What to Expect at Your First ABA Consultation

You made the call. You booked the consultation. And now you're sitting with a mix of hope and nerves wondering — what actually happens next?

If you're new to Applied Behavior Analysis, the idea of a first consultation can feel overwhelming. You might not know the right questions to ask, or even what ABA really looks like in practice. That's completely normal. And that's exactly why this first step exists — not to test you, but to get to know you.

Here's what a first consultation with Baker Consulting typically looks like, so you can walk in feeling prepared.

It starts with your story

Before we talk about assessments, goals, or treatment plans, we want to hear from you. A first consultation is a conversation — not a clinical evaluation.

We'll ask things like:

• What brought you here today?

• What does a typical day look like for your child and family?

• What are your biggest concerns right now?

• What's working well — and what feels hard?

There are no wrong answers. You know your child better than anyone, and that knowledge is the foundation of everything we do.

We'll explain how ABA works — in plain language

If you've Googled ABA, you've probably come across a lot of jargon: discrete trial training, functional behavior assessments, antecedent interventions. It can feel like learning a new language.

During the consultation, we'll break all of that down into terms that actually make sense. We'll explain what ABA therapy looks like day-to-day, how we develop individualized goals, and what your role as a caregiver looks like in the process.

No acronyms without explanations. No assumptions about what you already know.

We'll talk about what services might be a good fit

Every family's needs are different. Some clients benefit from direct ABA therapy — in-home, in school, or virtual. Others are looking for caregiver training so they can implement strategies on their own. Some need both.

During the consultation, we'll walk through the options together and talk about what makes sense for your situation. There's no pressure to commit to anything on the spot.

You can ask anything

Seriously — anything. Here are some questions families commonly bring to a first consultation:

• How long does ABA therapy typically last?

• Will my child have the same therapist every session?

• How will I know if it's working?

• Can services happen at school?

• What does supervision look like?

If something comes up after the consultation that you forgot to ask, you can always reach out. We're not going anywhere.

What happens after

If we're a good fit, we'll outline the next steps together — which might include a more in-depth assessment, setting up a schedule, or connecting you with a BCBA on our team. If we're not the right match, we'll help point you in the right direction.

Either way, you'll leave the consultation with more clarity than you came in with. That's the whole point.

You've already done the hard part

Reaching out for support isn't easy. It takes courage to say "I need help" or "I want something better for my family." The fact that you're reading this means you're already advocating for your child — and that matters more than anything.

We're here when you're ready.

Ready to take the next step? Book a free consultation with Baker Consulting today.

Share

Content

SEO • Search results for Baker Consulting and Bakers Consulting are extremely different • Search results for Baker Consulting o https://www.thebakerconsulting.com/home o https://www.baker.consulting/ o Michael Baker International | We Make A Difference o Business Consulting Services | IBM o Our serv

pasted

1.