Key Highlights

• Pausing ABA therapy is sometimes necessary due to family needs, child burnout, or stable progress.

• Well-planned breaks are safer than unplanned stops and should be coordinated with your BCBA.

• Skill regression is a risk—but can be minimized through structured routines at home.

• Pausing therapy does not mean therapy has failed; it can be a healthy, strategic decision.

• Parent involvement during breaks is crucial for maintaining skills and routine.

ABA therapy is structured and intensive—often requiring 10 to 40 hours a week of commitment from children, families, and care teams. While it can produce meaningful progress, it’s also demanding. Sometimes, families wonder: Is it okay to hit pause?

Whether due to burnout, changing family circumstances, or a desire to reassess goals, this post explores what happens when you pause ABA therapy, how to do it responsibly, and how to support your child during that time.

What Makes Pausing ABA Therapy a Consideration?

When Daily Life Gets in the Way

Life events like moving, starting a new job, or adding a new sibling can shift a family’s capacity to maintain the intensity of ABA therapy. Rather than drop therapy altogether, a pause—or a temporary reduction—can help everyone recalibrate.

When Progress Seems to Stall

If your child isn’t making meaningful progress or appears disengaged in sessions, a pause can create space to reassess the goals, teaching methods, or intensity of the plan. Sometimes, it's a signal that the program needs to evolve.

When Burnout Is Affecting the Whole Family

Both children and caregivers can burn out from the demands of therapy. If sessions start feeling counterproductive or emotionally taxing, it may be better to step back briefly and prioritize mental and emotional health.

What Happens If You Take a Break from ABA?

Understanding the Potential Risks

Unplanned or unsupported pauses can result in regression—especially for recently acquired or fragile skills. ABA relies on repetition and consistency, so a sudden stop may cause some children to lose momentum or return to earlier behaviors.

How to Plan a Pause Responsibly

If you’re considering a break from ABA therapy, involve your BCBA early. Together, you can:

• Identify which skills are most vulnerable to regression

• Create a home-based reinforcement strategy

• Plan for re-entry, including how to resume therapy smoothly later

This makes the pause a continuation—not a disruption—of your child’s development.

Can a Break Be Beneficial?

Short-Term Relief, Long-Term Gain

Taking a step back can offer breathing room for families and therapists. It can give time to:

• Adjust daily routines

• Reassess goals

• Introduce other supports like occupational or speech therapy

When approached strategically, a break can create clarity and renew engagement—especially when therapy has started to feel like a grind.

When a Pause Might Actually Help

In some cases, reducing therapy intensity for a period allows space for generalization of skills in real-world settings. This can be especially helpful if your child is transitioning to school, starting a new routine, or showing readiness for more naturalistic learning environments.

How to Maintain Progress During the Pause

Keep Key Skills Active in Daily Life

Use daily routines to reinforce previously learned behaviors. For example:

• Practice requesting during mealtime

• Use visual schedules for transitions

• Encourage independent tasks with gentle prompting

Even small, consistent efforts at home can help your child maintain what they’ve learned.

Lean on Your BCBA for Home Support

Before pausing, ask your BCBA to design a maintenance plan. This might include:

• Weekly check-ins or consults

• A simplified version of the therapy plan for home

• Tools like token boards, timers, or social stories

When to Resume ABA Therapy

Signs That It’s Time to Return

Watch for:

• Regression in communication or behavior

• Difficulty transitioning between activities

• Return of previously reduced challenging behaviors

Resuming therapy doesn’t need to mean jumping back into 40 hours a week. Your BCBA can help scale re-entry based on what your child needs most at the time.

Conclusion

Deciding to pause ABA therapy is not easy—but it’s also not uncommon. Whether you're facing life changes, stress, or simply feel it’s time to regroup, the most important step is planning.

With a thoughtful approach and ongoing collaboration with your BCBA, your child can continue making progress—even during a pause. The key is to stay engaged, stay flexible, and keep your child’s long-term development at the center of every decision.

At Blossom ABA Therapy, we understand that life isn’t always predictable—and your child’s therapy plan shouldn’t be either. Whether you're continuing, adjusting, or pausing services, our team of BCBAs in Georgia is here to support your family's goals with flexibility and compassion.

Reach out today for a free consultation and let’s build a plan that works for your child—and your life.

👉 Schedule a call with Blossom ABA Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to pause ABA therapy for a short period?

Yes, as long as it's planned with your BCBA. A structured break can be beneficial if you continue to reinforce key skills at home.

How can I tell if my child needs a break from ABA?

Look for fatigue, irritability, or resistance to therapy sessions. If your child seems disengaged or overwhelmed, talk to your care team.

Will my child lose skills if we pause ABA therapy?

Some regression is possible—especially for new or less stable skills. Consistent routines and parent-led reinforcement can help reduce this risk.

What should I do before pausing therapy?

Work with your BCBA to create a maintenance plan. Decide which skills to prioritize and how to track progress during the pause.

How will I know when to return to therapy?

If you notice lost skills, new challenges, or stalled growth, it may be time to resume. A gradual return with your BCBA’s guidance is often best.

Sources:

• https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis

• https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-024-02045-5

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9458805/

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327536384_Effectiveness_ABA_Therapy_for_Children_with_Special_Needs_of_Autism_A_Study_of_Psycholinguistics_View

• https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/2023/12/future-of-applied-behavior-analysis-aba-new-research-areas-and-findings/