Although other therapeutic approaches across human service disciplines have acknowledged the importance of understanding the impacts of trauma, the field of behavior analysis has seen less frequent discussions. To address this growing need, the purpose of this study was to explore how three participant board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs):…

Overwhelming events such as neglect, abuse, and violence impact students in a number of ways. Typically, students who have experienced trauma demonstrate significant deficits in skills that promote emotional and behavioral regulation. When these deficits are displayed in the classroom, learning can be significantly disrupted for the survivor and…

Current behaviour policies, which focus around reward and deterrent, have only limited long-term effectiveness. They assume that students can exercise self-control and follow rules, when motivated to do so. Students with special educational needs and disabilities typically have many intrinsic challenges to self-regulation, due to executive…

We discuss the use of two empirically validated behavior-change methods--checklists and goal setting--and designed a checklist to assist behavior analysts in improving their behavioral services to be more culturally responsive and trauma informed. We also present pilot data evaluating the use of the checklist and goal setting on the inclusion of…

The purpose of this study was to examine whether post-trauma-focused therapy improved emotional attachment, communication, and trust with children adopted from state custody. In this qualitative case study, Ainsworth's (1969) Attachment Theory was used to determine whether parents who adopt children from state custody experience increased…

The Juvenile Justice System was established on the premise of rehabilitative action for behaviors that have led youth to the criminal justice system. However, the system has increasingly moved away from this original concept toward a punitive model. The authors present how this movement resulted in the devolution of human rights for the youth…

As violence, behavioral outbursts, and truancy continues to rise in classrooms across our state and nation, educators struggle to find ways to engage and connect with their students. Teachers and support staff realize that what is happening to their students outside of school is having an impact on their ability to learn. They are learning that…

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability affecting individuals across their entire lifespan. Autistic individuals have differences from nonautistic people (sometimes called allistic or neurotypical people) in social skills, communication, and atypical interests and/or repetitive behaviors. Approximately 1 in 59 children are born…

Therapeutic alliance and decreases in negative cognitions may play an important role in the outcomes of child trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. However, understanding alliance from multiple perspectives (i.e., therapist, parent, and child) and if changes in negative cognitions differ by type of delivery is limited. The current study…

Background: Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is a trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2018, to treat posttraumatic stress disorder in adults. There is a lack of research exploring the effectiveness of NET with adults with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this…

This study examined social workers' perceived use of theories and methods in practice through a questionnaire completed by social workers in New York City (N=105) followed by individual interviews (N=20). Social workers received approximately one to six courses on theory in their education that moderately influenced their current practice. The…

The authors present a case report for an adolescent student with a learning disability who has academic, behavioral, and intensive mental health needs. A therapeutic package to support and maintain student progress is discussed. The case report outlines specifically how the student's mental health needs were supported through the implementation of…

Learning flow is an optimal state of engaged learning and total immersion, which is conducive to many academic outcomes. Although studies have examined how learning flow emerges, few have focused on the early foundations of its development. Drawing on Life History Theory, this study examines whether and how childhood environment is related to…

Numerous efforts are underway to train clinicians in evidence-based practices. Unfortunately, the field has few practical measures of therapist adherence and skill with which to judge the success of these training and implementation efforts. One possible assessment method is using behavioral rehearsal, or role-play, as an analogue for therapist…

Schools have become increasingly interested in social-emotional learning (SEL) over the past decade, and that interest has grown due to concern about student well-being resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is confusion around SEL. Christi Bergin, Christina Cipriano, Tia Barnes, Shannon B. Wanless, researchers who have studied and…