Applied Behavior Analysis is a therapy model that uses the radical behaviorism established by B.F. Skinner to modify a person’s behavior. B.F. Skinner believed that both private events and public events were shaped by what happens after the event occurred and that if behavior is rewarded in a way meaningful to the individual, they are more likely to do it again.

Our goal is to help each person develop their skills to find meaningful connections and access their community. We do this using ABA to help people:

• Develop their leisure skills as they think of life beyond K-12

• Learn how to make meaningful connections with people

• Communicate their needs (and wants!) in a way that is easily understood

• Increase coping skills when things aren’t going according to plan

• Move as independently as reasonable so that people can get the most out of their environment

• Have community safety skills

• Find alternatives to behaviors to disruptive and dysregulating behaviors

ABA uses Evidence Based Practices to break behaviors into small, teachable moments. Some strategies for training include but are not limited to:

• Mand Training- teaching meaningful requests to the individual to replace inappropriate communication strategies like tantrums or hitting

• Reinforcement- rewarding behaviors immediately after they occur to help motivate the person to do it again

• Prompting- modeling, gestures, physical assistance, proximity, or verbal reminders to help a person engage in a particular behavior with a goal to remove those prompts and allow independence

• Natural Environment Training/Incidental Teaching- setting up the environment to best allow the person to practice the behavior in meaningful ways that feel natural to when they will be used

• Discrete Trials- structured teaching with a clear signal for the opportunity to practice the skill and gain reinforcement

• Task Analysis- breaking a task down into small steps and teaching each step one at a time until mastered

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) certifies BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) to practice ABA through rigorous testing and observation.

But that’s not all!

ABA can also be used in schools using Positive Behavior Support, Special Education, Organizational Behavior Management, Psychology, and even Criminal Justice.
At STIM PLLC, we are Washington licensed Behavior Analysts with a focus in psychology and special education.

When you contract an ABA provider, first we do an “indirect” assessment where we ask questions about what skills may help your teen from YOUR perspective. Our INTAKE form also asks questions about items important to your family values and what would be the most relevant skills to target to improve all of your quality of life. These are often our first “treatment goals” - the big ideas/skills that you see could give your child access to new environments.
During our first sessions, we then perform “Direct Assessments” to determine what is the least restrictive way to teach those skills to YOUR tween/teen in particular. We ask questions such as:

• How does the individual do this skill right now? Are there other ways to do it that would be easier/more efficient for them?

• What supports do they need to do this without us?

• Can we alter the environment just a little to help them be more successful?

• Is this skill simply too big and needs to be broken down?

• What skills do they need before this skill?

• What motivation is missing here and can we make it more interesting to them?

From these questions we build a treatment plan with individual goals broken down into small measurable objectives. We share those goals and objectives with you for your approval and then get to teaching.

ABA has a problematic and sometimes dehumanizing past of using practices that put behavior change ahead of client dignity. While some individuals have increased their quality of life, some have experienced trauma at the hands of well meaning practitioners.

We as a field cannot move forward without holding ourselves accountable to our mistakes and making actionable moves towards reparations for those harmed.
STIM PLLC and many new practitioners adhered to new responsibilities focused on “protecting the welfare and rights of clients” (Code of Ethics Core Principles Pg. 4).