The first in-home ABA therapy session with Samba ABA is gentle by design. There are no tests, no demands, no clipboard checklist for the child to perform against. The Registered Behavior Technician spends the session getting to know your child — what they enjoy, what motivates them, how they communicate — building the foundation of trust that everything else in the programme depends on.
Key Facts
- When it happens: After the BCBA-led in-home assessment, once authorisation is in place.
- Who’s there: Your child, your child’s RBT, and a parent or caregiver. The BCBA may join or check in.
- What it’s not: Not an evaluation, not a test, not a session your child needs to prepare for.
- What it is: A first meeting designed around building rapport and trust.
- How long: Session length follows the authorised programme, but the first session is often slightly shorter or scaled in intensity.
- What you can do: Be present, be relaxed, and let the RBT lead.
Before the First Session
The first in-home ABA therapy session is not the first time the Samba ABA team meets your family. (If you’re still earlier in the decision process and weighing whether to seek an evaluation at all, see 5 Signs Your Child May Benefit From ABA Therapy.) By the time the session happens, the Samba ABA intake team has already verified your insurance coverage. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) has conducted an in-home assessment, watching your child in the environment where therapy will take place. The treatment plan has been written, prior authorisation has been approved, and your child’s RBT has been briefed on the plan and your family’s preferences.
So when the RBT arrives for the first session, they already know a lot about your child. They know the goals the BCBA has prioritised, the strategies that have been recommended, and the things your family has flagged as important.
You do not need to prepare your child for the session in any structured way. The Samba ABA model is built around meeting children where they are, in the environment they already feel comfortable in. The most useful “preparation” is simply being available, relaxed, and ready to introduce the RBT as a new friendly visitor.
What Happens in the First Hour
The first hour of the first session is mostly about rapport.
The RBT will arrive at the scheduled time and introduce themselves to your child at the child’s pace — not on a fixed protocol. Some children engage right away; others observe quietly for the first stretch; others want their parent close by. All of those responses are normal, and the RBT is trained to read the cues and respond appropriately.
The RBT will then follow your child’s lead. If your child is interested in a particular toy or activity, the RBT joins them in it. If your child wants to show something, the RBT pays attention. This is called pairing in ABA — the deliberate process of becoming associated with positive, enjoyable interactions before any structured demands are introduced.
There will be very few — and possibly no — direct teaching moments in the first session. That is intentional. Children who feel safe and engaged learn faster than children who feel evaluated. The first session is the foundation for every session that follows, so the time spent on rapport is not a delay before “the real work” — it is the real work.
What Your Role Looks Like
Parents and caregivers play an important role in the first session, even though the RBT is leading.
You will typically be in the home — often in the room — during the session, particularly if your child is young. You can introduce the RBT to your child, model the relaxed energy you want your child to feel, and answer the RBT’s questions about your child’s preferences, communication style, and routines. You do not need to manage your child’s behaviour during the session or coach them on how to respond.
The RBT will likely ask you small questions throughout — what your child usually likes to eat, what they’re working on in school or pre-school, what activities they enjoy with siblings. These questions are not a test. They are how the RBT calibrates the programme to your real family rather than a generic template.
If your child becomes distressed, frustrated, or needs a break, that is completely fine. The RBT will adjust. The first session does not need to produce a textbook result — it just needs to begin a positive relationship.
What to Watch For After the Session
After the first session ends, the RBT will briefly debrief with you — what they observed, how your child responded, what they’re planning for the next session. They may also share a few small things you can pay attention to during the rest of the week — not as homework, but as observations that help the programme.
In the days after the first session, you might notice your child reference the RBT (asking when they’re coming back, or talking about something they did together) or stay neutral on the experience entirely. Both responses are common. ABA programmes build over time, and the trajectory matters more than any single session.
If you have questions after the first session — about what happened, about what’s next, about your child’s reaction — you are encouraged to raise them with the RBT directly or with the supervising BCBA. The Samba ABA model is built around partnership with families, and your observations are part of how the programme is refined.
Practical Tips for the First Session
A few practical considerations that families often find helpful:
- Choose a familiar room. A space where your child already feels comfortable — a play area, a corner of the living room — works better than a “therapy room” you’ve set up specially.
- Keep the schedule normal. If your child usually has a snack at a particular time or naps after lunch, keep those routines. Disrupting the day to “prepare” for the session usually backfires.
- Have your child’s favourite toys nearby. Samba ABA’s RBT will use what your child already enjoys to build rapport. Familiar toys make this easier.
- Try not to over-explain. “A new person is coming to play with you today” is plenty. Long preparatory conversations can build anticipation that doesn’t help.
- Be honest about what’s worked or hasn’t worked with other professionals. The RBT wants to know.
FAQs
How long is the first ABA session?
Session length is set by the authorised treatment plan, but the first session is sometimes shorter or lower in intensity to allow rapport to build naturally. The Samba ABA RBT or BCBA can tell you the planned length in advance.
Will the BCBA be there?
The BCBA may join the first session, particularly if there are specific aspects of the rapport-building phase the BCBA wants to observe directly. In other cases, the BCBA stays in close contact with the RBT and reviews the session afterwards. Either way, the BCBA is supervising the programme.
What if my child doesn’t engage well in the first session?
That is genuinely fine, and not a problem. The first session is not a test. The RBT is trained to adjust pace, energy, and approach to fit each child. If a child needs more time to warm up, the programme accommodates that — and the next session begins from the rapport that was established.
What should I tell my child before the session?
A short, simple introduction works best. Something like, “A new friend is coming to play with you today, and they’ll come over a few times a week.” Avoid framing the session as an appointment or as something the child needs to do well at.
After the First Session: What Comes Next
After the first session, the Samba ABA programme moves into its regular rhythm. Sessions become more structured over the following weeks as the RBT introduces specific learning opportunities into the rapport already established. The BCBA reviews progress data, adjusts the treatment plan, and stays in regular contact with the family. Parent involvement deepens at this stage — see How Parents Support Their Child’s Progress in ABA Therapy for what that looks like in practice.
For a full walkthrough of what to expect across the first 90 days and beyond, see In-Home ABA Therapy in Georgia: A Complete Family Guide.
Ready to start? Schedule an intake call with Samba ABA and the team will outline what your child’s first in-home session will look like on the first conversation.