At Colorado Behavior and Learning Group, we take great strides to provide you and your child with nothing but the highest level of ABA Therapy in Colorado Springs, CO. We treat a broad range of behavior and learning conditions. Learn more about our ABA Therapy Center Accreditation along with our Core Values, Treatment Approach, and Vision Statement:
And if you’re looking for a rewarding career in ABA Therapy, we’d love to have you apply now to join our team!:
Meet our wonderful team of ABA therapists and staff now …
Our Clinical Team
BCBAs/BCaBAs
MICHELL SUKTA
MA, BCBA
La Salle Center Supervisor, Professional Development Coordinator, Senior BCBA
ADMIN
KELLY PEACE
Operations Coordinator
OLIVIA OSTENDORF
Operations Assistant
APRIL BRIGANTE
Payroll Administrator
RAVEN AQUINO
Billing Assistant
MADDISON TAYLOR
Authorization & Intake Administrator
KARLA MOREIRA
Billing Assistant
MARY MAY
Recruiter
KATHY HUGHES
Administrative Assistant
WINNIE CLARK
DSP and Residential Administrator
SIERRA WEST
La Salle Center Administrator
MEGAN ABEYTA
Facilities Assistant
What Does an ABA Therapist Do?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is centered around a scientific approach to behavior and behavior modification for children and adults struggling with various issues and disorders. ABA therapy aims to help your child understand certain negative behaviors and modify them to have a more positive life. The result is to create better social interactions, stronger learning skills, and better coping mechanisms for your child. Most ABA therapists go into the specific field because they feel a call to help others.
The main role of an ABA therapist is to uniquely assess your child’s behavior, patterns, and ways they interact in their daily environments. The first step for an ABA therapist is to assess your child one-on-one to analyze areas where they struggle with behavior. These focus areas are usually guided in advance by speaking to parents and caregivers who have noticed this behavior. From there, they map out a tailored plan to guide your child in developing new habits and behavior to replace former negative behaviors. They do this through a series of activities done in therapy sessions with your child. These activities work toward accomplishing goals with a series of mini-steps.
One of the key tools for ABA therapy is positive reinforcement. By showing your child reinforcement through things like praise, access to toys, or treating them to enjoyed activities, your child can use these learned behaviors outside therapy sessions to help them live successfully. There are currently over 33.6 thousand ABA therapists in the U.S.
What Training Is Required to Be an ABA Therapist?
Training to become an applied behavior analyst therapist requires extensive and focused training. ABA therapists undergo advanced education in all psychology areas before focusing on applied behavior analysis. Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) typically takes six to eight years.
The first step in becoming an applied behavior analysis therapist is to earn a master’s degree or higher in applied behavior analysis, psychology, or education. The therapist’s program must include a Verified Course Sequence (VCS). This is a set of courses laid out and verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International. During this period in their education, an ABA therapist also has to meet rigorous standards of course requirements, content standards, and hands-on training. Finally, they must officially earn their BCBA certification to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Who Should See an ABA Therapist?
Your child can benefit from ABA therapy if they struggle with various behaviors that affect social skills, communication, or learning skills. Because ABA therapy is focused on behavior, a wide variety of issues can be helped through this specialized therapy. For example, ABA therapists work with children facing things like autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, childhood traumatic stress, and many more.
If you believe your child is struggling with behavior-related issues and you see it noticeably negatively affecting them, they likely will benefit from ABA therapy.