Skill-Based Treatment (SBT): A Compassionate Approach to ABA

When families first hear about Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), they often wonder:

• Will this feel rigid?

• Will my child be pushed too hard?

• Will therapy focus only on stopping behaviour?

At Progressive Steps, we believe there is a better way.

Skill-Based Treatment (SBT) is a research-based approach to ABA that prioritizes safety, trust, and emotional regulation while building meaningful skills. It is especially helpful for children who engage in aggression, self-injury, severe tantrums, property destruction, elopement, or intense non-compliance.

Instead of focusing first on stopping behaviour, SBT focuses on understanding it.

The Core Belief: Behaviour Has a Purpose

All behaviour serves a function.

Children typically engage in challenging behaviour to:

• Gain attention

• Access preferred items

• Escape demands

• Or a combination of these

If challenging behaviour works better than communication, it will continue.

SBT can change that by teaching children safer, more effective ways to get their needs met.

The Four Foundational Skills We Teach

SBT follows a structured progression. We do not increase expectations until foundational skills are strong.

1. Functional Communication

Children learn how to appropriately request what they need and those requests are reinforced immediately.

This builds trust and shows children that communication works better than aggression.

2. Tolerance

Children learn to calmly respond to:

• “No”

• “Wait”

• “Not right now”

Tolerance is taught gradually and reinforced explicitly.

3. Relinquishing

Children learn to give up preferred items or pause activities voluntarily, without escalation.

This reduces power struggles around:

• iPads

• Toys

• Transitions

• Daily routines

4. Gradual Cooperation

Only after communication and tolerance are stable do we slowly increase expectations.

Demands are shaped gradually:

• Short tasks

• Small waits

• Brief transitions

• Increasing stamina

This builds resilience without triggering crisis.

What Does SBT Look Like in Sessions?

Early Phase

• Play-based

• Minimal demands

• High reinforcement

• Relationship-building

Middle Phase

• Short tasks

• Small “no’s”

• Brief waits

• Growing flexibility

Late Phase

• Longer work periods

• Real-world expectations

• Reduced reinforcement

• Stronger independence

Learning happens best when children are happy, relaxed, and engaged.

How SBT Differs From Traditional ABA Approaches

Traditional ABA models often relied heavily on:

• Withholding reinforcers

• Pushing through distress

• Rigid first/then structures

SBT takes a different approach:

• Safety comes before compliance

• Reinforcement is used strategically early on

• Cooperation is shaped gradually

• Escalation is prevented, not provoked

• Emotional regulation is prioritized

SBT aligns with trauma-informed principles and emphasizes dignity, consent, and emotional safety.

Is Skill-Based Treatment Right for Your Family?

Every therapeutic model reflects certain values.

SBT may be a good fit if you value:

• Building regulation before increasing demands

• Understanding behaviour as communication

• Gradual shaping of resilience

• A relationship-based early phase

• Collaboration between therapists and caregivers

• A trauma-informed lens

• Consistent sessions (more than once weekly)

SBT may not feel aligned if you prefer:

• Immediate strict compliance

• Rapid demand increases

• Learning primarily through consequences

• Minimal reinforcement

• One session per week as the primary intervention

Alignment matters. Therapy works best when families and clinicians share a common philosophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will this take?

There is no fixed timeline.

Progress depends on:

• Your child’s learning history

• Behaviour intensity

• Communication profile

• Sleep and medical stability

• Therapy hours

• Caregiver collaboration

We move based on data and readiness.

How long does it take to move through the phases?

The pace of progress varies widely among children.

Some move quickly through early communication phases. Others need more time to stabilize before advancing.

Progress is not linear. Regression during illness, stress, or therapy breaks is normal.

How many hours per week are recommended?

Higher consistency leads to faster stabilization.

For children with severe behaviour, more frequent sessions typically produce stronger outcomes.

At Progressive Steps, we recommend a minimum of two 2-hour sessions per week.

What happens if my child engages in behaviour during sessions?

Safety comes first.

If behaviour occurs:

1. We ensure safety.

2. We return to the last successful skill level.

3. We reinforce communication and regulation.

4. We adjust expectations.

Behaviour is treated as information, not a failure.

I thought we weren’t supposed to reinforce challenging behaviour?

In early phases, we may reinforce early signals (precursors) to prevent escalation and build trust.

Once communication is strong, challenging behaviour no longer produces reinforcement.

This is strategic and temporary, not permissive.

My child is non-verbal. How will they communicate?

Speech is not required.

We can teach:

• Sign language

• Picture exchange systems

• AAC devices

• Voice-output buttons

• Gestures

The goal is functional communication.

What happens at home?

In early phases, home life does not need to look like therapy.

We provide families with:

• A prevention plan

• Clear response strategies

• De-escalation guidance

• Safety procedures

Caregivers are typically supported in implementing SBT outside of sessions once a child reaches Phase 5 (Generalization).

What does generalization look like?

Generalization means:

• Communication works across people

• Tolerance shows up at home and school

• Cooperation transfers to routines

• Skills persist without constant reinforcement

We systematically change settings, people, materials, and times until skills become durable.

Are there children who are not a good fit for SBT?

Yes.

SBT may not be appropriate if behaviour is primarily driven by:

• Ongoing pain

• GI discomfort

• Sleep problems

• Seizures

• Medication side effects

• Untreated medical or psychiatric concerns

Medical stabilization should occur first.

SBT may also not align if there is strong philosophical disagreement with the model.

What if we decide it’s not the right fit?

ABA is not one single method.

If SBT does not align with your child’s needs or your family’s values, we can:

• Adjust pacing

• Modify intensity

• Shift strategies

• Explore alternative approaches

At Progressive Steps, we prioritize safety, trust, and assent regardless of the model used.

How Progress Is Monitored?

We track:

• Frequency and intensity of behaviour

• Communication independence

• Tolerance duration

• Task stamina

• Cooperation levels

• Parent feedback

Families receive regular updates, reviews, and collaborative planning meetings.

Our Commitment

Skill-Based Treatment is not about lowering expectations.

It is about teaching the skills needed to meet expectations safely.

When implemented consistently and ethically, SBT helps children:

• Reduce escalation

• Build flexibility

• Increase independence

• Strengthen communication

• Experience success

And it helps families experience:

• Fewer power struggles

• Greater clarity

• Increased confidence

• More peace at home

If you would like to learn whether Skill-Based Treatment is appropriate for your child, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our Clinical Director to learn more.