When to Update Your ABA Therapy Techniques Skills

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an ever-evolving field, grounded in science and powered by human connection. As professionals, we work with the lives, learning paths, and emotional well-being of others, often during critical developmental periods. With such responsibility comes the need to continuously reflect, revise, and grow. Our ABA therapy techniques are not one-size-fits-all, nor are they set in stone. Just like the people we serve, our methods should grow with us.

So, when is the right time to update your ABA therapy skills?

The answer is layered, personal, and nuanced. Let’s explore the moments, both expected and surprising, that signal it’s time to revisit and refine the tools in your behavioral toolkit.

1. When Research and Best Practices Evolve

Behavior analysis, like all scientific fields, is rooted in evidence. As new research emerges and peer-reviewed studies challenge old assumptions or validate new methods, it’s essential that we stay informed. Relying solely on techniques learned during initial certification or graduate study risks becoming outdated.

For example, our understanding of reinforcement strategies, assent, trauma-informed care, and the social validity of interventions has expanded dramatically in the past decade. What was once considered best practice may no longer be seen as ethical or effective.

Ask yourself:

Am I integrating the latest peer-reviewed research into my sessions?
Do I understand how modern perspectives (e.g., neurodiversity-affirming practices) influence intervention strategies?
Have I questioned whether my “go-to” ABA therapy techniques still align with what we know now?

When science grows, so must we.

2. When Client Needs Shift

Each individual we work with brings their own strengths, challenges, communication styles, and cultural background. A method that resonates beautifully with one client may miss the mark with another.

Let’s say you’ve worked primarily with early learners and are now supporting older adolescents or adults. The communication expectations, reinforcers, and autonomy preferences likely differ. Or maybe you’ve moved from school-based services to in-home or community settings, contexts that require different levels of collaboration and skill application.

Indicators to update:

You’re working with new age groups, diagnoses, or support needs.
Techniques that were previously effective aren’t producing meaningful results.
Clients are disengaging or resisting your strategies.

This is not a failure, it’s a call to evolve. Adaptability is a marker of professionalism and compassion.

3. When Feedback Surfaces Opportunities

Constructive feedback, whether from supervisors, colleagues, clients, or caregivers, is one of the most valuable sources of growth. Sometimes we don’t realize a particular method isn’t landing until someone else points it out. That feedback may feel uncomfortable, but it opens the door to deeper alignment with the goals and values of those we serve.

At its heart, ABA is collaborative. When stakeholders speak up, we should listen with curiosity, not defensiveness.

Ways to reflect:

When was the last time I received feedback about my practices?
Did I follow up with changes or further education?
Do I create space for clients and families to give me honest feedback?

Feedback invites humility, and humility is the bedrock of better support.

4. When Cultural and Social Contexts Shift

Our field does not exist in a vacuum. ABA therapy techniques are implemented within constantly shifting social, cultural, and political environments. What may have been normalized years ago can now be recognized as problematic, even harmful.

The increased recognition of ableism, racial bias, gender diversity, and neurodiversity has spotlighted the need for clinicians to revisit not just what they do, but how and why they do it. Are we honoring the identities and lived experiences of those we support? Are we unintentionally reinforcing compliance over connection, or prioritizing normalization over autonomy?

Time to update if:

You haven’t received training on cultural humility, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), or intersectionality within ABA.
Your materials or language reflect outdated views.
You want to better serve diverse communities but don’t know where to start.

Growth begins with listening, and continues with learning.

5. When You Feel Burnt Out or Stagnant

Let’s shift the lens inward for a moment.

If you’re feeling tired, uninspired, or like you’re just going through the motions, that might be your internal cue that it’s time to re-engage. Burnout is common in helping professions. Often, it’s not just the workload, it’s the lack of novelty, connection, or meaning.

Learning new techniques, attending training, joining thoughtful conversations, or exploring adjacent disciplines (like occupational therapy, mental health counseling, or education policy) can reignite your passion. Professional development isn’t just for your clients, it’s for you, too.

Reframe growth as self-care.

Sign up for a course you’re genuinely excited about.
Join a community of practitioners who challenge and support you.
Explore modalities outside of ABA to enrich your perspective.

You’re allowed to evolve. In fact, you’re meant to.

6. When Ethical Considerations Arise

Ethical guidelines from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB^®) are foundational, but ethics are not just checkboxes, they are a dynamic conversation. There may be moments when you recognize a tension between what you were taught and what feels right in practice.

Do your current techniques promote autonomy? Are they consent-based? Do they respect the person’s culture, identity, and communication preferences?

Reflective questions:

Are there techniques I’ve used that I now question?
Have I explored ethics through a contemporary, community-informed lens?
Am I open to re-evaluating practices that may not align with evolving ethical frameworks?

Ethical growth is not an admission of wrongdoing. It’s a commitment to doing better.

7. When New Technologies and Tools Emerge

Technology is rapidly transforming ABA. From telehealth to data collection apps to virtual training modules, staying informed about new tools can enhance your practice’s effectiveness and efficiency.

Beyond software, technology also brings new teaching modalities, such as video modeling, gamified learning, and virtual reality for social skills practice. Knowing when, and how, to incorporate these tools responsibly is part of staying current.

Stay curious about:

Digital tools that improve data accuracy and collaboration.
Tech that enhances client engagement.
Ethical considerations around surveillance, privacy, and screen time.

New tools can deepen impact, if used mindfully.

8. When You Join or Build a New Team

Starting a new job or project is a prime moment to recalibrate. Each team brings its own culture, expectations, and standards. Take this opportunity to examine your existing toolbox and consider how you can contribute from a place of informed, updated practice.

Are your methods aligned with your new team’s values? Are you offering ideas that reflect the most current thinking? Can you advocate for growth, not just for yourself but also for your colleagues?

Collaborative learning thrives in teams that:

Share resources and challenge each other kindly.
Value transparency over perfectionism.
Celebrate evolving perspectives and skills.

Your development creates a ripple effect.

9. When You’re Inspired by Others

Sometimes, the most unexpected motivation to update our ABA therapy techniques comes from witnessing excellence in others. Maybe you watched a webinar, read a post, or observed a colleague’s session and thought: Wow, I want to learn how to do that.

Let that inspiration guide you. Ask questions. Read widely. Join groups. Attend conferences. Follow practitioners outside your niche or identity group. Growth doesn’t have to start from a problem, it can begin with possibility.

10. When You Realize There’s More to Learn (There Always Is)

Perhaps the most important reason to update your skills is this: because learning never ends.

ABA is a living, breathing practice that thrives in relationships, dialogue, innovation, and reflection. There is no final destination, only deeper, more meaningful layers of understanding.

You are not expected to know everything. But you are called to keep growing.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

At the Do Better Collective, we believe in the power of learning together.

We are an inclusive, vibrant, and supportive community of professionals across ABA and adjacent fields who share a common goal: making life better for others. Through a collaborative online platform, we create safe spaces for ongoing education, honest conversations, and bold curiosity.

Whether you’re a seasoned BCBA, a new therapist, or somewhere in between, you are welcome here.

Explore live events, recorded trainings, and discussion forums. Engage with people who challenge you to expand your thinking while honoring your experience. And most importantly, reconnect with the “why” behind your work.

Contact Us Today

It’s time to revisit your skills, not because you’re doing something wrong, but because you’re ready to do even better.

Join us at the Do Better Collective and become part of a movement of compassionate, curious, and committed professionals. Together, we’ll refine our ABA therapy techniques, challenge outdated norms, and uplift each other in pursuit of ethical, empowering support for all.

Let’s grow, collectively.

Explore CEUs

Become a member