One of the things that always stood out to me about ABA was the constant data collection. Every action was tracked. Every “success” was a check mark. Every “non-compliance” was a note in a binder.
At first, it felt reassuring. It looked organized, scientific, and measurable. But over time, I realized what the numbers didn’t show… how my kids felt during those sessions.
You can’t measure trust. You can’t record emotional safety. You can’t graph a child’s sense of belonging or joy.
What ABA often calls “progress” can sometimes just mean that a child has learned to suppress what makes them feel comfortable or safe. That isn’t growth. That’s survival.
Therapy should help a child feel seen, not scored. Connection will always tell you more than any data sheet ever could.
