On the morning of a child’s first ABA therapy session, most parents sit in the car for a moment longer than usual. Not because they are late, but because they are processing the weight of what comes next.
There is hope in that moment. And fear. And relief. And uncertainty. All wrapped together.
The questions often begin flooding in.
- Will my child be understood?
- Will they feel safe?
- Will this team see their strengths?
- Will they know how to support their needs?
Every parent carries these questions into the first session. And every great ABA therapy team knows it.
Because the first day of ABA Therapy is not really about therapy.
It is about trust
The child’s trust.
The parent’s trust.
And the team’s commitment to honoring both.
So here is what families can expect in those first sessions. Not from a clinical handbook, but from the lived experiences of the children, therapists, and the parents who have walked through these doors before.
READ MORE: Role of Parents in ABA Therapy
The First Hello Matters More Than Any Technique
Before any program is introduced, before any assessment begins, the first ABA therapy sessions focus on one thing.
Connection.
No child can learn without feeling safe.
No child will explore without feeling understood.
Today’s modern ABA therapists begin gently. A BCBA or therapist might sit on the floor. They might join a child in play without asking anything of them. They might notice which toys they reach for. They might mirror their movements to build comfort. They might simply sit nearby and let the children lead.
This is called pairing.
It is how trust begins.
Pairing is not a formal step. It is an emotional agreement between the therapist and the child. The therapist communicates through every action, “You are safe with me.” The child eventually responds, “I am ready.”
It is one of the most important ingredients of successful ABA therapy, and research supports that early rapport building significantly increases engagement and learning (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024).
The First Assessment is Gentle, Not Rushed
After a child feels comfortable, the therapist begins learning who they are. Not through demands, but through observation. Through curiosity.
A BCBA will watch how the child communicates, plays, explores, and interacts.
Does the child use words or gestures?
Do they prefer structured play or free exploration?
Do they seek movement or avoid sensation?
Do they observe closely or engage directly?
This is not about identifying deficits.
It is about discovering strengths, interests, sensory patterns, and learning styles.
The assessment is the foundation. But it should never feel like a test.
Parents often imagine an evaluation filled with charts, checklists, or rigid tasks. In reality, the best assessments are natural. They feel like play. They honor the child’s pace.
Because ABA today is not about pushing children into tasks they are not ready for. It is about meeting them exactly where they are.
The Multidisciplinary Lens Begins on Day One
One of the most important shifts in modern ABA therapy is its partnership with other disciplines. The best ABA providers collaborate early with Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Mental Health professionals.
The first ABA therapy sessions often reveal insights that guide this collaboration.
If the child avoids eye contact or verbal language, the SLP becomes a key partner.
If the child seeks pressure or movement, the OT steps in with sensory support strategies.
If the child struggles with motor planning or coordination, the PT becomes part of the team.
If the child shows signs of anxiety or emotional overwhelm, mental health clinicians help shape regulation tools.
This is not a handoff.
It is a partnership.
And families should expect their ABA team to talk about these supports from the beginning, not months down the road.
The American Psychological Association emphasizes that interdisciplinary collaboration creates the strongest outcomes for children receiving behavior based interventions (APA,2023).
Parents Are Not Observers. They Are Part of the Team.
In the first ABA therapy sessions, parents are often surprised by how involved they become.
A great ABA team does not say, “We will take it from here.”
They say, “We will take the steps with you.”
Parents are invited into the process because they hold the information that no therapist can access alone.
What comforts their child?
What triggers overwhelm?
What routines matter most?
What hopes they hold?
What fears they carry silently?
The first ABA therapy sessions normally include conversations about goals. Not only therapeutic goals, but family goals.
“Your child’s first words.”
“Getting through a grocery store without tears.”
“Playing alongside peers.”
“Sleeping through the night.”
“Building more independence.”
Parents bring their real lives to the table.
And the team listens closely.
READ MORE: Importance of Early Intervention in Paediatric Therapy
The First Goals Are Simple, Achievable, and Meaningful
In those early sessions, the team begins to outline short term goals. They are small enough to feel achievable. They are tailored to the child’s personality. And they are rooted in something essential.
Early success builds confidence.
Confidence builds curiosity.
Curiosity builds growth.
A first goal might be as simple as:
- Tolerating a new play activity
- Sharing a toy for a few seconds
- Using a gesture to request a preferred item
- Wearing headphones in loud environments
- Responding to their name with a glance
These goals are never one size fits all.
They are carefully selected based on what will help the child feel safer, more capable, and more connected to the world around them.
The Environment is Designed for Success, Not Compliance
Parents are often surprised by the feel of Today’s ABA Therapy spaces. They are bright, playful, sensory aware, and filled with opportunities for movement, exploration, and calm.
Rigid “sit at a table” approaches of the past have been replaced with naturalistic learning, sensory supports, and environments structured for flexibility.
Modern ABA therapists expect movement.
They expect sensory needs.
They expect unpredictability.
And they plan for it.
Because therapy is not about forcing calm.
It is about creating calm.
What Parents Can Expect Emotionally
Even when ABA is high quality and child centered, the first sessions can stir strong emotions.
Some parents feel relief, watching their child engage with someone who understands their needs.
Some feel sadness, confronted with how much support their child needs.
Some feel hope that had been hard to hold onto.
Some feel guilt, wondering if they should have started sooner.
All of these feelings are normal.
All of them are valid.
A great ABA team recognizes this and supports the parent as much as the child. Therapy is not just a service. It is a partnership built on trust and shared purpose.
The First Big Shift
Something important happens within the first few sessions. Families begin to notice patterns. They begin to understand their child’s sensory needs. They begin to see why certain behaviors happen and how to support them.
It is not magic.
It is clarity.
One parent once described it this way.
“We stopped guessing. We finally understood what our child was trying to tell us.”
That is the moment when fear gives way to confidence.
That is the moment when families realize they are not in this alone.
The Takeaway
The first ABA therapy sessions are not about fixing anything.
They are about understanding.
They are about safety.
They are about connection.
They are about building a relationship that becomes the foundation for every skill that follows.
Families should expect warmth, curiosity, collaboration, and respect.
They should expect a team that listens more than they talk.
They should expect progress built on compassion, not pressure.
Because great ABA therapy does not start with programs.
It starts with people.
A child, A family. A team.
Working together to build the future that child deserves.
Find the ABA provider that ticks all of these boxes.
KC Therapy offers child-centered, compassionate ABA services designed to support your family from day one. If you’re ready to begin with a team that values trust, connection, and collaboration, get in touch today!
