Compassionate Care In ABA Therapy For Autism

Decades of research show that applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is highly effective in helping children on the autism spectrum learn new skills and make positive changes in their lives. When ABA is delivered with compassion and skill, it allows children and therapists to build meaningful, trusting relationships.

Many Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who are new to the field complete training programs that focus heavily on technical skills. These may include behavior measurement, data collection, development of skill acquisition programs, and behavior reduction strategies. While technical knowledge is essential, working with families requires more than clinical expertise; it demands empathy, trust, and strong communication skills.

If a behavior analyst doesn’t show respect, listen actively, or build a partnership with caregivers, it can slow a child’s progress. Families may feel unheard, disengage from the treatment plan, request a new provider or leave therapy altogether. When this happens, the impact extends beyond one family—it affects the field of ABA as a whole.

Compassionate ABA & parental training

At Action Behavior Centers (ABC), compassionate care is a core part of our approach to serving children with autism. During Family Guidance sessions, BCBAs play a key role in empowering caregivers to support their child’s progress outside of therapy. They teach parents how to use ABA strategies, like prompting and positive reinforcement, in everyday routines.

Compassionate care also means recognizing the emotional side of parenting. If a parent feels discouraged by slow progress, a supportive behavior analyst won’t just listen; they’ll help. That could mean adjusting goals, highlighting small wins, or encouraging parents to give themselves grace. Compassion strengthens the relationship and helps everyone stay on the same team.

What families say about BCBA communication

To better understand how parents experience the BCBA therapeutic relationship, independent researchers in 2018 conducted a short survey and shared it with parents of children with autism.¹ They asked questions like: Do you feel heard? Do your concerns matter? Do your behavior analysts work with you or talk at you?

Ninety-five parents responded. While that’s a small sample, the results provided valuable insight into what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to family-clinician collaboration in ABA.

Survey questions were grouped into three categories: listening and collaboration, empathy and compassion, and behaviors that might strain the relationship. Parents gave high marks in some areas, like feeling heard during the first meeting and knowing their information was kept private. But there were clear gaps. Some parents said their BCBA didn’t follow up regularly, explain their role clearly, or show flexibility during disagreements. Fewer still said their behavior analyst offered emotional support or acknowledged mistakes.

So what does this tell us? It suggests that while many BCBAs are doing great work, relational skills like empathy, adaptability, and clear communication need more focus in the field. Other areas of healthcare have shown that strong provider-family relationships can lead to better outcomes. The same is likely true in ABA therapy.

What BCBAs say about their training in empathy

Separate independent researchers also looked at what BCBAs themselves say about training in compassionate care. A 2019 survey gathered input from 221 certified behavior analysts across the U.S.² Participants included BCaBAs, BCBAs, and BCBA-Ds from a range of clinical settings, with most working with children with autism and engaging regularly with families.

The results echoed what families shared: relationship-building is important, but often under-taught. Only 28% of respondents said they received formal instruction on compassionate care during their graduate programs. Many felt unprepared to navigate parents’ emotional responses or difficult conversations. Despite this, nearly all respondents agreed that empathy and communication should be built into training. Some sought additional guidance from fields like psychology, social work, or mentorship, and those in leadership roles often made it a point to pass those skills along.

While this survey may not represent every ABA program, it highlights a gap in training that still exists across the field, particularly when it comes to empathy, collaboration, and family-centered care. 

How Action Behavior Centers is filling the gap

At Action Behavior Centers, we’re not waiting for the field to catch up. We’re actively working to raise the standard from the inside out. We invest in our clinicians from day one through a robust system of training, mentorship, and ongoing support. Our approach includes:

• Internal CE opportunities that focus on compassionate care, communication, and collaboration with families
• Ongoing mentorship from seasoned clinical leaders who model strong relationship-building skills
• ABCABA, our annual leadership conference designed to deepen both clinical excellence and emotional intelligence
• Regular Family Guidance sessions, which give BCBAs structured opportunities to build trust and connection with caregivers

Take the next step with compassionate ABA therapy

At Action Behavior Centers, we provide ABA therapy that combines clinical excellence with compassionate care. Our BCBAs work hand-in-hand with families to provide evidence-based strategies, while offering the encouragement and partnership parents need. If you're looking for autism therapy that prioritizes both your child’s progress and your family’s experience, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a tour.