Is ABA Therapy Harmful?

October 17, 2025

When done correctly, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is not harmful, it’s one of the most effective, evidence-based treatments for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, misconceptions about ABA often come from older practices that were overly rigid or focused only on compliance. Modern ABA is very different.

Today’s ABA emphasizes compassion, collaboration, and respect. It’s designed to help children build meaningful life skills, like communication, social interaction, and self-regulation, while celebrating their individuality. A good ABA program prioritizes the child’s comfort, consent, and emotional well-being at every step.


ABA becomes harmful only when it’s done without compassion or personalization. That’s why it’s essential to work with trained Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who create programs centered on positive reinforcement, natural learning, and family involvement.


At Diving Steps ABA, we provide kind, ethical, and family-focused ABA therapy in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, to help children to learn and grow in ways that respect who they are. Our mission is to build confidence, not conformity.


Want to experience ABA therapy that puts your child’s well-being first? Contact us today


SOURCES


https://www.reddit.com/r/autism/comments/1fg5lzy/is_modern_aba_always_bad/


https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9114057/


https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41252-021-00201-1


https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/3/72


https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/25197-applied-behavior-analysis


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