Today's Blog was written by Green Box ABA Owner and CEO, Carl Dzyak M.Ed LBA, BCBA
Working in ABA can be an extremely rewarding career. You are able to make meaningful change on a regular basis and every day is different! However, being new to the field can be a little scary because there are so many things to consider. Many ABAtherapists work in their clients’ homes, which can make things tricky as ABA therapy generally occurs multiple times a week and can last several hours in length. That’s a lot of time to spend in someone else’s house! Every client is different, and every client has different rules and expectation within their home. Below are some easy questions to ask new clients right off the bat to ensure you can avoid as many awkward situations as possible:
1) Ask if you should take off your shoes. This may seem like a simple idea, but when you are standing in a client’s doorway you are still making a first impression. Some clients feel very strongly about their no-shoe policy. Use this as an opportunity to show social awareness and professionalism right from the onset. Doing so will convey that while you cannot avoid being in their personal space, you will absolutely respect the rules of it.
2) Ask which rooms are available during therapy sessions. Since most ABA companies are adopting natural environment teaching, this means that the sessions could potentially migrate throughout the house. Finding out early communicates that you understand the necessity of professional boundaries.
3) Ask about the rules for snacks. You may not be using edibles as reinforcement during your therapy, but the session may be occurring during a snack time. Some kiddos will ask for snacks from their therapists knowing that they are not supposed to. You do not want to be the therapist who is found digging through the family refrigerator who then has to explain that they were basically tricked by the student. Some families will want you to help grab the snack and some families will want to get it themselves. Being mindful of this will once again help you avoid an uncomfortable situation.
4) Ask about general house rules. Once again, every family is different. It’s impossible to predict all of the different idiosyncrasies at the very beginning of a professional relationship. These idiosyncrasies may range from expected manners, to language, to rules about pets. If you have a hard time remembering the different rules for all of your clients, make sure to write yourself a note.
The purpose of this blog entry is not to scare new therapists, but rather to prepare them for success. In most cases clients are thrilled to have you there and are not excessively rigid with their rules. However, by knowing what to ask and what to look for, you can avoid any avoidable hiccups that could potentially set a therapy relationship back. As you gain experience working with different families, you will start to gain confidence by learning to read the different cues and adjusting accordingly. If you remember to be polite, respectful, and ask the right questions you will be off to the right start for any therapeutic relationship.
