BCBA Supervision

 

A BCBA should be as prepared to provide behavioral services to a young, high strung child with a developmental behavioral disability or adults in long term residential treatment as they are to persons experiencing a wider range of environmental and/or socially based behavioral challenges. The principles of human behavior remain consistently relevant and applicable.

 

As do other clinical professionals, BCBAs most often ultimately specialize. After all, parents would not take their sick child to a Cardiologist in the same way they wouldn't routinely place a young child with significant and persistent behavioral concerns in a well-run but larger and more general day care facility.

 

But just as an MD specialist is first trained as a medical 'Generalist' and is therefore able to provide services to persons outside of his/her specialty area, a BCBA must similarly be as well versed in the principles, foundations, theories and practice of Applied Behavior Analysis before choosing an area of specialization.

 

I believe one specific reason that higher than expected rates of failure among first time takers of the BCBA certification exam persist is related to the fact that many BCBA training programs do not first prioritize the training of Clinical Behavior Analyst 'Generalists.'

 

Another  reason for high rates of first time BCBA test failure is likely related to a lack of student 'automaticity' with regards to the foundational knowledge (now identified in the BACB's 4th Edition Task List), language, broader principles, terminology and definitions relevant to Applied Behavior Analysis.

 

If a BCBA student largely only sees reinforcement as a scheduled 1:1 exchange or can only prioritize the use of edibles, for instance, they become not only much more likely to fail their first attempt at the BCBA exam but will be poorly prepared to support the range of diversity and unique needs among their clients. A thorough knowledge of the Principles or Reinforcement Theory will not only better prepare the student for their BCBA exam but, even more importantly, they will be that much more adept in the design of individualized systems that reinforce and motivate while being always adaptable.

 

My BCBA supervision framework simultaneously focuses on foundational knowledge and the principles of human behavior along with individualized, assessment driven applications and competencies framed by the BACB's 4th Edition Task List. Supervisees will first focus on becoming Clinical Behavior Analyst Generalists while we will together and simultaneously prioritize supervisory sessions to target and meet the unique interests and real time professional needs of the student.

 

 

Go to BCBA Supervision (2) via the above site index.