The Behavioral View Episode 6.5: Motherhood, Mental Health, and Behavior Analysis

In this episode of The Behavioral View, Nissa Van Etten, Elizabeth Barajas, Olivia Teal, and Heather Morton discuss motherhood, caregiving, mental health, and the professional experiences of behavior analysts who are also parents or prospective parents. The presenters explore how parenting experiences can influence caregiver collaboration, empathy for families, and the development of feasible parent training recommendations. The discussion includes practical considerations for individualizing caregiver goals, accounting for competing contingencies in family systems, and prioritizing connection between caregivers and children. The episode also addresses postpartum experiences, self-care, burnout, work-life balance, and organizational supports for behavior analysts. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification quiz to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes: References  Plantiveau, C., Dounavi, K., and Virues-Ortega, J. (2018). High levels of burnout among early-career board-certified behavior analysts with low collegial support in the work environment.  European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2018.1438339  Slowiak, J. M., & DeLongchamp, A. C. (2022). Self-care strategies and job-crafting practices among behavior analysts: Do they predict perception of work-life balance, work engagement, and burnout? Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15(2), 414- 432.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35692525/  

This episode features a discussion among experienced behavior analysts exploring career pathways within and beyond traditional applied behavior analysis settings. Presenters share personal career trajectories, including transitions from direct clinical work to roles in training, research, and software development. The discussion highlights the importance of mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional development in shaping career outcomes. Additionally, the course examines opportunities for behavior analysts to expand into non-traditional areas such as organizational behavior management, healthcare systems, and community-based services. Practical strategies for skill development, networking, and career advancement are provided to support practitioners at various stages of their professional journey. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification quiz to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes: References Bailey, J. S., & Burch, M. R. (2016). Ethics for behavior analysts (3rd ed.). Routledge. LeBlanc, L.A., Sellers, T. P., & Ala'i, S. Building and sustaining meaningful and effective relationships as a supervisor and mentor. Sloan Publishing, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. https://www.sloanpublishing.co...; Li, A., Curiel, H. Pritchard, J., & Poling, A. Participation of Women in Behavior Analysis Research: Some recent and relevant data. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 11, 160-164. Nosik, M. R., Luke, M. M., Carr, J. E. Representation of women in behavior analysis: an empirical analysis. Behavior Analysis Research and Practice, 19(2), 213-221. Roane, H. S., Ringdahl, J. L., & Falcomata, T. S. (Eds.). (2015). Clinical and organizational applications of applied behavior analysis. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2013-0-09993-8 Volkert, V. M. (2026). Empowering women to forge a path in behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice. Advance online publication. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bar0000325 Wilson, A. N., & Grant, T. (2015). Implications of derived rule following of roulette gambling for clinical practice. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 8(1), 52-56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-014-0029-9 Resources Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). (n.d.). Certificant data. https://www.bacb.com/bacb-certificant-data/ Behavior Analyst Certification Board (2020). Ethics code for behavior analysts. https://bacb.com/wp-content/ethics-code-for-behavior-analysts/ CentralReach Institute. Training and professional development resources. https://centralreach.com  

This episode reviews the process of moving from assessment to behavior intervention planning within applied behavior analysis. The discussion highlights best practices for conducting assessments, including the use of informant reports, direct observation, and multiple assessment types to inform clinical decision-making. Presenters emphasize the importance of individualized assessment selection, compassionate care, and collaboration with caregivers and interdisciplinary teams. The panel also explores common challenges in synthesizing assessment data, developing meaningful hypotheses, and ensuring intervention plans are feasible and socially valid. Additionally, the role of technology and decision-support tools in enhancing clinician performance and improving outcomes is discussed. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification quiz to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes: References Bailey, J., & Burch, M. (2010). 25 essential skills for the professional behavior analysts: Expert tips for maximizing consulting effectiveness. Routledge/ Taylor Francis Group. Bailey, J. S., & Burch, M. R. (2016). Ethics for behavior analysts (3rd ed.). Routledge Rohrer, J. L., Marshall, K. B., Suzio, C., & Weiss, M. J. (2021). Soft skills: The case for compassionate approaches or how behavior analysis keeps finding its heart. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14(4), 1135–1143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00563-x  Taylor, B. A., LeBlanc, L. A., & Nosik, M. R. (2019). Compassionate care in behavior analytic treatment: Can outcomes be enhanced by attending to relationships with caregivers? Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(3), 654–666. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-018-00289-3 Resources  CR Institute  AI Measures (AIM) by CentralReach 

In this episode of The Behavioral View, Nissa Van Etten, Olivia Teal, Elizabeth Barajas, and Yagnesh Vadgama discuss the evolution of outcomes-based care within applied behavior analysis (ABA). Drawing from extensive experience in both clinical practice and payer systems, Vadgama outlines the differences between traditional fee-for-service models and outcomes-based care frameworks. The panel explores how standardized assessments, aggregate data analysis, and empirically supported dosing recommendations can create greater alignment between providers and payers while maintaining individualized clinical decision-making. The discussion addresses administrative burden, prior authorization processes, value-based payment arrangements, caregiver involvement, social determinants of health, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Emphasis is placed on transparency, data-driven decision making, and protecting the integrity of behavior analytic practice while demonstrating measurable outcomes at both the individual and population levels. This course provides practical insight into how outcomes-based care models may shape the future of ABA service delivery. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification quiz to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes:   References  Frazier, T. W., Youngstrom, E. A., Speer, L., Embacher, R., Law, P., Constantino, J., Findling, R. L., Hardan, A. Y., & Eng, C. (2014). Validation of proposed DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(1), 28–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.10.012  Frazier, T. W., Klingemier, E. W., Beukemann, M., Speer, L., Markowitz, L., Parikh, S., & Strauss, M. S. (2021). Development and validation of the Autism Impact Measure (AIM). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51, 3407–3421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04795-1  Smith, P. C., Sagan, A., Siciliani, L., & Figueras, J. (2023). Building on value-based health care: Towards a health system perspective. Health Policy, 138, 104918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104918    AI.Measures Scientific Support   Ferguson, E. F., Frazier, T. W., Hardan, A. Y., & Uljarević, M. (2025). Challenging behavior domains in individuals with neurodevelopmental genetic syndromes: The role of psychological features. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 0(1), 1-12      Frazier, T. W., Huba, K., Frazier, A. R., Womack, R. A., Youngstrom, E. A., Chetcuti, L., Hardan, A. Y., & Uljarevic, M. (2025). Maximizing accurate detection of divergence from normative expectation in behavioral intervention outcome assessment. Research in Autism, 126, 202646.      Frazier, T. W., Youngstrom, E. A., Frazier, A. R., & Uljarevic, M. (2025). A critical appraisal of the measurement of adaptive social communication behaviors in the behavioral intervention context. Behavioral Sciences, 15(6), 722      Frazier, T.W., Helton, M., Akouri, C., Chetcuti, L., Uljarevic, M. (2025) Identifying Reliable Change In Outcome Assessments for Behavioral Intervention. Behavioral Interventions.      Frazier, T. W., Dimitropoulos, A., Abbeduto, L., Armstrong-Brine, M., Kralovic, S., Shih, A., Hardan, A. Y., Youngstrom, E. A., Uljarevic, M., Verbal Beginnings, T. (2024). Psychometric evaluation of the Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology.      Frazier, T. W., Busch, R. M., Klaas, P., Lachlan, K., Jeste, S., Kolevzon, A., Loth, E., Harris, J., Speer, L., Pepper, T., Anthony, K., Graglia, J. M., Delagrammatikas, C., Bedrosian-Sermone, S., Beekhuyzen, J., Smith-Hicks, C., Sahin, M., Eng, C., Hardan, A. Y., & Uljarevic, M. (2023). Development of informant-report neurobehavioral survey scales for PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome and related neurodevelopmental genetic syndromes. Am J Med Genet A, 191(7), 1741-1757. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.63195      Frazier, T. W., Crowley, E., Shih, A., Vasudevan, V., Karpur, A., Uljarevic, M., & Cai, R. Y. (2022). Associations between executive functioning, challenging behavior, and quality of life in children and adolescents with and without neurodevelopmental conditions. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1022700      Frazier, T. W., Dimitropoulos, A., Abbeduto, L., Armstrong-Brine, M., Kralovic, S., Shih, A., Hardan, A. Y., Youngstrom, E. A., Uljarevic, M., & Quadrant Biosciences - As You Are Team. (2023). The Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire: Development and psychometric evaluation of a new, open-source measure of autism symptomatology. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.15497      Frazier, T. W., Dimitropoulos, A., Abbeduto, L., Armstrong-Brine, M., Kralovic, S., Shih, A., Hardan, A. Y., Youngstrom, E. A., Uljarevic, M., Womack, R., Wolf, D., Chappell, N., & Verbal Beginnings Team. (2024). Psychometric Evaluation of the Autism Symptom Dimensions Questionnaire (ASDQ). Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology.      Frazier, T. W., Hyland, A. C., Markowitz, L. A., Speer, L. L., & Diekroger, E. A. (2020). Psychometric evaluation of the revised child and family quality of life questionnaire (CFQL-2). Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 70. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.101474      Frazier, T. W., Khaliq, I., Scullin, K., Uljarevic, M., Shih, A., & Karpur, A. (2022). Development and psychometric evaluation of the open-source challenging behavior scale. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05750-5      Frazier, T. W., Krishna, J., Klingemier, E., Beukemann, M., Nawabit, R., & Ibrahim, S. (2017). A Randomized, Crossover Trial of a Novel Sound-to-Sleep Mattress Technology in Children with Autism and Sleep Difficulties. J Clin Sleep Med, 13(1), 95-104. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6398      Frazier, T. W., Busch, R. M., Klass, P., Crowley, E., Lachlan, K., Jeste, S., Kolevzon, A., Loth, E., Harris, J., Pepper, T., Anthony, K., Graglia, J. M., Helde, K., Delagrammatikas, C., Bedrosian-Sermone, S., Smith-Hicks, C., Sahin, M., Eng, C., Hardan, A. Y., . . . Uljarevic, M. (2024). Quantifying Neurobehavioral Profiles across Neurodevelopmental Genetic Syndromes and Idiopathic Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16112      Uljarevic, M., Cai, R. Y., Hardan, A. Y., & Frazier, T. W. (2022). Development and validation of the Executive Functioning Scale. Front Psychiatry, 13, 1078211. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1078211      Uljarevic, M., Spackman, E. K., Cai, R. Y., Paszek, K. J., Hardan, A. Y., & Frazier, T. W. (2022). Daily living skills scale: Development and preliminary validation.   Frazier, T. W., Helton, M., Akouri, C., Chetcuti, L., & Uljarevic, M. (2025). Identifying reliable change in outcome assessments for behavioral interventions. Behavioral Interventions, 40, e70007. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70007    Resources  CentralReach. (n.d.). AI Measures (AIM). https://centralreach.com 

In this podcast episode, Shannon Hill, Nissa Van Etten, and Jordan Fries interview Thomas Frazier about outcome measurement in behavioral intervention services. Using Frazier and colleagues' work on adaptive social communication measurement as a foundation, the discussion explores why many legacy assessments were not designed for the ABA context or for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. The presenters distinguish between moment-to-moment ABA data collection and periodic outcome assessment, highlighting how periodic measures support long-term progress tracking, clinical decision-making, and accountability to funders. The episode emphasizes the complementary roles of norm-referenced and skill-based assessments, discusses constraints such as limited assessment authorizations, and underscores the importance of monitoring client and family quality of life. Ethical considerations related to caregiver-report measures, interpretation of sensitive results, and appropriate referrals are also addressed.  To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification quiz to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes: References Frazier, T. W., Youngstrom, E. A., Frazier, A. R., & Uljarevic, M. (2025). A critical appraisal of the measurement of adaptive social communication behaviors in the behavioral intervention context. Behavioral Sciences, 15(6), 722.  Aman, M. G., Singh, N. N., Stewart, A. W., & Field, C. J. (1985). The Aberrant Behavior Checklist: A behavior rating scale for the assessment of treatment effects. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 89(5), 485–491.  Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Balla, D. A. (2005). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (2nd ed.). Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.  Abidin, R. R. (2012). Parenting Stress Index (4th ed.). Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.  Resources  U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Patient-Focused Drug Development: Selecting, Developing, or Modifying Fit-for-Purpose Clinical Outcome Assessments—Guidance for Industry, FDA Staff, and Other Stakeholders.  International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM). Autism Spectrum Disorder Standard Set.  Child and Family Quality of Life (CFQL) Measure. 

Join us for a deep discussion on the ins and outs of developing meaningful content for aspiring RBTs - incorporating all required technical elements while maintaining a focus on compassionate, culturally relevant, assent-based professional services through an online asynchronous training format.  While there is no CEU associated with this episode at this time if you wish to watch the episode and earn 60 minutes Staff Training certificate.  Please click here. Show Notes: 40 hour RBT Course - 3rd Edition TCO -Enhanced

In this special in person episode of The Behavioral View, hosts Dr. Shannon Hill and Dr. Nissa Van Etten broadcast from the CR Unite 2025 Conference in Chicago to discuss the latest innovations shaping behavior analysis. They're joined by Amber Ledesma, BCBA and Customer Success Lead III at CentralReach, and Dr. Alana Fallucca, Director of Quality Assurance at Above and Beyond Therapy, for an unscripted, in-person conversation about the evolution of assessments, outcomes tracking, and AI in clinical practice.  While there is no CEU associated with this episode at this time if you wish to watch the episode and earn 30 minutes Staff Training certificate.  Please click here.

This episode provides behavior analysts with practical guidance on navigating insurance authorization processes, with particular focus on peer review procedures. The panel discusses the workflow from initial clinical review through potential peer review, emphasizing that peer review is a collaborative process rather than punitive action. Key topics include understanding medical necessity requirements, writing effective treatment plans, preparing for peer review conversations, and managing different outcomes. The discussion addresses common challenges faced by both new and experienced BCBAs, including dosage recommendations, goal writing, parent involvement requirements, and handling denials. This content directly supports behavior analysts in improving their clinical documentation and communication skills to ensure continued access to services for their clients.  To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes References: Reinecke, D. R., & Colleagues. (2024). Treatment planning recommendations for applied behavior analysis services. Association for Professional Behavior Analysts.  Resources:  Professional Organizations and Guidelines:  ABA Coding Coalition - https://abacodes.org Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) - http://www.apbahome.net Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) ABA Practice Guidelines - https://www.casproviders.org/asd-guidelines  Training and Educational Resources:  Autism Law Summit ABA Authorization and Appeals Playbook  CentralReach Institute  CR Unite Conference   Assessment Tools:  WebABLLS (Web-based ABLLS-R program) - http://webablls.com    

This panel discussion brings together experienced ABA professionals to share insights and practical advice for new and aspiring Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). The hosts and guests discuss their personal experiences entering the field, common challenges faced by new behavior technicians, and strategies for success. Key topics include the importance of authentic rapport-building and play skills, understanding intermittent reinforcement schedules and their impact on intervention outcomes, preventing and managing burnout through self-advocacy and support systems, navigating boundaries in home-based services, and developing effective communication with supervisors. The discussion emphasizes the human elements of ABA practice and provides actionable guidance to help new professionals thrive in their roles while maintaining ethical standards and professional relationships.  While there is no CEU associated with this episode at this time if you wish to watch the episode and earn 1 Staff Training hour certificate.  Please click here. Show Notes References  Plantiveau, C., Dounavi, K., & Virués-Ortega, J. (2018). High levels of burnout among early-career board-certified behavior analysts with low collegial support in the work environment. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 19(2), 195-207. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2018.1438339    Resources  Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) - www.bacb.com  CentralReach Institute - www.centralreach.com/institute 

This episode features a comprehensive discussion of research examining socially assisted robotics for children with autism. Madeline Jürgensen presents findings from two single-case design studies that investigated whether children with autism would attend to and learn from a small humanoid robot called Kebbi. The first study used a multiple baseline design to measure attending behaviors, revealing dramatic increases in eye contact and engagement when children worked with the robot versus human instructors. The second study employed an adaptive alternating treatment design to compare learning outcomes between robot and human instruction, finding that while children learned academic skills from both modalities, they showed preference for robot-delivered activities despite sometimes performing better with human instruction. The discussion includes important considerations about the novelty effect, social validity, and the future role of robotics in behavior analysis practice.  To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes References:   Berens, K. N. (2020). Blind spots: Why students fail and the science that can save them. Oakland, CA: The Collective Book Studio.  Darling, K. (2021). The new breed: What our history with animals reveals about our future with robots. Henry Holt and Company.  Shi, Z., Groechel, T. R., Jain, S., Chima, K., Rudovic, O., & Matarić, M. J. (2022). Toward personalized affect-aware socially assistive robot tutors for long-term interventions with children with autism. Journal of Human-Robot Interaction, 11(4), Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1145/3526111  Resources:   Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI): https://www.abainternational.org/  CentralReach Institute: https://centralreach.com/  University of Southern California Robotics and Autonomous Systems Center (RASC): https://rasc.usc.edu/research/    If you would like a copy of the articles discussed please reach out to [email protected]