Parent & Family Training

ABA Parent Training

Growing and Blooming Together

ABA parent training at Orchid is for the adults at home. You can meet one-on-one with our specialists, join workshops with other families, or attend virtually when getting to the clinic is hard.

Parents, caregivers, and family members are the most important people in a child's life, and your involvement makes a real difference in how they learn. Our Parent and Family Training program gives you the tools and strategies to support your child's progress at home, so learning keeps going between sessions.

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A family working with a teacher during a parent training session at Orchid Academy.

Collaborative Family Training for Life-Changing Outcomes

A family engaged in a collaborative training activity at Orchid Academy.

Why Family Training and Collaboration Matters

Building Confidence: Autism care can feel overwhelming. Our training shows you how to respond to your child's needs and how to practice the skills they learn in therapy at home.
Consistent Support: When the approach at home matches the clinic, children tend to progress faster and use their skills in more places. Family training shows you how to bring what your child learns at Orchid into everyday activities.
Strengthening Family Bonds: We also help you build routines and ways of interacting that bring you closer as a family. Learning new behavior strategies or helping your child do more on their own can make daily life easier for everyone.

Personalized Training Experiences

One-on-One Sessions: Meet directly with our specialists, who answer your questions and work with you on the specific challenges you're facing at home.
Workshops and Group Training: Learn alongside other families in workshops and group sessions led by our team. You can share experiences, ask questions, and meet parents dealing with the same things you are.
Virtual Options: For families with busy schedules, we offer virtual training sessions you can join from home.

A family of three and a woman, all looking at a laptop outdoors.

What Our Family Training Includes:

Research-Based Curriculum: Our training uses research-backed methods for teaching skills and managing behavior.
Specially Designed Resources: Our team writes guides, checklists, and templates for common challenges and specific goals, so you have something practical to use every day.
Video Modeling: Step-by-step videos show each technique, so you can see it and practice it before trying it with your child.
Online Courses (Coming Soon!): Online courses will let you study specific topics at your own pace, whenever it's convenient.
Social Events to Build Connections: Orchid hosts social events where families can meet, share experiences, and get to know each other.

What Topics Does ABA Parent Training Cover?

ABA parent training covers the situations your family deals with every week. A BCBA or other qualified clinician picks one or two skills for the coming week, shows them with your child or in role-play, watches you try them, and coaches you on what to keep and what to change. Common topics include:

Asking for a break, help, or a favorite item, and how to respond when your child asks
Getting through morning and bedtime routines
Teaching a replacement for a dangerous or exhausting behavior
Using visuals, timers, or the communication system your child already has
Deciding which demands can wait when your child is overloaded
Keeping a second caregiver, grandparent, or babysitter on the same plan

Topics should match your home, not a generic slide deck. The curriculum, guides, checklists, and video modeling described above support that coaching between sessions. To see how parent training shows up on insurance paperwork, read what CPT 97156 should look like.

What Our Families Are Saying About Parent Training

Due to guidelines set by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), we are unable to solicit client testimonials. Below are summaries of experiences families have shared with us, written to protect their privacy.

"Since starting parent training, we've noticed more harmony and confidence at home. The guidance and resources have made such a difference in our daily routines."

"Orchid's parent training program has given us insights and strategies that are practical and effective. Knowing we have this support has been truly reassuring."

"The tools we've gained through Orchid's training have helped us approach challenges with confidence. It feels empowering to support our child's growth every day."

ABA Parent Training FAQs

What is ABA parent training?

ABA parent training is coaching for the adults at home. A qualified clinician meets with you, with or without your child, and teaches you to use your child's treatment plan during meals, bedtime, transitions, and the rest of the week. At Orchid it includes one-on-one sessions, workshops with other families, and virtual sessions.

Is parent training required for ABA?

It is a core part of ABA, and some payers build it in. The BACB Ethics Code asks behavior analysts to involve caregivers in goal selection, intervention design, and progress monitoring. Washington Apple Health requires caregiver training in its intensive day treatment program, and many private plans want caregiver goals in the treatment plan. At Orchid, family training is part of ABA, not a class you buy on the side.

Does insurance cover ABA parent training (CPT 97156)?

Often, when it is written into the treatment plan. Caregiver coaching is billed as CPT 97156 in 15-minute units, and group caregiver training is CPT 97157. Many plans require caregiver hours with measurable adult goals before they pay, and Apple Health treats caregiver training as part of medically necessary ABA. Ask to see the caregiver hours on your authorization, not just your child's weekly total.

How often is ABA parent training?

It depends on your goals and your plan. Apple Health's intensive day treatment requires caregiver training to average once a week. Commercial plans in Washington vary, and some authorize about an hour a week. A family learning a new communication system or safety plan usually needs more coaching than one keeping a stable routine, and your BCBA should be able to explain the schedule.

Can ABA parent training happen by telehealth?

Yes. Orchid offers virtual training sessions families can join from home. Washington Apple Health can cover caregiver coaching (CPT 97156) by video, although its intensive day treatment program requires at least two caregiver sessions in person. Direct technician therapy with the child (CPT 97153) is not paid by video under Apple Health.

Where Orchid Academy Offers Parent Training in Washington

Related services & guides

Insurance Orchid Academy Accepts for ABA Therapy

Orchid Academy is in network with Premera Blue Cross, Regence, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Medicaid (Washington Apple Health), Molina Healthcare, Asuris Northwest Health, Personify Health, TRICARE.

Not sure if your plan is covered? We'll verify your benefits and explain your coverage before services begin, at no cost to you.

Insurance can feel overwhelming, so bring your questions. We'll walk you through what your plan covers and what you may owe before care starts.

Verify My Insurance →

Call (425) 699-7164 to check your plan, or compare carriers in the insurance guide.

Insurance participation varies by location and individual plan. Contact our team to confirm your specific benefits at hope@orchidacademy.com.

Start Parent Training with Orchid Academy

Tell us about your child and we'll explain how our team can help.