focused
ABA Therapy
Not every learner needs a comprehensive program that addresses multiple areas of development at once. Some children and young adults have a specific skill they need to build or a specific behavior that is getting in the way of their daily life.
Focused ABA Therapy is designed for those situations.
Focused ABA targets a limited number of clearly defined goals. It typically involves fewer hours per week than comprehensive ABA and is appropriate for learners who have already developed many foundational skills but need targeted support in a particular area.
ACQ Accredited
BCBA-D led
Accepting new clients
When Focused ABA Is the Right Fit
Focused ABA may be recommended when a learner:
- Has a specific behavioral challenge that is interfering with school, home, or community participation
- Needs to build a particular skill set, such as social skills with peers, self-care routines, or transitioning between activities
- Has completed a comprehensive ABA program and is stepping down to targeted maintenance and generalization support
- Has a primary need in one area, such as communication, but does not require the breadth of a full comprehensive program
The decision between comprehensive and focused ABA is not about severity. It is about scope. A learner with significant needs in one area may benefit more from focused ABA than from a comprehensive program that spreads attention across multiple areas.
Our BCBAs make this recommendation based on the initial assessment and in collaboration with you as the parent or guardian.
How Focused ABA Works at Our Practice
Like all of our services, focused ABA is delivered one-on-one in our clinic setting. Your child works directly with a trained behavior technician, with regular supervision from a BCBA or BCaBA. Programming is individualized, data-driven, and reviewed daily.
The Precision Teaching methods we use across all of our programs apply to focused ABA as well. We are not just teaching your child to perform a skill correctly. We are teaching them to perform it fluently, so the skill sticks, transfers to new environments, and becomes part of their natural repertoire.
Sessions may also include community outings when the targeted goals involve public settings, such as learning to navigate a grocery store safely or practicing conversational skills at a library.
Transitioning Between Service Levels
One of the advantages of working with a small, independent practice is that transitions between service levels are handled by the same clinical team that knows your child.
If your learner starts with comprehensive ABA and makes progress to the point where a focused program is more appropriate, the BCBA who has been overseeing their care is the same person making that recommendation and adjusting the program. There is no handoff to a new team, no re-learning your child’s history.
The same is true in reverse. If a focused program reveals that a learner needs broader support, we can expand to a comprehensive program without disruption.
Get in Touch
Ready to Get Started?
If you are not sure whether your child needs comprehensive or focused ABA, that is completely normal. Most families are not expected to know the answer before they call.
Our intake process includes an assessment that will help our clinical team determine the right level of service, and we will walk you through the recommendation together.
Request a Free Consultation
Contact Information
Phone
(574) 204-2745
welcome@southbendautism.com
Address
2909 S Michigan St, South Bend, IN 46614
Hours
Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun: Closed