What Is the Difference Between ABA Therapy and Mental Health Counseling? (And Why You Might Need Both)
If you're a parent, caregiver, or individual seeking support, you may have come across both ABA therapy and mental health counseling — and wondered, What’s the difference? Do you need one, the other, or both? While they may seem similar, these two approaches come from different fields, offer different tools, and can complement each other in powerful ways.
What Is ABA Therapy?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science-based approach that focuses on understanding and improving behaviors. ABA is commonly used to support individuals with autism, ADHD, or other developmental differences, and is often delivered by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or behavior technician under BCBA supervision.
ABA involves:
Breaking down skills into small, teachable steps
Using reinforcement and structured teaching to build those skills
Tracking progress through data
Examples of ABA goals:
Increasing communication
Reducing tantrums or aggression
Improving self-help skills (like getting dressed or brushing teeth)
Supporting transitions and daily routines
ABA is action-focused — it’s about helping individuals function more independently and successfully in everyday life.
What Is Mental Health Counseling?
Mental health counseling, also known as psychotherapy or talk therapy, focuses on internal experiences: emotions, thoughts, relationships, and mental well-being. It's delivered by professionals such as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), or Psychologists.
Counseling involves:
Exploring emotions
Developing insight and coping strategies
Processing life events, trauma, or relationship challenges
Building emotional regulation skills
Examples of counseling goals:
Managing anxiety or depression
Coping with stress or life changes
Building self-esteem
Navigating family dynamics or social pressure
While ABA focuses on what you do, counseling focuses on how you feel and think.
Why They Work Best Together
Behavior and emotions are deeply connected. A child who “acts out” may be struggling with anxiety. A teen who avoids social situations might be overwhelmed by sensory input or fear of rejection. Addressing one without the other can lead to incomplete or short-lived progress.
That’s why ABA and mental health counseling are most effective when integrated:
ABA can teach the what to do
Counseling can explore the why it’s hard to do
Unfortunately, many families find themselves bouncing between professionals who only address one piece of the puzzle.
How Bravely Minded Is Different
At Bravely Minded, we believe care should go beyond behavior. Our team brings together the structure of ABA therapy with the insight of mental health support.
We’re uniquely positioned to provide:
Cross-trained clinicians, including those with dual certification as BCBAs and School Psychologists
Behavior plans that consider emotional regulation, trauma history, and developmental readiness
Support for the whole family, not just the individual
Services that can grow with you — from early intervention to adult social skills groups
We don’t believe in quick fixes or rigid checklists. We believe in individualized care that supports long-term growth — both behaviorally and emotionally.
When to Consider Both
Here are a few signs that you or your child might benefit from a combined approach:
Challenging behaviors that are tied to big emotions
Executive functioning difficulties (e.g., starting tasks, organizing, self-monitoring)
Past ABA that felt robotic or past therapy that felt too abstract
A need for consistent, whole-person care
If you’ve ever felt like “this therapist doesn’t really get what we’re going through,” you’re not alone — and there’s another way.
