Behaviour Speak with Ben Reiman

Watch on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/DxWgJMIClds

Contact N'Kayah:

https://www.instagram.com/yayakersey/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkayahkersey/

https://www.instagram.com/wearepracticed/

https://www.wearepracticed.com/

Links:

Transforming Basketball

https://transformingbball.com/about-us

Boys Town

https://www.boystown.org/

Katisha Paul is one of the most influential Indigenous leaders of her generation. In Part One of this special two-part conversation, she shares the deeply personal story behind her advocacy and leadership.

Katisha reflects on her childhood, family, cultural identity, and ancestry. She speaks openly about surviving abuse, growing up in remote communities, and carrying responsibilities far beyond her years. She also discusses how she learned to use her voice after years of silence and why protecting others remains at the center of everything she does. 

This episode explores:

Part Two will explore Katisha's work in Indigenous governance, sovereignty, climate leadership, international advocacy, repatriation, and her vision for the future.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E1dn1iooEfg

Contact Katisha Paul

NEPENEḴ

https://nepenek.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/nepenekgroup/

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katisha-paul-b6ab0235b/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/katisha.paul/

Union of BC Indian Chiefs

https://www.ubcic.bc.ca/

UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus

https://www.globalindigenousyouthcaucus.org/

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalIndigenousYouthCaucus/

Tsartlip First Nation

https://tsartlip.com/

What does it take to build behaviour analysis in the middle of economic collapse, political instability, and war?

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben Reiman speaks with Christine Der Sarkissian, President of the Association for Behavior Analysis in Lebanon (ABAL), about the remarkable growth of ABA in Lebanon. They discuss parent advocacy, professional certification, culturally responsive practice, inclusion, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the challenges of delivering autism services during ongoing crisis.

Whether you're interested in global behaviour analysis, autism services, cultural responsiveness, or systems change, this conversation offers valuable lessons in resilience and leadership.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/x9mYHLNXy6c

Continuing Education Credits

BACB: 1.0 Ethics

Complete The Behaviour Speak CE Knowledge Check To Earn Your CEUs

Enter your answers here:  (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

According to Christine, what factor played the most foundational role in establishing ABA services in Lebanon?

A. Government funding initiatives

B. Universities creating ABA programs

C. Parent advocacy and initiatives

D. International insurance companies

Question 2

Which challenge did Christine identify as one of the greatest barriers to expanding high-quality ABA services throughout Lebanon?

A. A lack of interest from families

B. Too many certified supervisors

C. A shortage of supervisory-level behaviour analysts

D. Excessive government regulation

Question 3

Which practice best reflects the culturally responsive approach to ABA described by Christine?

A. Using identical intervention procedures regardless of family culture

B. Adapting intervention goals to align with family values, culture, and meaningful daily life

C. Prioritizing standardized protocols over family preferences

D. Limiting family involvement to reduce treatment interference

Contact Christine

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-der-sarkissian-6a667750/

Links:

ABA Lebanon

http://abalebanon.com/

https://www.instagram.com/abalebanon/

https://www.facebook.com/abalebanon/

Learn more about some of the great work being done by Lebanese Behaviour Analysts in these interviews:

Behaviour Analysis in Lebanon and Qatar with Rola El Annan

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/ep-94-behaviour-analysis-in-lebanon-and-qatar-with-rola-el-annan-med-bcba/

Threads Of Hope: Addressing Trauma Amid War and Civil Discord with Sawsan Razzouk

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-139threads-of-hope-addressing-trauma-amid-war-and-civil-discord-with-sawsan-razzouk-ma-bcba/

Safeguarding Vulnerable Children In The Arab World With Dr. Asmahan Saleh Khalil

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-200-safeguarding-vulnerable-children-in-the-arab-world-with-dr-asmahan-saleh-khalil/

For decades, behaviour analysts have worked to develop evidence-based interventions that improve quality of life for children and families.

But evidence-based doesn't always mean culturally responsive.

In this episode, Ben welcomes Chloe Wang, BCBA and PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia, whose dissertation explores a culturally responsive, group-based Family-Centred Positive Behaviour Support program designed specifically for Chinese immigrant families of children with autism.

Chloe shares her remarkable journey from immigrating to Canada as a teenager, discovering behaviour analysis almost by accident, completing her master's degree at Brock University, helping establish an autism treatment centre in China, and returning to UBC to pursue research that bridges science with culture.

One of the most compelling aspects of Chloe's work is her commitment to co-design. Before launching her randomized controlled trial, she conducted focus groups with both families and professionals to refine every aspect of the intervention—from language and examples to program structure and delivery.

Those conversations led to significant changes, including splitting the original 16-week program into two levels and expanding discussions around reinforcement and punishment after families expressed a desire to fully understand behavioural principles before embracing Positive Behaviour Support.

Ben and Chloe also explore:

This episode highlights how listening to families doesn't weaken behaviour analysis—it strengthens it.

As our profession continues to grow globally, Chloe's work provides a thoughtful roadmap for adapting evidence-based practice while remaining grounded in behavioural science.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4qOZ1GAVFCw

Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 1.5 Ethics

Follow us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak/

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak

Contact Chloe

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloewangaba/

City Medical Child Development Centre

https://citychildclinic.com/case-study/chloe-wang/

Interested in learning more about Positive Behaviour Support and culturally responsive practice? Check out these related conversations from the Behaviour Speak archives:

When Mafer Chang Espinoza returned to Ecuador after completing her education in the United States, she found a country where autism was poorly understood, ABA was virtually nonexistent, and many families had nowhere to turn.

Rather than accepting the status quo, she began building something entirely new.

Starting with just a few children, ethical supervision from international mentors, and a vision for accessible services, Mafer founded Centro Enigma—an organization that has spent more than a decade transforming autism services throughout Ecuador.

In this conversation, Ben and Mafer discuss:

This episode is an inspiring example of persistence, leadership, and the power of behaviour analysis to create meaningful systems change.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7sSeRA5Elbk

Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 1.0 Ethics

Follow us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak/

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak

Contact Mafer

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-fernanda-chang-espinoza-b79889118/

Centro Enigma

https://www.instagram.com/centroenigma/

https://centroenigma.com/

https://www.facebook.com/centroenigma

UNIDAD EDUCATIVA FREDERIC SKINNER

https://www.instagram.com/skinner.ecu/

If you enjoyed this conversation about the development of behaviour analysis in Ecuador, be sure to explore these related Behaviour Speak episodes featuring clinicians and leaders from across Latin America:

Behaviour Analysis in Guatemala

Behaviour Analysis in Venezuela

Behaviour Analysis in Puerto Rico

¿Quiénes Somos? An Exploration of Latinidad in Behavior Analysis

Análisis Aplicado de la Conducta en Colombia 

Análisis Aplicado de la Conducta en Argentina 

Together, these conversations explore how behaviour analysts across Latin America are advancing autism services, building professional capacity, adapting evidence-based practices to local cultures, and creating more inclusive communities.

What if severe behaviour isn't something to eliminate—but evidence that important skills or opportunities are missing?

Katie Gibson joins Behaviour Speak to explore the Constructional Approach, an increasingly influential framework developed from Israel Goldiamond's work and expanded through Nonlinear Contingency Analysis.

Rather than asking how to stop behaviour, Katie explains how clinicians can identify the repertoires that are absent and build those instead. The result is often that severe behaviour decreases naturally, without ever directly targeting it.

Throughout the conversation, Katie shares powerful real-world examples from her work in hospitals and complex behaviour programs.

She explains how a teenager experiencing psychosis wasn't treated by challenging his delusions, but by helping him build friendships and social skills that ultimately made those behaviours unnecessary.

She also describes Constructional Exposure Therapy, showing how children with severe needle phobia, OCD, and medical trauma can safely participate in healthcare without restraint while maintaining assent and dignity.

The discussion extends into collaboration with psychiatry, nursing, families, and healthcare systems, demonstrating how behaviour analysis can improve patient care far beyond traditional autism services.

This episode offers practical ideas alongside a broader philosophical shift that challenges many long-held assumptions within behaviour analysis.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UEwEJeOqtfo

Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 1.0 Learning

Follow us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak/

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak

Contact Katie Gibson

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiegibsonbcba/

Links

Find articles and resources on The Constructional Approach Website!

https://theconstructionalapproach.com/

Related Behaviour Speak Episodes

Special Series On The Constructional Approach

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/category/constructional-behaviour-analysis

Leadership isn't something we inherit—it’s something we model.

In this powerful multi-generational conversation, Ben Reiman welcomes Quatiba Davis, along with her daughters, Keniyah Rowe and Kennedy Rowe, for an honest discussion about leadership, resilience, representation, disability, family, and the future of Applied Behaviour Analysis.

Quatiba shares the remarkable journey that took her from special education teacher to becoming the first Black Chief Clinical Officer in ABA, overseeing clinical services across more than 50 clinics. Along the way, she reflects on growing up in the Bronx, overcoming adversity, learning through failure, and why she believes leadership is built by serving others rather than pursuing titles.

Episode 279 begins with Kennedy's story. Following an in-utero stroke, Kennedy faced developmental challenges that changed the trajectory of her mother's career forever. What began as one family's search for answers ultimately inspired Quatiba to pursue behaviour analysis and dedicate her career to improving the lives of others.

As the discussion unfolds, Keniyah shares her own path—from graphic design to psychology and now graduate studies in behaviour analysis at The Chicago School. Rather than simply following in her mother's footsteps, she reflects on finding her own identity, embracing leadership in her own way, and exploring how creativity and behaviour science can intersect.

Together, the family discusses:

• How modelling shapes future leaders

Throughout the conversation, one message continually emerges: leadership is not defined by job titles or professional status. Leadership is reflected in the people we encourage, the barriers we remove, and the opportunities we create for those who come after us.

Whether you're an experienced BCBA, a student entering the field, a parent, educator, or someone passionate about creating meaningful change, this episode offers wisdom that extends far beyond behavior analysis.

Quatiba Davis is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, executive clinical leader, keynote speaker, professor, and author whose work focuses on clinical excellence, leadership, ethics, assessment, and expanding representation within Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer at ABA Centers, overseeing clinical services across dozens of locations while helping develop the next generation of clinicians.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OMgXWMPzkwc

Follow Quatiba on:

LinkedIn :  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ms-quatiba-davis-m-ed-bcba-laba-lba-iba-3078808/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/quatibadavis_bcba/

                    https://www.instagram.com/qed82/

Keniyah Rowe is currently completing graduate studies in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School after earning her psychology degree from Howard University. She is also the founder of Signs of Beauty, an entrepreneurial venture celebrating identity, culture, and self-expression.

Follow Keniyah on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keniyah-rowe-94524922b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keniyah.___/

Signs of Beauty:  https://www.instagram.com/signsofbeautyy/

Kennedy Rowe is a Business Administration student at Florida A&M University (FAMU) whose interests include entrepreneurship, marketing, and mental health. Her personal journey inspired her mother's entrance into the field of behavior analysis and continues to influence the next generation of leaders.

Follow Kennedy on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennedy-rowe-8b521a328/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennedyyy._____/

Links:

Signs of Beauty

https://signsofbeauty.bigcartel.com/

https://www.instagram.com/signsofbeautyy/

Quatiba's Interview on Beyond The Science

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1RxCIHsIjc

Continue the Conversation

If this episode resonated with you, here are a few other Behaviour Speak conversations that explore similar themes of leadership, representation, mentorship, and the future of behaviour analysis:

Episode 76 – *The Next Generation of Black Leaders in Behavior Analysis: Empowering Success* (Adrienne Bradley, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA)

This conversation explores the importance of representation, mentorship, and the creation of opportunities for emerging Black behaviour analysts. It pairs beautifully with today's discussion about modelling leadership and inspiring the next generation.

Episode 142 – *Creating a Powerhouse: Forging Black Leaders in Behavior Analysis*

Leadership doesn't happen in isolation. This episode examines what it takes to develop Black leaders in behaviour analysis, build supportive professional communities, and create lasting systems change—many of the same themes explored by Quatiba, Keniyah, and Kennedy.

Episode 237 – *An HBCU First: Training the Next Generation of Black Behavior Analysts at Florida A&M University*

After hearing Quatiba discuss helping establish the BCaBA program at Florida A&M University, take a deeper dive into the story behind the first ABA training program at an HBCU and the importance of expanding access to behaviour analysis education.

What happens when the very strategies behaviour analysts are taught to rely on become part of the problem?

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben Reiman welcomes BCBA Michelle Karren for a thoughtful discussion about PDA (commonly known as Pathological Demand Avoidance), autonomy-focused learners, and the challenges families face when traditional intervention approaches aren't working.

Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience as a parent of autistic children, Michelle shares how she became increasingly focused on supporting learners whose intense drive for autonomy, anxiety, and demand sensitivity require a fundamentally different approach.

Together, Ben and Michelle explore:

• What PDA is and how it differs from typical demand avoidance

Michelle challenges practitioners to remember that behaviour analysis is not defined by rigid procedures, but by careful observation, responsiveness, and a commitment to understanding what learners are communicating through their behaviour.

Whether you're new to PDA or looking to deepen your understanding of autonomy-focused approaches, this episode offers practical insights and important reflections for anyone supporting neurodivergent learners.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ble7W3G104w

Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 1.5 Learning

Follow us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak/

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak

Contact Michelle Karren

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-karren-m-sc-bcba-433716273/

Related Behaviour Speak Episodes

Episode 262, Motivational Interviewing for Behaviour Analysts with Dr. Monica Gilbert

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-261-motivational-interviewing-for-behaviour-analysts-with-dr-monica-gilbert/

Episode 179, Reforming ABA: A Framework for Behavior Analysts with Oswin Latimer and Hilary McClinton.

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-179-reforming-aba-a-framework-for-behavior-analysts/

Episode 34, Neurodiversity, ADHD, and ODD with Amelia Bowler

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-34-neurodiversity-adhd-and-odd-with-amelia-bowler-mads-bcba/

What does it take to build and advance a profession while simultaneously running a busy clinical practice, leading a national organization, and completing a PhD?

In this episode, Ben Reiman welcomes Niesha Illingworth for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state—and future—of behaviour analysis in Australia. Drawing on nearly twenty years of clinical experience, Niesha reflects on how the profession has evolved, the ongoing challenges surrounding public perception of ABA, and the importance of strong professional leadership during periods of significant policy change.

The conversation explores Australia's unique model of professional self-regulation, the work of ABA Australia to strengthen certification and public trust, and the opportunities and challenges created by changing disability funding systems. Niesha also discusses her doctoral research evaluating the Balance Program, an innovative parent-implemented early intervention designed to prevent the development of severe problem behaviour before it begins.

Beyond systems and policy, Ben and Niesha examine culturally responsive practice, supporting Indigenous families, collaboration across professions, and why effective advocacy is becoming an increasingly important skill for behaviour analysts. Throughout the conversation, Niesha demonstrates how science, compassion, and systems thinking can work together to improve outcomes for children, families, and the profession itself.

Check out Behaviour Analysis In The First Nation Communities of Australia with Deb Fernando

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-148-behaviour-analysis-in-first-nation-communities-of-australia/

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hs5gjgQLMxg

Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 1.0 Ethics

Follow us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak/

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak

Contact Niesha Illingworth

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/niesha-illingworth-516859141/

Bright Eyes Clinic

https://beei.com.au/

Links:

Association for Behaviour Analysis Australia

https://auaba.com.au/

Related Behaviour Speak Episodes

The Balance Program

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-3-parent-coaching-with-esdm-and-the-balance-program-with-maria-sample-ma-bcba/

Family Centred PBS

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-43-family-centred-positive-behaviour-support-with-dr-joseph-lucyshyn-phd-bcba-d-part-1/

The Constructional Approach

Madhura Deshpande

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-252-applications-of-the-constructional-approach-with-dr-madhura-deshpande/

Oliver Roschke and John Wooderson

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/beyond-behaviour-reduction-reclaiming-the-constructional-approach-in-pbs-with-oliver-roschke-john-wooderson/

Ver en YouTube: https://youtu.be/XBPb0ug6OSc

Créditos de Educación Continua/CEUs (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 1.0 Learning

IBAO: 1.0 ABA Topics

QABA: 1.0 General

CBA: 1.0 Learning

Contacto:

Natalia Flórez Marín

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-fl%C3%B3rez-mar%C3%ADn-943914104/