Frequently Asked Questions · Sunshine Behavioral Health Services
Parents across Southeast Florida come to us with the same questions every day. Here are clear, honest answers from our board-certified behavior analysts — covering everything from what ABA therapy is to how insurance works, what sessions look like, and how to get started.
All answers reviewed by our BCBA clinical team. Sunshine Behavioral Health Services is a YMYL health site. Every answer on this page is written and reviewed by a board-certified behavior analyst to ensure clinical accuracy for families in Southeast Florida.
About ABA Therapy
Everything you need to know about Applied Behavior Analysis — what it is, how it works, and whether it is right for your child.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based therapy widely used for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental challenges. It works by analyzing the relationship between a child’s behavior, their environment, and learning — then using proven techniques to build new skills and reduce behaviors that interfere with daily life. ABA is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the US Surgeon General, and the CDC. Learn more in our ABA therapy guide.
Yes. ABA therapy has one of the strongest evidence bases of any intervention for autism spectrum disorder. Decades of peer-reviewed research show that ABA therapy — especially when started early and delivered with adequate intensity — leads to meaningful improvements in communication, social skills, adaptive behavior, and daily living skills. The evidence is strongest for early intervention in children under 5, but ABA therapy benefits children of all ages. Read more in our blog post: Is ABA Therapy Effective?
ABA therapy is most widely used for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but it also benefits children with ADHD, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, communication disorders, and behavioral challenges. The core principles of behavior analysis apply across many conditions. If you are unsure whether ABA therapy is appropriate for your child, contact us for a free consultation.
ABA therapy focuses on behavior — understanding why a behavior happens and using evidence-based strategies to teach new skills and reduce challenging behaviors. Speech therapy focuses specifically on communication and language. Occupational therapy focuses on fine motor skills, sensory processing, and daily living activities. Many children with autism receive all three therapies simultaneously. ABA therapy often works closely alongside speech and OT goals and can support progress in both areas. See our comparison article: ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies.
No. While ABA therapy has the strongest research base for autism spectrum disorder, it is also effective for children with ADHD, developmental delays, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, anxiety, and other behavioral challenges. Our BCBAs assess each child individually and design programs based on their specific profile — not their diagnostic label. Read more: Who Can Benefit from ABA Therapy?
Yes. Modern ABA therapy looks very different from older approaches. Today’s ABA is naturalistic, child-led, and play-based — especially for young children. Therapists follow the child’s interests, embed learning into everyday activities, and prioritize skills the child and family actually want. The rigid, drill-based approaches of decades past are not the standard of care today. Our BCBA team uses the most current, evidence-based techniques throughout all of our programs.
Still have questions? Read our full ABA therapy guide →
Getting Started
From first contact to first session — how the process works, what to expect, and how quickly therapy can begin.
Signs that your child may benefit from ABA therapy include: delayed speech or language, difficulty with social interactions, repetitive behaviors, challenges following routines, aggression or self-injurious behavior, or a recent autism or developmental diagnosis. The best way to know is to schedule a free consultation with our team. We will assess your child’s needs and explain honestly whether ABA therapy is the right fit. Schedule a free consultation →
The first step is to contact us. You can call, fill out our contact form, or schedule online. From there, our team verifies your insurance coverage, answers your questions, and schedules an initial BCBA assessment — usually within a few days of your first contact. There is no long waitlist and no commitment required for the initial consultation.
For insurance coverage, yes — most plans require a formal autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychologist. However, you do not need a diagnosis to contact us or schedule a consultation. If your child does not yet have a diagnosis, we can guide you through the diagnostic evaluation process and help you take the right next steps. Contact us to discuss your situation.
Most families complete the intake process within one to three weeks from first contact to first therapy session. This includes insurance verification (24 to 48 hours), the initial BCBA assessment (typically one to two sessions), treatment plan development, and scheduling. We move as quickly as your insurance and scheduling allow. If Medicaid prior authorization is required, it may take up to two weeks for approval.
During the initial assessment, a BCBA meets with your family — usually in your home or at the school — to evaluate your child’s current skills, understand the behaviors of concern, review medical and educational records, and discuss your family’s goals. The assessment typically takes two to four hours spread across one or two sessions. It results in a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) report and an individualized treatment plan. Learn more about FBAs →
The earlier, the better. Research consistently shows that children who start ABA therapy between ages 2 and 5 make the most significant and lasting gains because the brain is most responsive to learning during those years. However, ABA therapy is effective at any age — we serve children from toddlers through young adults up to age 21. If your child is older, it is not too late. Read more: When Should You Start ABA Therapy?
Still have questions? Schedule a free consultation →
How Therapy Works
What sessions look like, how progress is tracked, who works with your child, and how long therapy lasts.
Sessions vary depending on your child’s age, goals, and the type of ABA being delivered. For young children, sessions look like play — the therapist follows the child’s interests and embeds learning opportunities naturally into activities. For older children, sessions may include more structured skill-building, social skills practice, and community activities. All sessions are guided by the individualized treatment plan and tracked with real data. Sessions typically last two to four hours depending on the child’s program intensity.
This depends on your child’s diagnosis, age, and goals. Research suggests that children with autism who need intensive early intervention may benefit from 25 to 40 hours per week. Children with milder presentations or specific skill goals may do well with 10 to 15 hours per week. Your child’s BCBA will recommend an intensity level based on the initial assessment and adjust it as your child progresses. Insurance plans often have guidelines on authorized hours as well.
We provide ABA therapy in three settings. In-home: sessions at your child’s home, which allows skills to be taught in the natural environment. School-based: sessions inside the school, supporting classroom behavior, IEP goals, and peer interaction. Telehealth: remote sessions for parent training and some skill-building, available across all four counties. Many children receive services in more than one setting simultaneously. The BCBA recommends the best setting based on your child’s goals.
A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) typically delivers the direct one-on-one therapy sessions under the supervision of a BCBA. The BCBA designs the treatment plan, trains the RBT, reviews session data, and meets regularly with your family to review progress. Your child’s BCBA is involved in every aspect of the program — not just the initial assessment. You will always know the names and credentials of everyone working with your child.
Every ABA therapy session is tracked with objective data. The therapist records data on each goal during every session — how many times the skill was practiced, how many correct responses occurred, and what prompts were needed. The BCBA reviews this data regularly and uses it to adjust the treatment plan. Families receive regular progress reports so you always have a clear picture of where your child stands. This data-driven approach is one of the things that makes ABA therapy different from less structured interventions.
The length of ABA therapy varies depending on your child’s goals, the intensity of services, and their rate of progress. Some children reach their goals within one to two years. Others benefit from longer-term support. ABA therapy is not indefinite — your child’s BCBA regularly reviews progress and recommends reducing hours or transitioning out of services when your child is ready. We will always be transparent with you about where your child stands and what the plan is. Read more: How Long Does ABA Therapy Last?
Insurance & Costs
How insurance coverage works in Florida, which plans we accept, and exactly what you will pay before therapy begins.
Yes. Florida law (Statute 627.6686) requires most insurance plans to cover ABA therapy for children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Florida Medicaid also covers ABA therapy for eligible children under 21. We verify your coverage before your first appointment at no cost to you. Visit our insurance verification page for full details.
Contact us and we will verify your benefits for free within 24 hours. We contact your insurance company directly, confirm your ABA therapy coverage, review your deductible and co-pay, and check prior authorization requirements. We then explain everything in plain language before any services begin. You will never be surprised by a bill.
We work with most major plans in Southeast Florida including Florida Medicaid, Sunshine Health, Molina Healthcare, Simply Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, Humana, Florida Blue, AvMed, and Oscar Health — among others. If your plan is not listed, contact us and we will verify it directly.
Insurance denials happen but many are overturned on appeal. Under Florida law and federal mental health parity rules, your insurer cannot arbitrarily deny medically necessary ABA therapy. The most common denial reasons — missing prior authorization, documentation gaps, or diagnosis code mismatches — are fixable. We help families gather the right documentation and guide them through the appeals process. Contact us immediately if you receive a denial.
This depends on your specific plan — your deductible, co-insurance percentage, and co-pay structure. Most families with Florida Medicaid pay little or nothing. Families with commercial insurance typically pay a co-pay per session after meeting their deductible. We will walk you through your exact costs before therapy begins. We do not start services without giving you a complete picture of what you will owe.
Still have questions? View our full insurance page →
Family Involvement
Parent involvement is one of the most important factors in your child’s progress. Here is how it works.
Very involved — and that is a good thing. Research consistently shows that children whose parents actively participate in ABA therapy make faster and more lasting progress. Our parent training program teaches you the same strategies your child’s therapist uses. You learn how to reinforce skills at home, respond to challenging behaviors, and support your child’s progress throughout the day — not just during sessions.
Parent training is a structured program where your child’s BCBA teaches you the behavior analysis techniques used in your child’s therapy sessions. You learn how to prompt and reinforce skills, how to respond to challenging behaviors without inadvertently making them worse, and how to build your child’s independence in daily routines. Parent training is included as part of every ABA therapy program we offer and is a covered benefit under most insurance plans.
We communicate with families regularly and transparently. You receive written progress reports showing your child’s data on each goal. Your child’s BCBA is available to answer questions and meet with you to review the treatment plan. We also conduct parent training sessions where you see the therapy techniques in action and practice them yourself. You will never be left wondering how your child is doing.
Yes. Grandparents, siblings, and other primary caregivers can participate in parent training and be present during therapy sessions. The more consistently the strategies are applied across all environments and people in your child’s life, the faster skills generalize and stick. Just let your BCBA know who is involved in your child’s care and we will include them appropriately.
Services & Locations
Service areas, bilingual services, telehealth, school-based ABA, and early intervention across Southeast Florida.
We serve all major cities in Miami-Dade County (Miami, Hialeah, Coral Gables, Doral, Aventura, Homestead, Kendall, and more), Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Miramar, and more), Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and more), and Monroe County including the Florida Keys. View our full service areas page.
Yes. Our full clinical and administrative team provides services in both English and Spanish. This is not a translation service — it is complete bilingual care from your first phone call through every therapy session and parent training meeting. For many families across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, Spanish is the primary language at home, and we make sure that is never a barrier to receiving quality care.
Yes. We offer telehealth ABA therapy sessions and parent training for families throughout Southeast Florida — including Monroe County and the Florida Keys where in-person visits can be harder to schedule. Telehealth is especially effective for parent training, BCBA consultations, and some skill-building programs. Ask us about telehealth options when you schedule your consultation.
Yes. Our school-based ABA therapy program places our therapists directly inside the classroom. We attend IEP meetings, collaborate with teachers and ESE staff, and coordinate school-based behavior plans with home-based programs so your child receives consistent support across all settings. We serve schools throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.
Yes. We provide early intervention ABA therapy for toddlers and preschoolers starting from age 2. In-home therapy for young children is one of our most effective programs because it takes place in the natural environment where your child spends most of their time. Early intervention before age 5 has the strongest evidence for long-term positive outcomes. Schedule a consultation →
Still have questions? View all service areas →
