ABA Parent Training & Support in South Jersey & Cherry Hill
You are with your child more than any therapist. Our BCBAs teach you the same strategies we use, so progress keeps going between sessions.
ABA parent training is coaching from a Board Certified Behavior Analyst that teaches parents and caregivers the strategies used in their child's therapy, so skills carry into daily life. Innovative ABA provides it in Cherry Hill, in homes across South Jersey and in the Philadelphia area. Call (732) 691-1299 for a free consultation.
Clinically reviewed by Charles Knoppel, BCBA · Updated October 2026
At a glance
| Led by | Your child's BCBA |
|---|---|
| Where | In-home, at our Cherry Hill center or during community sessions |
| Who | Parents, grandparents & caregivers |
| Insurance | Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare + most major plans; free benefits check |
| Clinical lead | Charles Knoppel, BCBA, Clinical Director |
What is ABA parent training?
ABA parent training is structured coaching from your child's Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). It teaches you the same Applied Behavior Analysis strategies your child's therapists use, then helps you practice them in your own routines. It is not a lecture or a one-time class. It is ongoing, hands-on and built around your child's treatment plan.
Parent training matters because therapy hours are limited and childhood is not. A child might get many hours of ABA in a week, but they spend far more time with family. When parents know how to prompt, reinforce and respond to behavior the same way therapists do, skills generalize faster and setbacks are easier to handle. Many insurance plans expect parent training as part of an ABA program.
Our clinical director, Charles Knoppel, BCBA, makes parent involvement a core part of every plan.
Parent training also helps you feel more confident. Many parents tell us the hardest part is not knowing what to do in the moment. Having a clear plan, and knowing why it works, makes difficult moments feel more manageable and less personal.
- Understanding behaviorlearning why a behavior happens, not just what it looks like.
- Reinforcementusing praise, preferred items and activities to build skills.
- Prompting & fadinggiving just enough help, then less over time.
- Preventionvisual schedules, warnings before transitions and clear routines.
What can parent training help with?
Families usually come to parent training with specific, everyday struggles. Common topics include meltdowns and tantrums, aggression or self-injury, bedtime and sleep, picky eating, toilet training, leaving the house, transitions between activities, sibling conflict, screen-time battles and safety issues like running off.
Parent training also covers communication. If your child uses a picture system, signs or an AAC device, we teach you how to model and encourage it throughout the day. If your child is starting to talk, we show you how to create small, natural chances for them to ask for what they want. This is natural environment teaching (NET) in your own kitchen or living room.
Many parents also want help with the bigger picture: understanding an autism diagnosis, preparing for a Child Study Team meeting or IEP, explaining autism to siblings and relatives, or planning for a move from preschool to kindergarten.
Your BCBA will also help you choose what to work on first. Trying to fix everything at once usually leads to burnout. Most families start with one or two routines that cause the most stress, get those running more smoothly and then build from there. Small, steady wins add up.
Parent training can also help with the stress that comes with caring for a child with high needs. Your BCBA can point you to community resources, help you plan for respite and make sure the strategies you use are realistic for your family's energy and schedule, not just ideal on paper.
How does parent training work at Innovative ABA?
Parent training is built into every program, and it follows the same data-driven path as the rest of your child's therapy.
Feedback is always specific and respectful. Your BCBA will point out what went well, suggest one or two changes and practice again with you. No one expects perfection. Parents learn these strategies the same way children learn new skills: in small steps, with practice and encouragement.
Between sessions, your BCBA may give you a short, practical assignment, such as using a visual schedule each morning or practicing one waiting game a day. These small tasks keep progress moving and give you and your BCBA real information to discuss next time.
- Start with your prioritiesduring the assessment, your BCBA asks which routines and behaviors are hardest for your family.
- Set measurable goalsparent goals go into the treatment plan, just like your child's goals.
- Model, practice, feedbackyour BCBA shows a strategy, you try it, and you get specific, kind feedback.
- Real settingspractice happens during in-home ABA therapy, at the center or out in the community.
- Track datasimple tracking helps you see what is working.
- Adjust & buildas one routine improves, we move to the next.
How does parent training fit with my child's other ABA programs?
Parent training is not a stand-alone substitute for therapy; it multiplies the work your child does with their team. Families in our full-day center-based ABA program learn how to carry center skills home. Families in in-home ABA get coaching woven into sessions. When your child moves into school & community-based ABA, we help you handle outings and work with the school.
For younger children, parent coaching is a large part of early intervention ABA, because toddlers learn most during everyday play with family. For older children working on friendships, parent training supports what they practice in our social skills program, such as setting up playdates that go well.
For families of children on the autism spectrum who are newly diagnosed, parent training is often where hope starts to feel practical. You leave sessions with things to try that day. Our main ABA therapy for children page explains how the full process works from diagnosis to treatment.
Who can join, and how do we get started?
Parents, grandparents, nannies and other regular caregivers are welcome. The more consistent the adults in your child's life are, the faster skills tend to grow. Sessions are scheduled around your family, and your BCBA will suggest a frequency that fits your goals.
We serve families across South Jersey, Ocean County and the Philadelphia region, with our only center at 1939 NJ-70 in Cherry Hill. Local families can read more on our Cherry Hill ABA page and Camden County ABA page. Many insurance plans cover parent training as part of ABA; we verify your benefits for free. We often have openings and can start quickly, so ask about current availability.
If you have questions before committing, call (732) 691-1299 or use our contact form. A consultation is free and comes with no obligation.
Families in Ocean County and the farther South Jersey counties receive parent training at home along with in-home ABA, since our only center is in Cherry Hill.
ABA programs for your family
Full-Day Center-Based ABA
Structured, full-day programming at our Cherry Hill center, with school-readiness built in.
Learn more →ABA Therapy for Children
One-on-one, play-based ABA that builds communication, social and daily-living skills.
Learn more →In-Home ABA Therapy
Therapy in your home, where routines like meals, bedtime and play happen.
Learn more →Early Intervention ABA
Support for toddlers and preschoolers during the years skills grow fastest.
Learn more →School & Community-Based ABA
Help carrying skills into classrooms, playgrounds, stores and outings.
Learn more →Social Skills Development
Turn-taking, conversation, play and friendship skills, practiced with peers.
Learn more →Feeding Therapy (ABA)
Help with picky eating, food selectivity and mealtime behavior, coordinated with your child's doctors.
Learn more →
Charles Knoppel, BCBA
Clinical Director — Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Charles leads our clinical team and oversees every child’s treatment plan. He reviewed this page for clinical accuracy in October 2026. Meet our team →
Frequently asked questions
Is parent training required for ABA therapy?
Parent involvement is part of every program we run, and many insurers expect parent training in an ABA treatment plan. It is not about testing you. It is about making sure the strategies that work in therapy also work at home, where your child spends most of their time. We schedule it around your family's life.
Can I get parent training without my child being in ABA therapy?
Parent training is usually provided as part of a child's ABA treatment plan, because it is tied to that child's goals and data, and insurance typically authorizes it that way. If you are not sure ABA is right for your child yet, call us. We can talk through your situation and explain the options.
How often are parent training sessions?
It depends on your goals and your child's plan. Some families meet with their BCBA weekly, others less often, and much of the coaching happens during regular therapy sessions. Your BCBA recommends a schedule after the assessment and adjusts it as your skills and your child's needs change.
What if a strategy does not work at home?
Tell us. That is useful data, not a failure. Your BCBA will look at what happened, figure out why and adjust the strategy, maybe by changing the reinforcement, the timing or how much help you give. Real homes are busy, and plans should fit your family, not the other way around.
Can grandparents or babysitters join parent training?
Yes. Any adult who regularly cares for your child is welcome, and consistency across caregivers makes a real difference. We can schedule sessions when other caregivers are available and give simple written guides so everyone responds the same way. Just let your BCBA know who should be included.
Is parent training covered by insurance?
Many plans cover parent training as part of medically necessary ABA. New Jersey's autism mandate and Pennsylvania's Act 62 require many plans to cover ABA services. We work with most major plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Tricare and UnitedHealthcare, and check your benefits for free.
Do you offer parent training in Pennsylvania?
Yes. We serve families across the Philadelphia region, including Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Chester counties, mostly through in-home ABA with parent training built in. Many Pennsylvania plans cover ABA under Act 62, and Medical Assistance can cover ABA through IBHS. We check your benefits for free before you start.
Get support that fits your home
Book a free consultation. Tell us what's hardest right now, and we'll explain how parent training and ABA can help.