Is social skills training a separate service, or is it part of ABA therapy?

At The Behavior Project, social skills development is integrated into each child's individualized ABA program. During the initial assessment, the BCBA identifies social goals based on the child's unique strengths and needs, and those goals become part of the overall treatment plan from the very beginning.

How long does it take to see progress?

Every child progresses at their own pace, so timelines vary based on individual needs and goals. Progress is tracked throughout care using ongoing data collection, giving families a clear view of their child's growth over time within recurring parent support meetings.

Will ABA therapy change my child's personality?

This concern comes up often, and it is completely understandable. The goal is not to change who your child is, but to help them build meaningful social connections and develop skills that support their independence and quality of life. As one parent shared, their child made significant developmental progress while "staying completely true to his personality."

Does insurance cover social skills support?

Because social skills goals are integrated into your child's comprehensive ABA program, they are covered under the same ABA insurance authorization. Our team will verify your benefits before services begin so you have a clear understanding of coverage and any expected costs prior to enrollment.

What makes The Behavior Project different from other providers?

The Behavior Project was built exclusively for early intervention, and every aspect of our program is designed to support how young children learn best. We provide individualized, evidence-based ABA using a naturalistic, play-based approach that focuses on building meaningful communication, social, play, and daily living skills. Our organization is locally owned and led by a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), with every treatment plan developed and overseen by experienced clinical leaders. We are also nationally accredited by BHCOE, reflecting our commitment to high-quality, evidence-based care and continuous quality improvement. Our goal isn't simply to provide therapy it's to create a place where children get to be children, families feel supported, and meaningful learning happens through play, relationships, and evidence-based care.

Social Skills Training With ABA Overland Park, KS

Imagine your child standing near a group of children playing a game-watching, interested, and trying to figure out how to join in. While it may seem like a simple moment, successful peer interactions rely on many skills working together at the same time. Children are reading facial expressions, taking turns, adjusting when the game changes, and deciding what to say or do next.

For many children, coordinating all of these skills at once can be challenging, and they often benefit from explicit teaching and practice. At The Behavior Project, we break these complex social interactions into smaller, teachable skills that help children build confidence, connect with peers, and participate in play in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful to them.

The clinic environments at The Behavior Project are built for social development. Each location includes turf areas, play gyms, dedicated one-on-one rooms, and themed spaces like a grocery store, fire station, and a school house.

Therapists function as genuine play partners. Following the NDBI framework, they follow your child's lead, embed teaching into natural moments of play, and use your child's own interests as the engine for learning. Where appropriate, children also practice with peers, using real social scenarios so the skills that develop in the clinic are the same ones that transfer to the world outside it.

Social skills programming at The Behavior Project is built for children who already have an autism diagnosis and are working on some combination of peer interaction, communication, and social understanding.

Families who come to The Behavior Project because they want their child to grow without losing who they are. One parent described therapy "staying completely true to his personality," and that is the standard here. If your child does not yet have a formal autism diagnosis but you have concerns about their social development, contact us at one of our three locations in Johnson County. Our friendly team can point you toward appropriate next steps.

Choosing an ABA provider is an important decision, The Behavior Project is led by a BCBA-D, and one of the few ABA clinics in the entire Kansas City area that combines that level of ownership with national accreditation from the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. That combination makes a real difference in quality of services provided.

We also place a strong emphasis on parent collaboration, making sure you understand how to support your child’s growth outside of sessions. Families are encouraged to stay connected with our team through regular communication and ongoing support.

With over eight years in Johnson County and 500+ children served, our experience is deeply rooted in the local community. We also support organizations like The Aiden Project and Camp Encourage, reflecting our commitment to families beyond the clinic walls.

Is social skills training a separate service, or is it part of ABA therapy?
At The Behavior Project, social skills development is integrated into each child's individualized ABA program. During the initial assessment, the BCBA identifies social goals based on the child's unique strengths and needs, and those goals become part of the overall treatment plan from the very beginning.
How long does it take to see progress?
Every child progresses at their own pace, so timelines vary based on individual needs and goals. Progress is tracked throughout care using ongoing data collection, giving families a clear view of their child's growth over time within recurring parent support meetings.
Will ABA therapy change my child's personality?
This concern comes up often, and it is completely understandable. The goal is not to change who your child is, but to help them build meaningful social connections and develop skills that support their independence and quality of life. As one parent shared, their child made significant developmental progress while "staying completely true to his personality."
Does insurance cover social skills support?
Because social skills goals are integrated into your child's comprehensive ABA program, they are covered under the same ABA insurance authorization. Our team will verify your benefits before services begin so you have a clear understanding of coverage and any expected costs prior to enrollment.
What makes The Behavior Project different from other providers?
The Behavior Project was built exclusively for early intervention, and every aspect of our program is designed to support how young children learn best. We provide individualized, evidence-based ABA using a naturalistic, play-based approach that focuses on building meaningful communication, social, play, and daily living skills.

Our organization is locally owned and led by a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), with every treatment plan developed and overseen by experienced clinical leaders. We are also nationally accredited by BHCOE, reflecting our commitment to high-quality, evidence-based care and continuous quality improvement.

Our goal isn't simply to provide therapy it's to create a place where children get to be children, families feel supported, and meaningful learning happens through play, relationships, and evidence-based care.