Discover Our Innovative ABA Therapy Approach
As one of only a handful of BCBA owned and operated ABA clinics in New Jersey, Innovative ABA offers families a tremendous advantage – ABA therapies guided by applied behavioral analysis
BCBA Owned And BCBA Operated
Why does it matter that Innovative ABA is owned and operated by a recognized BCBA?
For starters, having a clinic owned and operated by a recognized BCBA offers a tremendous advantage to staff and families alike, as this ensures all therapy processes are guided by specialized behavioral analysis.
BCBA leadership also ensures that the compassion and professionalism required to earn the BCBA designation translates throughout the entire clinic. All of the innovative ABA therapy methodologies we follow employ positive reinforcement to build new skills and behaviors, as opposed to relying on punishments that attempt to suppress inappropriate and undesirable behaviors.
“Working with the professionals at Innovative ABA taught my husband and I to shift our focus from punishing bad behaviors to rewarding good ones, and what a difference that has made!”
Our innovative ABA therapy approach is guided by the principle that increasing appropriate behaviors will naturally reduce inappropriate behaviors as a byproduct, and the dozens of families we have worked with will overwhelmingly attest to this.
Our Innovative Team Based Approach
Our staff takes a collective approach internally, and a collaborative approach with families throughout all stages of our innovative ABA therapy process. Our compassionate Registered Behavior Technicians work closely with our families to ensure all voices are heard during therapy.
Our team based approach also extends beyond our staff and the families we work with to include members of the outside community. We will collaborate directly with anyone who has the potential to impact your child in a meaningful way – from teachers, to coaches, to mentors, and more. Through these collaborative interactions, our innovative ABA therapy approach will develop an expansive support network that will foster growth in every environment your child spends time in.
Our ultimate goal is helping your child learn new skills and develop appropriate behaviors and responses in a fun, positive way – regardless of the environment.
Family Involvement – A Pillar of Our ABA Therapy Approach
Should the family be involved in the ABA therapy process? Yes, absolutely.
In working with families and their children for over a decade, we’ve found a direct correlation between family involvement during therapy and long-term developmental and behavioral success. Here are just a few ways our Registered Behavior Technicians support our families:
- Provide Structured Family Training
- Offer Collaborative In-Home Therapy
- Transfer Home Comforts To Our Center
- Develop Actionable Home-Therapy Plans
- Perform Community Outreach
- Set Behavioral Examples In The Home
- Perform Inter-Family Outreach
- Fight Frustration With Compassion
- Create A Unified Parental Front
- Improve Skills Transfer To The Home
Meet The Expert Behind It All
Charles Knoppel MA, BCBA
With more than a decade of experience working in the ABA field, Charles has helped dozens of families connect with their children in ways they didn’t know were possible. Learn more about Charles below or schedule a call with him to discuss your child’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is ABA therapy, and how does ABA therapy work?
The ‘ABA’ acronym within ABA therapy stands for ‘Applied Behavior Analysis’, and ABA therapy is the process of systematically applying small-scale interventions in an effort to produce desired behaviors and develop positive behavioral patterns. While this definition may make ABA therapy sound a bit complex, the process of applied behavior analysis is actually very simple.
ABA therapy works by positively reinforcing desired behaviors, and demonstrating them when necessary, during pivotal learning years in children and young adults. These positive reinforcements compound over time and naturally suppress undesirable or unacceptable behaviors without necessitating any type of punishment.
How do I choose the right ABA therapy clinic for my child?
Although there is no magic formula for determining which ABA therapy clinic in New Jersey (or in any locale), is the best fit, there are several qualities to look for. The first, and arguably the most important, is whether or not the clinic’s owner or head operator is a recognized Board Certified Behavior Analyst – more commonly referred to as a ‘BCBA’.
ABA therapy clinics that are owned or led by a BCBA typically adopt therapy philosophies that combine empathy and compassion with analysis and analytics. Therapy practices that embody empathy and compassion allow the therapist to connect on a deeper level with the child, and thus provide more effective therapies that yield better results. Other strong qualities to look for in an ABA therapist include timeliness, creativity, and persistence, among many others.
When is the best time to start ABA therapy for my child?
When enrolling your child in an ABA therapy clinic, it’s easy to get stuck in the mindset of “I wish I knew about ABA therapy sooner.” Although many studies have concluded the human brain is most pliable between the ages of 1 year old and 10 to 11 years old, this does not mean that enrolling a 12 year old child, or even an 18 year old child, in ABA therapy is ‘too late.’ These studies fail to consider focusing abilities and attention skills, which are largely underdeveloped in most children under 10 years old.
Thus, the best time to start ABA therapy for children often has only a small bearing on their age, and is predicated primarily upon readiness – both of the child, and of the parents and any other close family members. It is far more important to ensure a child’s home environment is stable and conducive to learning, than it is to ensure a child begins ABA therapy before some arbitrary age. A strong family support system with a willingness to be directly involved in the therapy process is also extremely important in ensuring the efficacy of any ABA therapy program. The perfect time to start ABA therapy for your child is immediately after you are confident that your home environment is suitable, and the necessary family members are committed.
What can parents expect to experience during an ABA therapy session?
The types of activities and interactions that occur during an ABA therapy session can vary significantly from one child’s session to another child’s session due to several variables. These include the child’s age, the therapy environment, the level of familial involvement in the session, the child’s level of focus and willingness to participate, and much more.
In more generalized terms though, parents can expect an ABA session to be lively, with high-energy interactions between the therapist and the child. The most effective ABA therapy sessions are typically the most jovial sessions as well, with therapist and child exchanging high-fives, sharing hugs, and reveling in positive reinforcements. The most challenging ABA therapy sessions are those that lack this positive energy, typically due to the child’s moodiness or unwillingness to participate. A skilled ABA therapist will know how to navigate these sessions by leveraging the child’s motivations and the strong relationship they’ve developed with one another.
Where is Innovative ABA located? Can we meet virtually for our sessions?
Innovative ABA is centrally located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey at 1939 Route 70, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. Our modern offices provide a safe space for children to learn, with limited distractions from outside sources. Due to the sensitive nature of ABA therapy and its reliance on interpersonal interaction, Innovative ABA’s approach only allows for virtual ABA therapy sessions under specific circumstances. Give us a call or chat with us to discuss your needs.
We do also host virtual consultations – both by phone and via video conferencing – so parents can speak to our team and determine if Innovative ABA is the right fit for their child’s unique needs, without having to commit to any travel. Please click here to schedule your consultation today!