Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) are the heart of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapies. These therapists implement, oversee, and personalize ABA therapies to ensure their effectiveness for each individual.
At Camino, our BCBAs in Albuquerque are a compassionate team providing trauma-informed ABA therapy for children with autism. We want to explain the roles and duties fulfilled by BCBAs as it applies to ABA therapy.
What are BCBAs?
Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) have master’s or doctoral degrees in psychology or behavioral analysis. To practice in Albuquerque, BCBAs must pass the national certification exam and possess a state license to practice.
While Camino’s BCBAs in Albuquerque specialize in working with children with autism, BCBAs can work with individuals and organizations looking to improve their behaviors or functions in various ways.
While some functions of BCBAs are broadly applicable, such as observation and behavior intervention plans, it’s crucial to note that BCBAs specializing in ABA therapies have the knowledge and skills to work with ASD children and their families.
What are BCBAs responsible for in ABA therapies?
BCBAs supervise ABA therapies and work with Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). RBTs are typically the ones that implement ABA therapies, but it’s the BCBAs that observe the RBTs to ensure the therapy plan is working and that the child is making progress.
Effective BCBAs are often involved with the child directly, getting to know each child and their behaviors better. This helps them offer RBTs insights, guidance, and feedback to improve therapeutic strategies and implementation.
Working With Parents
Another vital role BCBAs have in ABA therapies is working with parents and those with frequent contact with the child to offer guidance and training to help them best support their child’s goals.
By regularly meeting with parents and caregivers, BCBAs learn more about the child and any challenges or concerns parents may have or are experiencing. This helps BCBAs create and amend individualized plans and interventions to address the needs of each child better.
Prescribing Treatment Plans
Only BCBAs can develop and prescribe specified ABA therapy treatment plans. These plans, often called programs, are then given to RTBs to implement.
BCBAs then monitor these programs, the RTBs involved, and their effectiveness for the child. Depending on the child’s progress, BCBAs are then responsible for changing or amending these programs until the prescribed interventions fit the child’s needs and goals.
Analyzing Program Data
An essential role of BCBAs is analyzing a child’s program data. RTBs and BCBAs collect data on a child’s progress daily. This could be counting the number of sounds or words a child makes daily and seeing if there’s a difference as time progresses.
It’s through this data analysis that BCBAs determine if changes need to be made in a child’s program to either help a child reach established goals or to advance upon the goals set.
Camino’s BCBAs in Albuquerque Help Children Progress in Life!
At Camino, we provide comprehensive, compassionate, and localized ABA therapies in New Mexico.
One of the programs we’re most proud of is our early intensive behavioral interventions program. This program places children in specified age groups ranging from 18 months to 5 years old.
By offering specialized and individualized treatment at younger ages, children have a better chance to smoothly transition into grade school while needing less specialized treatment as they get older.
Contact us today to speak with one of our BCBAs in Albuquerque to learn more about our practice!