Common Questions

Common questions - Laurel Behaviour Support Services

Below, you’ll find answers to the questions we get asked the most about our behaviour support services. We’ve also included links to relevant resources where you can find more information.

For in-depth answers to these frequently asked questions, plus tips for families new to our services, listen to this interview between posAbilities’ Director of Community Engagement, Monique Nelson and Laurel’s Clinical Supervisor, Kavita Kamat. Click here to follow along with the transcript.

Where are your services offered and who do you support?

Our services are offered in the Lower Mainland, on Vancouver Island, and in the Okanagan region. We provide support to children, youth, and adults in all of these regions.

We are also involved with Umeed, a project in the Lower Mainland focused on supporting Punjabi families to access resources and navigate services.

What role do culture, values, and beliefs play in your work?

Families invite us into their home seeking support for their child. Knowing what’s important for them—their values, communication style, and family dynamics—helps us design an intervention plan that can result in meaningful change.

What services do you offer?

Our behaviour consultants offer one-to-one support within family homes. You can learn more about behaviour support on our Services page.

We also offer specialized training in certain areas, including:

Visit our Training page for more information about training and workshops.

Why is it important to work with an evidence-based treatment methodology like Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)?

“Evidence-based” means the strategies and the interventions we implement have robust support from research studies. There are numerous studies that have spoken to their effectiveness in teaching skills or addressing challenging behaviors across different age categories. The evidence gives us confidence that the interventions that we put in place will result in positive outcomes.

There are different kinds of therapy or education for very young children. How do I know what’s best for my child?

There are supports available to help you navigate these various services. You can reach out to your social worker, who can be an important point of contact. Autism Information Services also offers assistance in multiple languages, including English, Chinese, Punjabi, and Tagalog.

If you want to know more about the services Laurel offers, you can contact us to set up an initial meeting at no cost. During this consultation, we’ll explain our services and address any questions or concerns you may have. Contact us at (778) 945-1435 or Toll Free at 1 (855) 437-7095 or by email at laurel@posAbilities.ca.

My child is under the age of 6 and we are interested in starting services. What is the first meeting with a consultant like?

During an Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention (EIBI) intake meeting, the consultant will get to know the child and family and explain what the family can expect from the service. They will look at what is needed to create a team for the child and explore how to work within a family’s budget to recruit support (like a behaviour interventionist, speech and language pathologist, an occupational therapist, etc.) depending on the child’s diagnosis and support needs.

Next, the consultant will do a thorough assessment of the child’s skills and develop an individualized behaviour plan.

What do you do if my child continues to have challenging behaviors?

One of the key features of our work is that it is data driven. We track the child’s progress, and if we notice that our programming or plans are not resulting in any positive change, we pause to problem-solve and see what needs to be changed.

Some changes might involve re-training, or changing the level of coaching provided to parents. The ultimate goal is for parents/caregivers to be able to take the learning from therapy sessions and apply it in daily life.

How long does it take to implement a program? How many hours a week do we need to make it truly effective?

Family capacity, budget constraints, and many other factors inform the decisions around how much therapy is needed. We recommend a minimum of 10 hours per week to start to see change. The actual number will vary depending on each family’s needs.

My child was not diagnosed until after the age of six. How can I get started with services?

There are two routes you can take:

  • Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) – Connect with your social worker to get referred to our services.
  • Fee for service contracts – Access behaviour consultation using your private or autism funds.

Where can I go for support if my family is struggling?

If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or need help problem solving, there are a number of family support organizations to help you find support and community. Among these are:

  • Family Support Institute (FSI) – A provincial not for profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI hosts regional Zoom hangouts every day. These hangouts are safe spaces for families and caregivers to come together for support, camaraderie, inspiration, sharing challenges and trouble-shooting.
  • PLAN (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network) – Working in collaboration, they build personal support networks, make plans to secure the future, and bring families together for mutual support, learning and community leadership.

For more resources including cultural services, advocacy groups, wellness resources, and much more, see our Useful Links page.