Structure and Play: How ABA Therapy and Play Therapy Work Together for Your Child

If your child recently received an  autism diagnosis or is undergoing a developmental evaluation, you are likely facing a wall of information. Referrals, acronyms, and advice from the well-meaning arrive all at once. ABA therapy usually leads that conversation. So does play therapy . You are right to ask how these approaches differ and if they can actually work together.

This is the clear guide many parents need at the start. It covers what ABA is, what it looks like in practice, and how pairing it with play therapy supports a child in ways a single approach cannot.

What Is ABA Therapy?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a structured approach to teaching skills. It breaks complex behaviors into small steps, using positive reinforcement to encourage progress. It relies on the understanding that behavior is learned and changes through intentional responses. When a child receives predictable feedback, they start to see what supports their success.

ABA is common for children on the autism spectrum, though it applies to other behavioral concerns too. Its features include individualized goals, data tracking, and systematic skill-building. Modern ABA focuses on what works, not what does not.

ABA Therapy in Practice

Many parents imagine rigid, clinical sessions. That describes the field from a generation ago. Today, children’s ABA therapy is flexible and responsive to what a child needs in the moment.

You will likely see three main formats:

Discrete Trial Training

(DTT) This is the most structured format. A skill is taught in clear, repeated steps. It builds foundational language and academic concepts through intentional repetition.

Natural Environment Training (NET)

This takes principles out of the clinic and into the home or playground. Children practice skills where they actually use them. Because the setting is familiar, children often engage more readily.

Play-Based ABA

This embeds principles directly into play. The therapist uses the child’s interests to teach targeted skills. The structure remains, but it feels natural to the child. Modern programs typically use all three.

The Difference Between ABA and Play Therapy

Play therapy is a relationship-based approach that uses play as the medium for expression and growth. A child carrying [LINK: anxiety or processing loss may not have words for their experience. Play is the language they have. The therapist enters the child’s world to observe, reflect, and guide.

The differences are distinct: ABA is structured, data-driven, and goal-specific. Play therapy is open-ended and child-led. ABA targets behavioral outcomes. Play therapy supports emotional expression and social connection. These are not competing philosophies. They address different dimensions of development.

Why They Work Better Together

A child can learn to follow instructions and make eye contact while still struggling with emotional overwhelm. ABA addresses what to do. Play therapy addresses what is happening underneath

ABA Builds Skills,Play Therapy Builds the Whole Child

ABA is built for communication, self-care, and behavioral regulation. Play therapy helps children understand how they feel and how to manage those feelings with others. Together, they cover both the behavioral and emotional landscape.

Play Therapy Reduces Anxiety

According to NIMH research on anxiety disorders , anxiety that goes unaddressed can interfere with a child’s daily functioning, including their ability to engage with learning. Children who are anxious or shut down find it harder to engage with structured ABA. This is a signal that something needs attention at a different level. When a child feels emotionally safe, their engagement with learning often improves.

The Relationship Is the Foundation Both approaches depend on a strong relationship between child and therapist. Play therapy builds that trust explicitly. A child who trusts their therapist is ready to do the work.

Michelle Daley: Working at the Intersection

Michelle Daley, LCMHC, works with children and adolescents at Montgomery Counseling Group in Charlotte, NC. Her focus includes children on the autism spectrum, ADHD, and school avoidance. An EMDR Trained Clinician trained in Play Therapy, she draws on both to support young clients.

Michelle does not replicate ABA work. She complements it. She attends to the emotional dimensions that skill-based programs are not designed to reach (anxiety, capacity for connection, and self-regulation).

She works closely with parents. Meaningful progress happens when the people who love a child are part of the process. 

What to Look for in a Therapist

A therapist should be curious about who your child is, not only about the presenting concern. Look for someone who communicates clearly and treats you as a participant. Experience matters. Autism, ADHD, and school avoidance each require different clinical focus.

The relationship is as important as the credentials. A child who does not feel safe will not engage. This is a clinical reality.

If you are looking for an ABA provider in the Charlotte area, two tools can help you verify credentials before you commit: BACB Certificant Registry and the NC Behavior Analyst Licensure Board’s public license verification portal The Autism Society of North Carolina also maintains regional resources for families.