ABA parent training is often presented as a standard component of any ABA program, essential for generalization, improved functioning, reduced parental stress, and overall enhanced quality of life. But is this always the reality? While insurance companies often mandate parent training goals, many professionals lack formal training in delivering truly effective parent training. Simply teaching parents ABA strategies through behavioral skills training (BST), while evidence‐based, isn't always enough to create lasting change. Just like learning a skill doesn't guarantee its consistent application, BST alone may not translate to real‐world implementation.
Parent Training vs. Parent Education: A Key Distinction
Research highlights a crucial difference between parent training and parent education:
- Parent education: Focuses on providing information about diagnoses, treatment options, evaluations, and advocacy.
- Parent training: Involves teaching specific techniques to address challenging behaviors, such as analyzing antecedents and consequences or implementing behavior reduction strategies.
While studies show parent training leads to greater reductions in challenging behaviors, parent education also demonstrates positive effects, suggesting the importance of addressing parental needs beyond just behavior management techniques.
Who Provides Parent Training and How?
Typically, the BCBA provides parent training, often due to insurance requirements and their expertise in ABA. BCaBAs may also provide training under supervision. While RBTs can play a supportive role by allowing parents to observe sessions and demonstrating treatment fidelity, this should not replace direct training by the BCBA. A collaborative approach, involving observation, practice, feedback, and ongoing support, is crucial for effective parent training. Always check with individual insurance companies for specific billing and supervision requirements.
Overcoming Barriers to Effective Parent Training
Several factors can hinder effective parent training:
- Jargon: Clinicians may struggle to translate ABA terminology into parent‐friendly language.
- Motivation: Low parent motivation can stem from unrealistic expectations or a lack of visible progress.
- Time Constraints: Clinicians may lack time for adequate preparation and planning.
- Lack of Structure: Parent training without a clear structure can devolve into addressing the "crisis of the week."
- Buy-in: Clinicians may face difficulty gaining parental acceptance of recommended strategies.
- Parent Stress: High stress levels can limit parents' ability to learn and implement new skills.
Addressing these barriers is essential for successful parent training. Utilizing a structured curriculum, like the ACHIEVE Parent Training Curriculum, can provide a framework and resources, but customization to individual family needs is crucial.
Understanding and Addressing Parent Stress
Parent stress is a significant factor in ABA therapy. Sources of stress can include the child's intellectual deficits, behavioral challenges, caregiving demands, interactions with professionals, navigating information overload, financial strain, and limitations on family activities. Clinicians must be sensitive to these stressors and strive to reduce rather than exacerbate them. Addressing parent stress directly, acknowledging their challenges, and providing support can significantly improve collaboration and treatment outcomes. Our CEU course, "Reducing Parent Stress Through Effective Parent Training," offers valuable insights and strategies.
Steps to Effective Parent Training
Effective parent training involves:
- Building a Partnership: Establish a collaborative relationship with parents, valuing their perspectives and priorities. Our CEU course, "Enhancing Interactions: How to Use the ACT Matrix," provides tools for building strong partnerships.
- Assessment: Assess parents' existing knowledge and skills to tailor training to their needs. Use fidelity checklists to identify specific areas for improvement.
- Behavioral Skills Training (BST): Use BST to teach targeted skills, incorporating instruction, modeling, practice, and feedback.
- Re-assessment: Evaluate the effectiveness of training and make adjustments as needed.
Choosing a Curriculum
Several parent training curricula are available, each with its own focus and resources. Consider the learner's and family's needs, as well as your own values and experience, when selecting a curriculum. A curriculum can provide structure, materials, and parent‐friendly language, but it should be used as a guide and adapted to individual circumstances.
Parent Training Goals: Meaningful and Achievable
Avoid generic, pre‐written goals. Collaborate with parents to develop meaningful goals that align with their values and address their priorities. Focus on quality of life and address a range of needs, not just behavior reduction. Ensure goals are realistic and achievable, considering the family's existing burdens and responsibilities. Our Parent Training Example Goals PowerPoint, available with the ACHIEVE curriculum, offers sample goals and guiding questions.
Conclusion
By prioritizing collaboration, addressing parent stress, and utilizing effective teaching strategies, we can transform parent training from a mandated task into a powerful tool for positive change, empowering families and improving outcomes for learners with autism.