Good Rapport in ABA Therapy

Good rapport refers to the strong and positive relationship between a therapist and their client. In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, rapport can be one of the most valuable tools in a therapist’s toolkit, with endless benefits for both the client and the therapist. Establishing good rapport creates a trusting environment where learning and skill development can thrive.

Building Rapport at the Beginning and End of Sessions

To foster a positive connection, take time to engage with your client at the beginning and end of each session.

✔ Avoid placing demands during this time. Instead, allow your client to share something exciting, such as a story about their weekend or showing off their new sneakers.
✔ Show genuine interest in their interests. This process, known as pairing, helps the client associate you with their preferred activities and items, strengthening your relationship.

This same approach can be used during reinforcement breaks. While breaks are a great time to enter data, actively engaging with your client during reinforcement prevents them from associating you only with demands.

👉 Remember: We want to be seen as fun and supportive, not just someone who gives tasks!

Respecting the Client’s Learning and Tolerance Levels

A key aspect of rapport-building is respecting your client’s comfort level regarding learning and work tolerance.

🚫 A child who is constantly pushed beyond their limits may lose confidence in themselves and become resistant to learning.
✅ Instead, incorporate high-probability targets (High-Ps)—tasks your client is confident in and can complete successfully.

By starting with easier tasks, your client builds confidence and trust in your guidance. When they succeed, offer genuine, specific praise rather than generic feedback.

Example:
🔸 Instead of saying: "Good job!"
🔹 Say: "Great job putting on your jacket all by yourself!"

This boosts motivation and helps create a positive learning environment.

Empowering Clients Through Choices

Offering choices throughout the session empowers clients and builds trust. There are many opportunities for choice-making, such as:

✔ Selecting which work task to complete first
✔ Choosing the work location (e.g., desk, floor, or play area)
✔ Deciding between reinforcers (e.g., stickers, tokens, or preferred activities)

🔹 Honoring client choices is crucial. Offering a choice and then ignoring their decision can damage trust and make the client feel unheard. Allowing participation in decision-making is also an important aspect of maintaining client dignity.

The Importance of Rapport in Therapy Sessions

Wall (2021) explored rapport-building in speech therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during virtual sessions. She surveyed both clients (in age-appropriate ways) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs).

📌 Key Findings:
✔ Good rapport was an essential foundation for effective learning, regardless of the child’s age.
✔ SLPs reported that strong rapport improved participation during sessions.

These findings align with what we see in ABA therapy—rapport-building is essential for engagement, motivation, and success.

Final Thoughts: Be Patient and Consistent

Building good rapport does not happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and consistent effort from the therapist.

By showing genuine interest, respecting learning levels, and offering choices, you create a trusting and supportive environment where both you and your client can enjoy sessions while achieving meaningful progress.

Reference

Wall, A. C. (2021). The perception and strategies of building rapport with children with autism spectrum disorder via telepractice (Order No. 28414700). Available from ProQuest One Academic. (2549695746). Retrieved from ProQuest