If you're a parent searching for the right ABA therapy provider, here’s what most companies won’t tell you — but absolutely should.
đź’ˇ 1. Training & Development is Everything
Your child will spend hours each week with a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) — not the BCBA. Yet becoming an RBT only requires a 40-hour course. That's less than a week of training.
Now ask:
➡️ How does your provider invest in RBTs after that initial certification?
➡️ Are they paid for non-billable time like mentorship, shadowing, or team debriefs?
If the answer is vague… walk away.
An experienced RBT is more than a therapist — they’re a teammate, a role model, and often feel like family. A provider that doesn’t invest in them, isn’t investing in your child.
📉 2. Turnover Destroys Progress
The average turnover rate in ABA therapy is 103% (source: CentralReach).
That means a child may have 10–15 different therapists over a 5–6 year care plan. Imagine trying to build trust — again and again — when communication, safety, and routine are everything.
Great providers protect their culture. They:
Set high hiring standards
Pay fairly
Avoid burnout
Treat their people with deep respect
🏡 3. Access Should Be Unlimited
You deserve more than surface-level updates.
You deserve real access — to the RBT, to the BCBA, even to the CEO.
Ask:
➡️ Can I observe sessions?
➡️ Will I have direct contact when I need it?
The answer should always be: “Of course.”
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ABA can be life-changing. But only if the people delivering it are trained, supported, and respected — just like the kids they serve.
If you’re a provider and this stings — good.
That means we can get better.
If you’re a parent and this resonates — ask better questions. The right provider will welcome them.
đź’¬ We're happy to talk about our approach at Unity Behavioral, or just be a resource. I will happily answer any questions myself.
My personal mobile number is 770.548.3875. My direct email is armon@unitybehavioralservices.com. Do with that information what you will.
