The Ethics of It: As Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) professionals, and as a commitment to the clients we serve, we are required to follow the ethical code for behavior analysts. In the section of the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts referred to as “Responsibility in Practice” behavior analyst are required to collaborate with colleagues as outlined in Section 2.10: “Behavior analysts collaborate with colleagues from their own and other professions in the best interest of clients and stakeholders. Behavior analysts address conflicts by compromising when possible and always prioritizing the be ..read more

When we consider supporting autistic individuals in finding jobs, first “why” questions emerge from a psychological perspective. Why do autistic people experience the highest rates of unemployment for all disabled groups? And why do autistic individuals struggle to find employment? I want to review <strong>How</strong> can we support autistic individuals to find jobs and <strong>What</strong> action steps can we take to provide that support. I feel inspired to support autistic individuals who are in pursuit of employment, and I hope you will be, as well. A simple way to ..read more

Typically when therapists suggest parent training, this feedback is sometimes not received well by parents or caregivers – especially if the initial request was individual treatment for their child. So, why is parent training recommended for families who are dealing with their child’s disruptive behaviors at home? And what does parent training really mean? The post What Is “Parent Training” and How Does It Benefit Parents? appeared first on Manhattan Psychology Group ..read more

What is the objective of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) when treating neurodiverse individuals? At Manhattan Psychology Group (MPG), providers in the field of psychology, behavior analysis, and education share a vision that the purpose of therapy is to equip our learners with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges and to achieve personal growth. Treatment should be individualized and designed to incorporate the specific desires of the individual receiving therapy, making space for each individual to gain access to joys of life that may be unique to them. We should celebrate everyon ..read more

It is not uncommon for me to hear about parents concerned that their child is addicted to “screens” (e.g., TV, computers, video games, and portable gaming systems like the “DS”). While a little screen time can serve as a great reward for hard work, a lot of screen time can have negative consequences.    Children who spend excess amounts of time (more than 1 hr per day) watching screens tend to have one or more of the following issues: Poor social skills Difficulty concentrating (e.g., school work) Negative emotions (anxiety, anger, sadness) Executive skills deficits (e.g., difficult ..read more

Trigger warning: self harm   Written by Andrew Ng, BCBA, LBA Raising awareness and understanding regarding self harm is important. A study in 2020 found that Self Injurious Behavior (often referred to as SIB) is common with individuals diagnosed with Autism, with an estimated prevalence rate of 42% cited in this article. According to experts, these behaviors can often promote feelings of control and help relieve tension, allowing individuals to express their emotions and escape from an uncomfortable feeling. While this may be the case for individuals with clinical depression, drawing exp ..read more

Strategies that can be reviewed and individualized during my picky eating consultations can help parents of children along the continuum of food selectivity; from passively-avoidant picky eaters to children who display challenging behaviors at mealtime. The following is a brief overview of how food selectivity may present in children, as well as some resources that may be helpful in your search to support your child… Children develop a pattern of selective eating  over the course of weeks, months, and years Selective eating can be the result of genetic, psychological, and triggering even ..read more

Can you believe that we will all say goodbye to 2022 in less than 30 days? This year has certainly flown past us in a blink of an eye. Before every year ends, I like to meet with parents to review and reflect on how ABA therapy has helped their child since starting services. This also sets up the stage for what we can plan to work on for next year.  This year, I have had the pleasure of working with families that are relatively new to ABA. I interviewed four different families who are new to ABA therapy. The purpose of this interview was to: (1) lend continued support for ABA therapy as a ..read more

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a behavioral therapy that helps clients to sit with uncomfortable emotions and release attachments to maladaptive thought patterns. Originally ACT was created to help adults, but research has shown that, when properly adapted it is also effective for treating children. How is ACT different than CBT? ACT differs importantly from other talk therapies such as CBT because rather than focusing on changing maladaptive thoughts, ACT emphasizes acceptance of all psychological events, and therapists concentrate their attention on how a person’s behavioral resp ..read more

Anyone who has been following Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in the news as of late will have noticed that there has been a lot of attention around the ethics of ABA. Questions like, “Is ABA abusive?”, “Does ABA reduce the personhood of my child with Autism”, and “Is ABA too harsh?” are peppering Facebook parent groups and pediatrician’s offices alike.  To understand this conversation, one must first have a firm understanding of what ABA is, and what the practice of Punishment means in the ABA world. ABA stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis. It refers to using scientific behavioral pri ..read more