Caregiver training is an important part of ABA therapy that focuses on helping parents and other caregivers learn practical strategies to support their child’s development outside of therapy sessions. While your child may spend a few hours each week with their therapy team, they spend the majority of their time with family and other caregivers. Caregiver training helps ensure that progress continues throughout everyday routines and activities.

Research consistently shows that children make the greatest gains when the important adults in their lives are actively involved in the therapy process. Caregiver training helps bridge the gap between therapy sessions and real life by providing strategies that can be used during meals, playtime, bedtime routines, community outings, and other everyday moments. The goal is to create lasting progress that extends beyond therapy hours.

Anyone who plays a meaningful role in your child’s life is welcome to participate. While parents are often the primary participants, we are happy to work with grandparents, babysitters, aunts, uncles, guardians, and other caregivers who regularly support your child. The more consistency a child experiences across the people in their life, the greater their opportunity for success.

Every family’s needs are different, so caregiver training is individualized to your goals and concerns. Topics may include communication and language development, managing challenging behaviors, toilet training, daily living and self-help skills, social skills and play, increasing independence, community safety, transitions and routines, supporting school success, and generalizing skills across environments. Your BCBA will work with you to determine which areas are most important for your family.

Most insurance providers require caregiver training as part of ABA services and typically authorize at least 6 hours of caregiver training every 6 months. These meetings are an important opportunity to collaborate with your BCBA, review progress, learn new strategies, and ensure skills are being supported consistently across environments. That said, we understand that families are busy. Between work, school, extracurricular activities, and everyday life, finding additional time can be challenging. Our team works closely with families to make caregiver training as flexible and convenient as possible. Some families prefer shorter, more frequent meetings, while others benefit from longer discussions less often. We can often schedule caregiver training before or after therapy sessions and offer telehealth options when appropriate to reduce disruptions to your schedule. Our goal is to meet families where they are and make caregiver training feel supportive and practical, not like another item on your to-do list.

You’re not alone. Many of the families we serve are juggling multiple responsibilities, and we recognize that flexibility is essential. We offer caregiver training at times that work best for your family, including evenings when available. We can also provide training through secure telehealth appointments, allowing you to meet with your BCBA from home, work, or wherever is most convenient. Our goal is to meet families where they are and make support accessible, not burdensome.

No. While we encourage participation from anyone involved in your child’s care, not every caregiver needs to attend every meeting. We understand that families have different schedules and responsibilities. Whether one parent attends, both parents participate, or another caregiver joins, we will work with your family to ensure important information is shared and everyone feels supported.

Caregiver training is designed to be practical, collaborative, and focused on real-life situations. Sessions may include reviewing progress, discussing challenges, learning new strategies, practicing techniques, troubleshooting concerns, or planning for upcoming transitions. We encourage questions and open communication so that training feels relevant and immediately useful. This is not a lecture—it is a partnership.

Absolutely not. Our goal is not to turn parents into therapists. Instead, we provide simple, evidence-based strategies that can be naturally incorporated into everyday life. Small changes during routines, play, communication, and daily interactions can have a significant impact on your child’s progress.