me
Brain, what exactly is all this ABA about? Many people argue, some say it's helpful, others – that it's training…
brain
Alright, here's the quick update. ABA — Applied Behavior Analysis, in Polish *Stosowana Analiza Zachowania*. It is an evidence-based approach built on the idea that behavior has a function, and that if we understand why something happens, we can teach better strategies.
me
So it's not about punishing or forcing?
brain
In theory – no. It's about supporting what works.
brain
For example: if a child does not speak, ABA may help them learn communication — verbal, pictorial, gestural, any kind. But... exactly: everything depends on HOW it is done.
History of ABA: from training to support
me
Exactly! Because I heard that once ABA was some horror…
brain
Oh yes. In the 1960s–80s, one version of ABA was especially popular — the kind where the goal was to “fix” the child so they would look “normal”.
me
So... pure training?
brain
To a large extent yes. And many people who went through this still talk about trauma today. But fortunately – it's changing. 💡
brain
In that version of ABA, things often looked like this:
- stimming or other forms of self-regulation — forbidden,
- lack of eye contact — punished,
- anger — ignored.
What mattered was only this: “Do what you are told.”
Modern ABA: a different approach
me
Okay, so what is this 'modern ABA'?
brain
Today, ABA more often moves toward:
- supporting communication rather than suppressing it,
- learning through relationship rather than coercion,
- taking sensory experience and emotions into account,
- respecting refusal — because “I don’t want to” is an important skill.
me
And do people really teach it like this now?
brain
In good centers — yes. There are also organizations that monitor standards, such as BACB (Behavior Analyst Certification Board) or CASP (Council of Autism Service Providers).
brain
But watch out — not all ABA looks the same, and that is the biggest problem.
Kupferstein Study (2018): PTSD and ABA?
me
And that whole article saying ABA causes PTSD?
brain
Kupferstein (2018) – I know. This study caused a storm because it says autistic people after ABA have PTSD symptoms.
me
So this is proof that ABA = trauma?
brain
But... the study had important limitations: it relied on an online survey, without PTSD diagnosis and without a control group. On that basis, you cannot simply say that ABA = trauma.
brain
But — and this is the important part — if therapy is conducted rigidly, without consent and without regard for emotions, it can be deeply burdensome.
me
So what matters is the way it is used, not just the label?
brain
Exactly. ABA is a tool. You can use it to support development, but you can also overwhelm and suppress if it is used without reflection.
Parents and therapy choice
me
And what about those parents who use ABA?
brain
Let's not judge them too quickly. Many of them simply want to help their child — but sometimes no one has told them that there are different versions of ABA, and that they have the right to ask questions, check things carefully, and raise concerns. 🧾❓
me
Okay. But if I wanted to make sure the ABA I find is actually okay?
brain
Then ask better questions than just: “is this ABA?”
Ask:
- can my child say “no”,
- does anyone take their sensory needs and emotions into account,
- is anyone teaching them self-awareness, rather than only “good behavior”.
Alternative approaches: PBS, ACT, trauma-informed
me
And PBS, ACT, trauma-informed? Are they better?
brain
They also draw on behavior analysis, but they focus on relationship, values, and wellbeing — not only on outcomes.
Even analysts themselves increasingly say this out loud — for example, McGill and Robinson (2020) wrote an important article about moving away from behavior management and toward supporting the person.
ABA in Poland: a free-for-all?
me
Okay, all of this sounds like a description of the US... So what does the situation look like in Poland?
brain
(with a sigh) Ahh, Poland... exactly. ABA exists here too, but it is a completely different story.
brain
We do not have a system like in the US — no national supervision, no mandatory ethical code.
brain
There are therapists with the international BCBA certification, but there are only a handful of them.
So everything depends on who you happen to find?
me
So everything depends on who you find?
brain
Exactly. You may find someone excellent who truly supports a child in line with current knowledge.
brain
But you may also find someone who only calls what they do ABA while actually pushing for politeness, silence, no stimming, and “look me in the eye”.
me
And are there any organizations trying to keep some standards?
brain
Yes, although this is still more a matter of good practice than hard regulation:
- PSTB – Polish Association for Behavioral Therapy. They run their own PLTB certification (Polish License for a Behavioral Therapist), organize conferences, and keep a therapist register.
- Instytut Analizy Zachowania – works with international partners, organizes supervision, and runs its own certification path: Certyfikowany Analityk Zachowania (CAZ).
- Fundacja SCOLAR – based in Warsaw, offers many trainings and promotes an ethical approach.
What that means in practice
me
But there's no nationwide system like BACB?
brain
No. In Poland, ABA is still something of a free-for-all. That is why it matters so much to know what to ask — and not take everything on faith just because “behavior analysis” appears in the name.
Conclusion: ABA as a tool
me
So ABA is not automatically a disaster — but you do need to know who you are working with?
brain
Exactly. ABA is neither a religion nor an enemy — it is a tool.
brain
And with a tool, you can build a ramp — or a cage. The difference lies in who is holding it.
me
Thanks, Brain. As always, you are wiser than the entire Facebook feed.
brain
And you have not even seen me after coffee yet. ☕😉