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Sweet Behavior employs a team of master’s-level clinicians, which include behavior consultants (BC) and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA).  The BCs and BCBAs seek to improve the client’s quality of life through behavior change. 

 

The clinicians seek to understand the events that lead up to the problem behavior and what reaction the client receives after it has happened.  Understanding this will give the clinician a better understanding of how to address the behavior that is in need of change. To understand the behavior of concern better the clinician will do several things:

  

• First, they will spend time observing the client in the various environments in which the behavior occurs.  This is necessary in order for the clinician to witness the components that lead up to the behavior happening and what the client gets right after the behavior occurs (i.e., attention, a desired item/activity, getting away from/avoiding something they don’t like).  After observing, the clinician will meet with the client and/or the client's loved ones and conduct a behavior interview. This information is also used to understand what is causing or motivating the behavior to occur.

  

• The next step is to develop a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).  This assessment utilizes the information that has been gathered during observations and interviews with the client and his/her loved ones and is analyzed to determine the cause of the behavior.  Once the cause is identified, the FBA will be written. This FBA will explain why the behavior is happening and will provide recommendations on how to change the behavior. The clinician will review the FBA with the client and or his/her loved one. 

 

• Next, the clinician will develop the behavior support plan (BSP). The BSP is the application of the FBA.  The BSP explains the problem behavior and what it looks like. This helps those who are working with the client to identify when the behavior is happening.  The plan addresses new behaviors or skills that need to be learned in response to the problem behavior. The goal in the BSP is to teach new behaviors that replace the old ones. These new behaviors should be a better way for the client to receive what they want instead of engaging in the problem behavior. For example, if a client demonstrates inappropriate personal boundaries by coming up to someone and rubbing them on their head, the clinician may design an intervention that teaches the client socially appropriate greetings, such as giving a handshake or waving at someone.  The BSP will also employ proactive strategies that help to reduce the likelihood of the problem behavior occurring as well as reactive strategies in the event that the problem behavior does occur. These interventions will explain how to address the problem behavior. The clinician will train anyone that will be working with the client on the BSP and will then monitor the implementation of the behavior plan through data collection and direct observation. Data collection is vital; all those working with the client will be asked to take data on a regular basis. The data is used to analyze the client’s progress and it helps the clinician determine if a change to the BSP is necessary. 

 

• At this point the clinician will provide regular contact and behavior therapy with the client, his/her loved ones, and relevant service providers. During this time the clinician will discuss how implementation of the behavior plan is going and current progress.  He or she will also spend time working with the individual on a 1:1 basis as needed. The clinician will continue to model necessary skills to all those providing services to the client. He or she is available at any time by phone for emergencies or if you simply have questions about how to handle a current or ongoing situation.  

 

Our clinicians want to be there for you and your loved ones as you walk through the behavior change process.  If you are interested in behavior support services with us, please contact tonysweet@sweetbehavior.com or call our office at 812-725-1665.  We will be happy to answer your questions, tell you if we have any current openings in your area, and, if we do, suggest which clinician might be the best fit for you. We encourage you to interview with any clinician that you are interested in, and as always, you have the right to choose any provider or clinician you prefer.  We hope to hear from you soon!