Can I Cancel ABA Therapy? Key Reasons to Pause or Continue

Key Highlights

• Canceling ABA therapy could hinder the child’s progress, leading to regression in learned skills and developmental setbacks.
• Parents often face dilemmas like financial concerns, time constraints, or doubts about the therapy plan and the ABA provider.
• Missing ABA sessions can disrupt skill development, consistency, and generalization of tasks in various environments.
• Communication and parental involvement play a pivotal role in fostering positive behaviors and achieving better outcomes.
• Alternatives, including adjusted schedules or switching to another ABA provider, may help support your child’s needs without canceling therapy.
• This blog offers answers to common inquiries about medical necessity, flexibility, and penalties tied to ABA therapy cancellations.

It’s normal to feel conflicted when considering a pause or cancellation of ABA therapy. Life throws curveballs, but it’s essential to understand what’s at stake. We’re here to unpack the impact, the alternatives, and how to move forward.

One family I helped was on the verge of quitting due to burnout. After shortening in-home ABA session lengths and changing the delivery method, their child began making noticeable improvements again.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through some of the key things to think about before making a decision, along with some alternatives that might work better for your family.

Why Parents Consider Canceling ABA Therapy

I’ve had many conversations with parents over the years who were thinking about canceling ABA therapy for various reasons.

Most of the time, it’s because life gets in the way—whether it’s the financial burden, a packed schedule, or doubts about the therapy’s effectiveness. These are real concerns, and they need to be addressed carefully.

Financial and Time Struggles

One of the biggest reasons parents consider stopping ABA therapy is because it can be expensive and time-consuming.

I’ve worked with families who were doing their best to stick with the ABA therapy schedule, but the costs and time commitments started to feel like too much. Insurance doesn’t always cover the full cost, and for families who are already juggling work and other responsibilities, ABA therapy can start to feel like an extra weight.

But here’s the thing: even though it’s a huge commitment, the benefits of consistency are undeniable. I’ve seen first-hand how skipping sessions can impact a child’s progress. At the same time, there’s no need to feel like you have to cancel therapy completely if your schedule or budget is tight.

I’ve worked with families to adjust their therapy schedules, cutting down on hours or shifting sessions to evenings or weekends to make it more manageable.

Concerns About Progress or Fit

Another reason parents sometimes decide to pause therapy is that they’re not seeing the progress they expected.

As an ABA therapist, I’ve worked with families who felt that the therapy wasn’t quite the right fit for their child. Maybe the child wasn’t responding to certain strategies, or there were changes in therapists that made it harder to stay consistent.

I get it—if you’re not seeing the results you hoped for, it can be incredibly frustrating. But in my experience, it’s important to have an open conversation with your therapist before jumping to conclusions.

Sometimes, a few tweaks in the approach can make a huge difference. For example, I worked with one family whose child wasn’t responding to traditional therapy, but after incorporating more naturalistic teaching methods—like learning through play—the child made major strides.

Keep the conversation going with your therapist so you can make adjustments that might help your child progress.

The Consequences of Canceling ABA Therapy

If you’re thinking about canceling ABA therapy, it’s important to understand what might happen as a result. It’s not just about missing a few sessions—it’s about the potential long-term effects on your child’s development.

Impact on Skill Development and Consistency

ABA therapy works best when it’s consistent. I’ve seen time and again how even a short break in therapy can disrupt a child’s progress. ABA helps teach new skills and behaviors through repetition, and without that consistency, the child may lose some of what they’ve already learned. 

I remember a child I worked with who had been making great progress with communication skills, but after missing a couple of weeks of therapy, they struggled to express themselves again. It’s a setback that’s tough to bounce back from quickly.

Consistency is key. It’s what makes ABA so effective, and when that’s disrupted, it’s harder for the child to maintain their skills.

Effects on Family Dynamics and Support

ABA therapy isn’t just about helping the child—it’s also about supporting the whole family.

I’ve seen firsthand how parents and caregivers benefit from the tools and strategies they learn through ABA therapy. When therapy stops, it’s not just the child who feels the impact; the whole family can feel the stress and strain.

Without ongoing therapy, families may struggle to manage challenging behaviors or keep up with the routines they’ve worked so hard to establish. I had one family who reported a noticeable increase in stress and tension when their child’s ABA sessions were cut short.

The lack of support made managing daily challenges harder, and the whole family felt the strain.

Alternatives to Canceling ABA Therapy

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to know that there are options that can help you avoid canceling therapy altogether.

There are ways to adjust the therapy schedule or even find a different provider if the current setup isn’t working.

Adjusting the Therapy Schedule

If the issue is that the therapy schedule doesn’t fit into your family’s life, talk to your ABA provider about adjusting the hours.

I’ve helped families find new schedules that work better for them, whether it’s reducing therapy hours, switching to weekend sessions, or even trying virtual therapy if that’s more convenient.