When your child begins Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, it’s natural to wonder what role you play in the process. Do you simply drop them off at the clinic and wait for the results? Or is there something more you can do at home to support their growth?
At Bridgeway Integrated Healthcare Services, we’ve seen time and again that when parents are actively involved in ABA, children often make faster and more lasting progress. In this blog, we’ll explore how parent training works, why it matters, and how families across Utah, from Taylorsville to St. George, can feel empowered, not overwhelmed.
What Is Parent Training in ABA?
Parent training in ABA involves teaching caregivers the same evidence-informed techniques used in therapy sessions. The goal isn’t to make parents into therapists; it’s to help them become confident, consistent partners in their child’s development.
At its core, ABA is about shaping behavior through reinforcement, structure, and routine. When those strategies are used for only a few hours of clinic time each week, progress can be slow. But when parents learn to use them at home, during meals, playtime, or bedtime, that’s when change starts to take root.
How Does Parent Training Work at Bridgeway?
Bridgeway offers coordinated ABA services in Utah, including family-centered training sessions delivered in person and via telehealth. These trainings are designed by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and customized to your family’s needs.
What A Typical Parent Training Session Includes
- Understanding the “why” behind your child’s behaviors
- Learning to reinforce positive behaviors
- Managing challenging behaviors in consistent ways
- Using visual supports, routines, and communication strategies
- Asking questions and getting real-time support
Available at all Bridgeway locations: Taylorsville, Salt Lake City, Lehi, Cedar City, Roy, St. George, and more.
Why Parent Training Speeds Up Progress
Studies have consistently shown that children with developmental support needs often make faster progress when their caregivers use consistent ABA strategies at home.
Here’s Why It Works
Benefit | How It Helps |
Reinforcement is consistent | Your child gets the same messages at home and in therapy |
Generalization is easier | Skills learned in therapy are more likely to transfer into everyday life |
Reduced confusion or mixed cues | Consistency between caregivers and therapists avoids conflicting signals |
Stronger parent-child connection | You feel more confident supporting your child, and they feel more understood |
Early response to challenges | Parents can adjust strategies in real time, not just wait until the next session |
Realistic Examples of How This Works
Let’s say your child is learning to use a visual schedule during ABA sessions to transition between activities. If that tool is only used at the clinic, it may take weeks to become effective. But if you also use the visual schedule at home before meals or bedtime, your child gets more practice, faster understanding, and greater comfort.
Or imagine your child is working on reducing tantrums by learning to request a break. If they only get to practice this during two sessions a week, it’s slower going. But if you’ve learned the same prompting and reinforcement steps and use them during homework or play, you’re doubling their learning opportunities.
Parent training is about more than tactics; it’s about shared language, shared expectations, and shared success.
Parent Training in Action: Utah Family Success Story
A family from Brigham City, Utah, recently shared how parent training changed their approach to challenging mornings. Their 4-year-old was resisting getting dressed for preschool, resulting in meltdowns.
With coaching from their Bridgeway BCBA, the parents learned to:
- Break down the routine into smaller steps
- Use a simple visual checklist
- Offer praise and a small reward for each step completed calmly
After just two weeks of consistent use, their child began dressing independently, and mornings became smoother for everyone.
What If You’re Not Sure Where to Start?
You’re not expected to know all the answers. That’s why we start with a personalized assessment not just for your child’s support needs, but for your family’s routines, stressors, and goals.
Parent training at Bridgeway meets you where you are. Maybe you’re:
- Navigating Medicaid ABA coverage in Utah
- New to behavioral support and feeling overwhelmed
- Balancing work, caregiving, and uncertainty
Wherever you are, we walk beside you.
Learn more about our ABA Therapy Services
Common Myths About Parent Training in ABA
Let’s clear up a few misconceptions:
“It’s Just More Work For Parents”
Truth
It’s actually less work in the long run. Consistency reduces power struggles and confusion.
“Only Professionals Should Use ABA Strategies”
Truth
You don’t need a degree to use simple, practical tools that fit into daily life.
“I’m Too Busy To Do This”
Truth
Parent training doesn’t mean overhauling your routine. It means weaving support into what you already do.
“I’ll Mess It Up”
Truth
There’s no perfect script. That’s why we coach you along the way.
How to Get the Most Out of Parent Training
Here are a few ways to maximize your family’s growth:
1. Attend Regularly
Make parent training sessions part of your routine, just as you do with your child’s therapy.
2. Ask Questions
Your BCBA is there to help, not to judge. The more you ask, the more you learn.
3. Use Support at Home
Start small. Pick one strategy and try it consistently for a week.
4. Communicate with Your Team
If something isn’t working, speak up. We adapt based on your feedback.
5. Celebrate Small Wins
Progress doesn’t always look like big leaps. Every calm transition, shared smile, or new word counts.
Local Support Throughout Utah
Whether you’re in a city or a rural area, Bridgeway offers support where you are. Our centers include:
- Taylorsville, UT main hub for integrated care
- St. George, UT, southern Utah services
- Cedar City, UT, serving Iron County families
- Lehi, UT sccessible to northern Utah County
- Roy, UT Weber County support
- Brigham City, UT, serving families in Box Elder County
- Richfield, UT, central Utah coverage
- Salt Lake City, UT, full-spectrum support for families
- Riverdale, UT education and behavioral therapy hub
Search “ABA parent training near me” to find your nearest center or contact us directly.
Getting Started Is Easier Than You Think
You don’t have to become an expert overnight. And you don’t have to do this alone.
Bridgeway’s parent training is here to help you:
- Understand your child’s behavior
- Learn practical ways to support their growth
- Feel more confident, hopeful, and connected
Schedule a Consultation or explore ABA Services in Your City