ABA Therapy
When you first hear the term behavioral health consultant (BHC), it may sound similar to ABA therapists or other mental health services your child might receive during an appointment. In reality, a behavioral health consultant is a professional who supports children, families, and providers by addressing behavioral, emotional, and social concerns. At Nurturing Nests, we often meet parents who want to understand how these roles connect to ABA therapy and how they can benefit their child’s development.
A BHC bridges the gap between health care, behavior, and family routines. They can help identify challenges such as anxiety, stress, or behavioral symptoms that may affect a child’s daily life, while ABA therapists provide the consistent, long-term support needed to build new skills. Together, both roles emphasize structured, evidence-based strategies to improve overall health and well-being for children with autism.
Key Takeaways
- A behavioral health consultant (BHC) provides short-term, goal-focused support to help families manage behavioral, emotional, and social challenges.
- BHCs complement ABA therapists by addressing immediate concerns like stress or coping strategies, while ABA therapy builds long-term skills and independence.
- Collaboration between BHCs, parents, schools, and healthcare providers ensures consistent support across home, school, and community settings.
What Is a Behavioral Health Consultant?
A behavioral health consultant is a clinician who works with individuals and families to address behavioral and emotional concerns that affect daily life. For children with autism, this might include challenges like social skills, anxiety, or coping with changes in routine.
Unlike traditional therapy, a BHC focuses on short, goal-driven consultations, which often require thorough documentation. In medical or educational settings, they often provide strategies for managing behaviors, emotional concerns, or physical symptoms tied to stress. In ABA, these principles overlap: both approaches use structured plans, progress tracking, and collaboration to improve outcomes for children.
Core Roles and Responsibilities of a Behavioral Health Consultant
A behavioral health consultant provides support that can complement the work of an ABA therapist. Their responsibilities often include:
- Conducting brief assessments to identify behaviors or emotional concerns that may need attention.
- Providing guidance and short-term strategies to help families address stress, anxiety, or other immediate challenges.
- Supporting adherence to treatment plans, ensuring children continue with medical, educational, or behavioral goals.
- Collaborating with parents and providers to create continuity across school, home, and community.
- Offering resources and referrals if families need additional services.
This collaborative, problem-solving approach helps alleviate worry for families, ensuring their child’s needs are addressed in multiple environments.
Behavioral Health Consultant vs. ABA Therapist
Parents often ask how a behavioral health consultant differs from an ABA therapist. The key difference is scope and setting:
| Provider | Credentials | Session Style | Focus | Length of Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Health Consultant | Licensed mental health professional, social worker, or counselor | Short consultations, often in clinics or schools | Behavior, emotional concerns, coping strategies | Short-term |
| ABA Therapist (BCBA/RBT) | Board Certified Behavior Analyst or Registered Behavior Technician | Structured sessions in the home, school, or community | Skill-building, communication, independence, and reducing problem behaviors | Long-term, ongoing |
At Nurturing Nests Therapy Center, Inc., our ABA therapists provide consistent, personalized care, while a BHC may offer complementary support in settings like schools or medical offices.
What to Expect From a Behavioral Health Consultation
If your family meets with a behavioral health consultant, you can expect a structured but brief session. Typically, the process includes:
- Assessment – The consultant identifies immediate concerns, such as stress, anxiety, or behaviors interfering with daily life.
- Goal-setting – Together, you create short-term goals, like building coping strategies or addressing a specific behavior.
- Intervention – The BHC introduces tools such as relaxation techniques, behavior plans, or parent strategies.
- Follow-up – Families may receive additional sessions, resources, or referrals to ongoing therapy like ABA.
For families, this can feel like an extra layer of support, particularly when paired with consistent ABA therapy at home or school.
Conditions and Concerns BHCs Help Address
Behavioral health consultants can support children with autism and their families in areas such as assessing and managing risk.
- Anxiety or stress management
- Sleep difficulties
- Challenging behaviors at school or home
- Adjustment to life changes or transitions
- Social-emotional concerns that affect learning and independence
While these are often addressed in short-term consultations, ABA therapy takes these insights further, providing ongoing skill-building and behavior change strategies designed for long-term growth.
Benefits of a Behavioral Health Consultant in Autism Care
For families of children with autism, a behavioral health consultant can:
- Offer quick access to strategies and guidance when new issues arise.
- Reduce stress by providing short-term support while waiting for long-term services.
- Collaborate with schools or doctors to ensure consistent communication.
- Complement ABA therapy by focusing on the broader picture of emotional well-being and overall health.
Training and Qualifications of a Behavioral Health Consultant
Most behavioral health consultants have training in psychology, counseling, or social work to better serve their patients. They may hold credentials such as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or advanced degrees in mental health fields. While they are not ABA-certified, their background equips them to address emotional and behavioral health concerns and to collaborate with ABA professionals when needed.
Conclusion
A behavioral health consultant plays an important role in supporting families who face behavioral and emotional challenges, including issues like depression. For children with autism, they can complement ABA therapy by providing short-term strategies, emotional support, and collaboration with schools or medical providers.
At Nurturing Nests Therapy Center, Inc., our focus is on ABA therapy in Los Angeles, helping children develop communication skills, independence, and confidence through evidence-based, personalized care. If you’re seeking consistent, autism-focused services for your child, we’re here to help every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about our in-home, school-based, and parent-focused ABA therapy programs.
FAQs
What is the role of a behavioral consultant?
A behavioral consultant supports children and families by assessing concerns, offering short-term strategies, and guiding parents in applying behavior management tools.
What is the role of a mental health consultant?
A mental health consultant helps address emotional well-being, offering support for issues like stress, anxiety, or grief that may affect daily routines and development.
How to be a behavioral consultant?
Becoming a behavioral consultant usually requires a degree in psychology, counseling, or social work, supervised experience, and state licensure.
How does a behavioral health consultant work with ABA therapy?
A BHC can complement ABA services by addressing short-term behavioral or emotional concerns, while ABA therapy focuses on long-term skill development, communication, and independence.
