Today we have the joy of talking with Nicole Parks, BCBA, LBA, IBA. Nicole has been working as a behavior analyst for two decades and has worked with clients of all ages. She has experience in early intervention, substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, organizational behavior management and acceptance and commitment therapy. She founded Rooted Consultation in 2020 to help new and established businesses focus on ethical and sustainable business practices. Nicole’s love for behavior science and expanding the reach of ABA has driven her to advocate for behavior analysts in spaces outside of autism and developmental disabilities.

During our conversation today, we discuss Nicole’s experience with forensic behavior analysis and her work as a behavior analyst supporting patients in the psychiatric hospital. We dive into how she facilitated collaboration between the medical, mental health, and behavior analytic approach to help enhance therapeutic environments and improve outcomes for her patients. We also discuss Nicole’s passion for expanding the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and how she has found new avenues to help support future generations of behavior analysts.

You can find Nicole at rootedconsultation.com and on instagram at @rootedconsultation

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Annie McLaughlin about all things IEP Advocacy. Dr. Annie McLaughlin is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, former special educator, a mom of three, and IEP advocate. She works primarily with families navigating the special education system. She also teaches other behavior analysts how to start or add IEP advocacy to their business through a course called Pivot into IEP Advocacy.

During our conversation, we dive into challenges faced by parents and professionals, importance of collaboration amongst the IEP team, understanding federal and state laws, and great resources to help anyone learning how to navigate this process.

You can find Annie at www.iepadvocacytraining.com and on instagram at @iepadvocateannie

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Diane Hudson, PhD, BCBA about her social groups supporting neurodivergent teenage girls.

Dr. Diane Hudson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst working with Neurodivergent kids, teens, and their people. She works with clients individually and in small groups, both in person in Jackson, WY and virtually across the United States. Dr. Hudson is a strong believer in building community, honoring individuals, and fostering skills to help her clients find and thrive on their own unique paths.

During our discussion we dive into how she came to start her groups, how she uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help her clients work on phycological flexibility, and how she helps support the whole family system.

You can learn more about her and her approach at abc-pathways.com.

Today we discuss what to do when you encounter different common parenting and teaching scenarios. We give our advice on how as behaviorist and moms we would handle these types of situations. We discuss identifying the functions of behavior, teaching replacement behaviors, and doing your best to be calm and consistent with your implementation.

We specifically address what to do when…

-your toddler is hitting you

-transitioning away from an item or location is hard

-a child is having a tantrum in the classroom

-a student isn’t motivated to do work

-your child won’t sit down for meals

-your child is having negative interactions with a sibling

Today we discuss Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) for Autism. We discuss what EBP are, why they are important, and how to implement some of the most common EBP. We specifically go through: Reinforcement/Differential Reinforcement, Behavioral Momentum, Functional Communication Training (FCT), Discrete Trial Training (DTT), Naturalistic Environment Training (NET), and Social Skills Training.

Find more resources on Evidence-Based Practices below:

AFIRM Modules-

https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu

EBP Report-

https://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/ebps/

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Dena Kelly, LPC, BCBA, LBS. Dena is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst who is renowned for her over 15-year dedication to improving children's eating, enhancing their quality of life, and positively impacting their families. After over a decade of direct feeding intervention, Dena founded Focused Approach, developing comprehensive feeding programs and training professionals and caregivers in interventions grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

Dena shares how to identify if your child is experiencing picky eating or a medical feeding issue, how to get medical intervention and what a feeding program might look like, as well as how she incorporates using positive reinforcement strategies to increase healthy eating behaviors.

Today we discuss strategies to help with interfering behaviors such as non-compliance, stereotypy, perseveration, and elopement. We discuss identifying the function of behavior, finding functionally equivalent replacement behaviors, evaluating if it is a skill or motivation issue, as well as teaching appropriate boundaries. For all behaviors we advocate for finding compassionate and positive ways to help with behavior change.

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Leanne Page, BCBA, LBA. Leanne is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, the founder of parentingwithaba.org, mom of two, author, and parent coach. We discuss how she came to specialize in parent training, helpful parenting strategies for all parents, as well as her new book The Calm and Connected Journal. We dive into how her new book uses the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) to help parents connect with their children and be the kind of parent they have always wanted to be.

https://www.parentingwithaba.org/

https://www.instagram.com/parentingwithaba/

Today we discuss the history of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and how these strategies and research can be applied today. We discuss the beginning of Behaviorism with B.F. Skinner, how the field of ABA has evolved, and how you can use these principles and strategies to make meaningful behavior change in your own life.

https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/87-years-ago-a-legendary-psychologist-discovered-skinners-law-its-still-the-secret-to-sticking-with-your-new-years-resolution/91104510

https://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html

https://www.verywellmind.com/operant-conditioning-a2-2794863

Today we discuss different behavioral strategies that are helpful in the classroom or when taking care of multiple children. We discuss the different types of group contingencies, how to use group reward systems or token economies and how to engage students in group work.