Navigating Parent Collaboration Hurdles in ABA: Strategies for BCBAs
- Ashleigh Evans (BCBA)
- 11 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Parent training is an important part of ABA. Yet many BCBAs report feeling underprepared, especially when things don't go as planned. Caregivers may decline participation, cancel sessions frequently, seem disengaged, or struggle to follow through with recommendations.
BCBAs want the whole family to thrive, and effective caregiver collaboration is key to making that happen. It requires building trust, understanding the family's priorities, and adapting strategies to fit real life, not just writing a plan that works in a highly structured clinical setting.
The following guide explores four common challenges behavior analysts may encounter when working with parents and caregivers, along with actionable strategies for navigating them.
Note: The terms parent training, caregiver training, treatment guidance, and caregiver/parent collaboration are used interchangeably throughout this article.
Lack of Parent Buy-In or Engagement
One of the most challenging parent training hurdles can be getting caregivers engaged in the first place. Some caregivers may be hesitant to participate in training or appear disengaged during sessions.
There can be many reasons for this. They may feel overwhelmed, disagree with the treatment approach, have had negative experiences with ABA providers in the past, or simply don't understand how the discussions and recommended suggestions connect to their family's goals.
What BCBAs Can Do
It starts with the basics. Build rapport before trying to teach and direct. Take time to understand what caregivers want for their child and their family and which priorities matter most to them. When parent training addresses concerns that matter in the family's everyday life, caregivers may be more likely to see its value and actively participate.
BCBAs can also:
Assess Barriers to Buy-In. As behavior analysts, if a client were struggling with a skill, we wouldn't simply say, "Well, they just don't want to do it." We would dig deeper. The same principle applies when working with caregivers. Consider what may be making participation difficult. Is the caregiver overwhelmed? Does the recommendation feel unrealistic? Do they understand the rationale? Do they disagree with the treatment approach? Understanding those barriers will inform your next steps.
Look for Quick Wins. Behavior change takes time, but small, quick improvements can demonstrate that ABA strategies are useful. Start by identifying manageable goals that can produce meaningful changes in the family's daily life. A caregiver who sees that one small strategy makes bedtime, mealtime, or transitions easier may become more willing to try additional strategies.
Use plain language. Avoid unnecessary clinical jargon and focus on what the caregiver needs to know and do.
Invite feedback. Ask caregivers what's working, what's difficult, and what they would change. Their feedback can reveal barriers that may not be apparent to the clinician and help identify opportunities to make caregiver training more relevant to their needs.
Parent training should feel like a partnership rather than a one-way transfer of information. When caregivers feel heard and understand how their participation can support meaningful outcomes, they may be more willing to engage in the process. And when engagement isn't happening, the first question shouldn't be, "How do I get this caregiver to participate?" It should be, "What's getting in the way?"
Frequent Cancellations or Missed Parent Training Sessions
Another common challenge BCBAs encounter with parent training is frequent cancellations. Families are often juggling countless responsibilities that make consistent attendance difficult. Still, repeated cancellations can be frustrating for a BCBA, especially considering caregiver participation is a critical part of treatment.
What BCBAs Can Do
Proactively, BCBAs should take the time to ensure the session time and location work for the parent. Establishing a recurring meeting time (e.g., every Monday at 11 am) can help create consistency and reduce the likelihood of missed sessions.
When cancellations do arise, evaluate the barriers. Start by determining whether the current structure is realistic for the family.
Consider asking:
Is the scheduled time difficult for the caregiver? Would a different day or time work better?
Would a different format, such as telehealth, make participation easier?
Are there logistical barriers that the team can help address?
Look for flexibility where clinically appropriate. For example, a shorter training session that a caregiver can consistently attend may be more effective than a longer session that is repeatedly canceled.
While it's reasonable to expect some canceled sessions, repeated cancellations may indicate that something about the current arrangement isn't working. The family may be struggling with scheduling or other logistical barriers, or they may not see how the service connects to their priorities. Either way, a solid cancellation policy that clearly outlines expectations can help prevent confusion and establish a consistent approach when sessions are missed. Make sure caregivers understand the policy from the beginning, including how much notice is expected for cancellations and what happens when sessions are repeatedly missed.
Caregivers Struggle to Follow Through
Another common challenge occurs when caregivers understand a recommendation but struggle to implement it outside of caregiver training. There are many potential reasons for this, and it doesn't necessarily mean the caregiver isn't invested in treatment. Often, the strategy just isn't feasible given the demands and constraints in their daily life.
What BCBAs Can Do
This is when you have to think outside the box. While that beautifully written behavior intervention plan (BIP) may work well during structured 1:1 therapy sessions, it may not hold up as well when caregivers are managing a household on top of countless other responsibilities. Instead of simply repeating the recommendation or reminding the caregiver to follow through, work with them to identify what is getting in the way and find a strategy that better fits their life.
Consider:
Ask about what's getting in the way. Don't assume you know why a caregiver isn't following through. Ask what feels difficult or unrealistic about the recommendation. Help them understand that the expectation isn't simply to follow whatever plan you put together. The plan should be developed collaboratively to fit their needs. Honest insights will help you identify what needs to change.
Build strategies into existing routines. Whenever possible, incorporate strategies and practice opportunities into activities the family already does rather than adding another task to their day.
Reduce the response effort. Look for ways to simplify strategies to make them easier to implement. This can be gradually shaped!
Practice during training. When teaching a new strategy, use behavior skills training (BST) to teach it thoroughly and evaluate the caregiver's ability to demonstrate the skill. Provide feedback and additional practice as needed so caregivers feel confident implementing the strategy independently.
Prioritize. Reduce the number of expectations on caregivers. Focus on one or two strategies at a time that are most likely to support meaningful progress and build up from there.
Be willing to modify the plan. If a strategy isn't feasible, be flexible and open to modifications. Fine-tuning strategies to fit the family's life, culture, priorities, and values may be all that's needed to make them more sustainable.
The goal shouldn't be perfect implementation of a clinician-designed plan. The goal is to develop strategies that caregivers can realistically use and that support meaningful outcomes for the family.
Caregiver Disagrees With Treatment Recommendations
Caregivers aren't always going to agree with a BCBA's recommendations. That's okay. A caregiver may have concerns about an intervention, different ideas about what should be prioritized, or preferences for how treatment is delivered. Caregiver input is not only valid, but essential to be incorporated into treatment decisions.
What BCBAs Can Do
Listen before trying to persuade. Take time to understand why the caregiver disagrees. What concerns do they have? What would they prefer instead? Is there something about the intervention that doesn't feel realistic or appropriate to them?
BCBAs can also:
Explain the rationale. Caregivers are more likely to participate in treatment when they understand why a recommendation was made and how it connects to their child's outcomes.
Look for shared goals. The BCBA and caregiver may disagree about how to address a problem while ultimately wanting the same outcome. Identifying that common ground can help shift the conversation from disagreement to collaboration.
Take caregiver priorities seriously. Treatment should address meaningful goals that matter to the client and family. Incorporating caregiver priorities and preferences can make recommendations more relevant and increase their willingness to participate.
Be open to modification. Again, there is more than one way to do things. Be open to adapting an intervention to better fit the family's preferences, routines, and circumstances while maintaining its clinical integrity and behavioral principles.
Know when to seek support. Sometimes, additional support is needed to navigate challenging caregiver conflicts. If you're unsure how to proceed, talk with your supervisor or clinical team. If related to an ethical dilemma, you could also reach out to the ABA Ethics Hotline.
Ultimately, BCBAs have a responsibility to provide clinically appropriate, evidence-based treatment. If a caregiver's requested approach conflicts with ethical or conceptually sound behavior-analytic practice, it may require a more in-depth conversation about those concerns. In some cases, if the family's treatment preferences and the services the BCBA can appropriately provide can't be reconciled, referral to another provider or treatment approach may need to be considered.
Additional Resources to Strengthen Your Caregiver Collaboration Skills
Challenges in caregiver treatment guidance are inevitable. What matters is how BCBAs respond to them.
Looking for more support with caregiver collaboration? Here are a few recommended resources.
The One Year ABA Parent Training Curriculum provides practical guidance to help behavior analysts deliver quality caregiver training that helps the family make meaningful progress.
The ABA Parent Training Certificate. This self-paced series of continuing education courses provides in-depth knowledge on caregiver training and collaboration.
The Joy Curriculum Inside The MOTAS-EL. The MOTAS-EL includes a guide for parents to evaluate and work on their own behaviors and interactions with their child. It assesses a wide range of areas, from relationship building to responding to emotional distress.
Key Areas to Focus On: A Blog overview of topics of importance to focus on in ABA parent training.
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