ABA Therapy Reviews: What Parents Need to Know Before Starting

You're here because someone—maybe a pediatrician, maybe a friend, maybe your kid's preschool teacher—told you to look into ABA therapy. And now you're drowning in contradictory information.

Some reviews say ABA changed their child's life. Others call it harmful. Some talk about 40-hour weeks and robotic drills. Others describe play-based sessions in living rooms.

So which is it?

I'm a BCBA who founded Achieving Stars Therapy after spending over a decade in this field—first as an RBT working sessions, then as a clinician designing programs, now running my own practice. I've seen ABA done beautifully. I've also seen it done terribly.

Here's what you actually need to know.

What the Research Says About ABA Therapy Effectiveness

Let's start with data, not opinions.

Recent Meta-Analysis (Virués-Ortega, 2010): Analyzed multiple studies and found ABA therapy improved outcomes across seven of eight measured areas—cognitive, language, social/communication, problem behavior, adaptive behavior, emotional, and autism symptoms.

The catch: Most studies don't measure Quality of Life. They measure behaviors. There's a difference.

Modern Dosage Studies (Mece & Sherifi, 2022): Tracked a child receiving just 4.5 hours per week of play-based ABA for three years. Results? Better engagement with other kids. More imitation of sounds and actions. Way more communication and actual language.

Translation: You don't need 40 hours a week. You need the right approach.

Real Parent Reviews: What Actually Changes

Forget the clinical studies for a minute. Here's what parents tell me changes when ABA therapy works:

Notice what they're NOT saying? They're not saying their kid is "cured" or "normal now." They're saying life got easier. Communication improved. Meltdowns became manageable.

That's what good ABA does.

The Controversy: Why Some People Hate ABA Therapy

Let's talk about the elephant in the room.

ABA therapy has legitimate critics. And some of that criticism is justified.

Historical ABA (1960s-1990s):

• Used punishment alongside rewards
• Focused on eliminating "autistic behaviors" rather than building skills
• Pushed 40-hour weeks with rigid drills
• Tried to make autistic kids appear "normal"

Why that was harmful:

It treated autism as something to fix rather than a neurological difference to support. It suppressed self-soothing behaviors (stimming) that weren't actually problems. It exhausted kids.

Modern ABA (2020s):

• No punishment. Period.
• Focuses on skill-building, not behavior elimination
• Play-based and naturalistic
• 10-25 hours per week (not 40)
• Respects neurodiversity while teaching functional skills

The field evolved. Not every provider evolved with it.

What Makes Good ABA Therapy: Red and Green Flags

After a decade in this field, here's how I tell parents to evaluate providers:

🚩 Red Flags (Run Away):

✅ Green Flags (Keep Investigating):

Modern ABA (left path) vs. Outdated ABA (right path) - Choose the path that leads to a happier home!

How to Choose an ABA Provider: The Research-Backed Approach

Step 1: Verify Credentials

Every provider should have:

• BCBA: Board Certified Behavior Analyst (master's-level clinician)
• RBT: Registered Behavior Technician (direct therapist)
• BACB: Behavior Analyst Certification Board oversight
• State licensure (Colorado, Ohio, Kansas, New Hampshire, New Jersey)

In Colorado, for example, all ABA providers are required to be licensed. Most aren't. That tells you something about their commitment to quality.

Step 2: Ask About Their Approach

Questions to ask:

• "How many hours per week do you typically recommend?" (10-25 is reasonable)
• "What does a typical session look like?" (Should sound like play, not drills)
• "How often will the BCBA supervise sessions?" (Weekly minimum at start)
• "What's your philosophy on stimming?" (Should respect self-soothing behaviors)
• "Can I observe sessions?" (Answer should be yes)

Step 3: Check Insurance and Medicaid Coverage

Colorado Medicaid covers ABA therapy. So does most private insurance. If a provider says "we don't take insurance," that's a red flag. Good providers handle authorization.

Step 4: Trust Your Gut

If something feels off, it probably is. You know your kid better than anyone.

Where Achieving Stars Therapy Fits: An Honest Assessment

I'm obviously biased—I founded this company. But here's how we approach ABA differently:

What we do:

• 100% in-home therapy (no centers, no waiting rooms)
• Play-based, naturalistic approach
• 10-25 hours per week (not 40)
• Weekly BCBA supervision
• Colorado Medicaid + most insurance accepted
• We switch RBTs if personality fit doesn't work

What we don't do:

• We don't promise to "cure" autism
• We don't focus on eliminating harmless stims
• We don't use punishment
• We don't run 40-hour programs
• We don't force eye contact or "quiet hands"

Our outcomes data:

We're not perfect. No provider is. But we're transparent about our approach, our data, and our limitations.

What ABA Therapy Can and Can't Do

ABA therapy CAN help with:

• Communication (requesting, protesting, conversational skills)
• Daily living skills (toileting, dressing, hygiene)
• Social skills (turn-taking, sharing, reading social cues)
• Challenging behaviors (understanding WHY, teaching replacement skills)
• School readiness (following directions, sitting for activities)

ABA therapy CANNOT:

• "Cure" autism (that's not the goal)
• Make your child neurotypical (nor should it try)
• Work overnight (progress takes months, not weeks)
• Replace medical interventions (it's behavioral, not medical)
• Fix everything (some challenges persist regardless)

The Cost Question: What Parents Actually Pay

With Colorado Medicaid: $0 out-of-pocket

With private insurance: Usually $0-50 per session (depending on copay/deductible)

Without insurance: $50-150 per hour

• RBT sessions: $50-80/hour
• BCBA sessions: $100-150/hour

Total monthly cost (uninsured): $2,000-6,000 depending on hours

That's why insurance matters. Good providers handle the authorization paperwork so you don't have to fight with insurance companies.

How to Tell If It's Working: Progress Markers

First 3 months: You should see some change. Maybe transitions are easier. Maybe meltdowns are shorter. Maybe your kid is using more words.

6 months: You should see noticeable improvements in whatever skills you're targeting. Your BCBA better be showing you data graphs, not just saying "he's doing great."

12 months: Significant progress in at least 2-3 major areas. And honestly? Family stress should be going down. If you're still as overwhelmed as when you started, something's not working.

If you're NOT seeing progress after 6 months: Either the approach needs adjusting or the provider isn't the right fit. Don't fall into the trap of "let's just give it more time." Six months is enough data to know if it's working.

The Bottom Line: Is ABA Therapy Worth It?

Here's what I tell parents in consultations:

ABA therapy works when:

• You have a good provider who uses modern, play-based methods
• Your child receives adequate hours (10-25/week, not 40)
• You're involved in learning the strategies
• Goals focus on functional skills, not "looking normal"
• Progress is measured consistently

ABA therapy doesn't work when:

• Provider uses outdated methods (rigid drills, punishment)
• Hours are too low (2-3/week isn't enough)
• RBT and child don't click (personality fit matters)
• Goals focus on eliminating harmless behaviors
• There's no BCBA supervision

Is it worth it? For most families, yes. But only if you find the right provider.

Next Steps: Starting ABA Therapy the Right Way

1. Get a formal diagnosis first. Insurance won't cover ABA without it. You need an official autism diagnosis from a licensed psychologist or developmental pediatrician.
2. Contact 2-3 providers. Don't just go with the first one. Compare their approaches. See who actually answers your questions.
3. Ask the questions from this article. Evaluate how they respond. If they get defensive or dodge questions, that tells you something.
4. Observe a session. See their methods in action. Watch how the therapist interacts with kids. If they won't let you observe, run.
5. Check your insurance coverage. Get benefits verified before you commit. Good providers will do this for you within 48 hours.
6. Trust your gut. If something feels off during that initial consultation, listen to that feeling. You know your kid better than anyone.

If you're in Colorado, Kansas, Ohio, New Hampshire, or New Jersey, we'd be happy to talk. No sales pitch—just real information about whether in-home ABA makes sense for your family.

Frequently Asked Questions About ABA Therapy Reviews