Every child has his or her own unique strengths and weaknesses — and tapping into that is what helps them thrive.
Focused ABA therapy is a targeted therapeutic approach designed to help children and teens build skills in one or two key areas like emotional regulation, social interaction, or verbal communication.
At United Care ABA, we provide BCBA-led focused ABA therapy that hones in on specific skill deficits in children across New York, New Jersey, and Colorado.
Focused ABA therapy is a treatment model for children struggling with specific obstacles rather than multiple developmental needs at once. It’s often used to address challenging behaviors like severe tantrums, poor self-care, or social isolation.
Less intensive than comprehensive ABA therapy, focused ABA is typically 10–25 hours per week and is designed to fit around school or extracurricular activities.
There are three main categories of children who benefit from focused ABA:
• Older children and teens — These children often have a strong foundation of daily living skills but benefit from additional support in areas like emotional regulation, social skills, communication, or independence.
• Children transitioning out of a comprehensive ABA program — Many children continue to benefit from maintenance or targeted therapy even after they no longer require a comprehensive ABA program.
• Children diagnosed with level 1 autism — Focused ABA is a less intensive option for children who need help with specific challenges rather than broad developmental intervention.
Unsure whether your child needs comprehensive ABA or focused ABA? Our BCBAs can evaluate your child’s strengths, needs, and goals to determine the best treatment approach.
Focused ABA programs address acute behavior challenges or skill development goals. Common examples include:
• Emotional regulation — Reducing aggression, self-injury, or severe tantrums.
• Functional communication — Learning to request help, express preferences, and answer questions.
• Toilet training — Achieving toileting independence through structured routines and positive reinforcement.
• Social interaction — Developing turn-taking, cooperative play, and understanding social cues.
• Self-care and daily living skills — Improving personal hygiene, mealtime routines, and dressing skills.
Our focused ABA program begins with a BCBA-led assessment and individualized treatment plan that’s built around your child’s specific goals. United Care ABA’s registered behavior technicians (RBTs) provide direct therapy under ongoing BCBA supervision. Parent training is included throughout the process to help families reinforce skills, and goals are adjusted over time as skills develop.
Focused ABA therapy is covered by most major insurance plans, including many Medicaid programs. United Care ABA handles insurance verification and helps families understand their coverage before services begin.