11/16/2025
At Canoe Therapy, we use ABA to help children and teens build skills, reduce stress, and engage more confidently in their world. But what is ABA and what does the research say?
How it works:
ABA draws on well-established behavioural science: the idea that behaviours (skills or challenges) are influenced by what happens before (antecedents) and after (consequences).
A therapist starts by assessing the child’s strengths, what triggers difficulty, and what the child is motivated by. We then break down skills into clear, manageable steps (task analysis) and use consistent positive reinforcement when the child shows a desired behaviour. Over time, reinforcement is adjusted and the child learns to apply the skill more independently, across people and settings.
Examples: learning to request help rather than get frustrated; increasing time on task; improving social initiations; building daily-living routines.
What this means for your child:
ABA isn’t about making children fit into a mould. It’s about helping them learn tools to engage, self-regulate, communicate, and participate in meaningful ways.
Because the research supports that intensity + consistency matter, a therapy plan that’s tailored, well-monitored, and has clear goals tends to give better results.
At Canoe Therapy, our ABA service is integrated with our broader support (speech, OT, counselling) so that your child is seen as a whole person, not just a behaviour set to fix.
Progress looks different for each child. It might be raising a hand instead of blurting out, trying a new type of play, or improving on a daily-living task.
Call us today:
Oakville: 905-257-5555
Burlington: 905-633-9222
OR
Fill out a form and tell us what you're looking for. A family coordinator will get back to you quickly:
https://canoetherapy.ca/get-in-touch/
