Ask Dr Doreen: ABA for Teenagers

Ask Dr Doreen: ABA for Teenagers

From Ask Dr. Doreen by Autism Network ®

May 5, 2026 · 58 min

About this episode

Dr. Doreen discusses the application of ABA therapy for teenagers with autism, addressing various related topics such as social skills, anxiety, and communication challenges.

In this episode, Dr. Doreen fields questions about ABA for teenagers. 00:00 – ABA Therapy for Teens & Autism | Ask Dr. Doreen Introduction 01:18 – Can ABA Help Teenagers with Autism? (Yes—Here's How) 02:28 – Watch Ask Dr. Doreen on YouTube, Podcast & Ad‑Free Options ABA for Teenagers & Young Adults 03:13 – Is ABA Appropriate for a 16‑Year‑Old with Autism? 04:09 – What ABA Really Is (Not Just for Little Kids) 06:18 – Teaching Real Social Skills with ABA (Not Memorization) 07:36 – How Teens Learn Social Awareness & "Reading the Room" 09:24 – Perspective Taking & Theory of Mind in Autism 11:00 – Rigid Thinking, Flexibility & Anxiety in Autistic Teens 14:19 – CBT for Autism & Anxiety: Changing Stress‑Producing Thoughts 17:06 – Why ABA + CBT Works Better Together for Teens 18:18 – How to Spot Low‑Quality ABA for Teenagers 19:57 – Motivation in Autism Therapy: What Teens Actually Want Aggression, Non‑Speaking Teens & Communication 26:09 – Can ABA Help Aggression in a 12‑Year‑Old with Autism? 28:25 – Why Aggression Is a Form of Communication 30:23 – How AAC & Communication Devices Reduce Aggression 33:09 – Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) Explained 34:31 – Is It Too Late for ABA…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Doreen

Topics covered

  • ABA therapy
  • autism in teenagers
  • social skills
  • anxiety
  • communication
  • aggression

Keywords

  • ABA therapy
  • autism
  • teenagers
  • social skills
  • anxiety
  • communication devices
  • aggression
  • CBT

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Autism Network ®

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