Improved Soft-Skill Competencies of ABA Professionals Following Training and Coaching: A Feasibility Study
A four-month BST package lifts BCBA self-compassion and teamwork skills, filling a training gap flagged by three earlier surveys.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Friedman et al. (2024) ran a four-month training-and-coaching program for 24 BCBAs. The package mixed small-group lessons with one-on-one coaching. It targeted two soft skills: self-compassion and interprofessional collaboration.
The team used a simple pre-post design. They measured skills before and after the training. No control group was used.
What they found
Scores for self-compassion and collaboration rose significantly after the training. The BCBAs left the program kinder to themselves and better at working with others.
The results show a short, low-cost BST package can boost soft skills that typical BCBA training skips.
How this fits with other research
LeBlanc et al. (2020) and Plattner et al. (2023) both surveyed BCBAs and found the same gap: most had zero formal training in caregiver rapport or therapeutic alliance. Friedman et al. (2024) now shows a ready-made fix for that gap.
Kazemi et al. (2022) linked workplace conflict to lost cases and turnover. The new training tackles this head-on by teaching collaboration skills, giving teams a way to cut conflict before it costs clients.
Friedman et al. (2025) extends the same project. The 2024 paper gives the numbers; the 2025 paper gives the voices. Together they show the training works and feels meaningful to staff.
Why it matters
You can copy this four-month plan in your own clinic. Run small lunch-and-learn groups and 30-minute coaching check-ins. Track self-compassion with the same short scale. Teams that are kinder to themselves stay longer and fight less, saving you turnover and client drift.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
AbstractThe field of applied behavior analysis currently faces critique regarding the need for increased compassion and interprofessional collaboration training toward culturally and emotionally responsive practice. Mindful self-compassion is evidenced to improve self-compassion and compassion. The purpose of the current study was to improve soft-skill competencies in collaboration and compassion of behavior analytic professionals. In this feasibility study, two cohorts of American behavior analytic professionals (N = 24) received a 4-month training-and-coaching sequence, with a pre-program focus group serving as the program’s needs assessment. The Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey and Self-Compassion Scale, Short Form were administered pre- and post-intervention to ascertain program effectiveness, alongside open-ended survey questions. Training included experiential learning opportunities in small groups, with participants practicing self-compassion and collaboration skills. Coaching included additional individual practice opportunities. Pre- and post-whole test scores were significantly different on both instruments, with p set at .05, demonstrating preliminary effectiveness. Significance on paired-sample t-test for the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey whole score fell at <.001, while for the Self-Compassion Scale, Short Form, it fell at .004. While prior studies have demonstrated the need for collaboration and compassion training within the ABA workforce, the current study reports on an implementation procedure to improve upon these skill sets, addressing a noted gap. Furthermore, the current study operationalizes collaboration alongside self-compassion, demonstrating the importance of centering collaborative practice within soft-skill awareness and competency. Future research can incorporate direct measures of these skill sets.
Behavior and Social Issues, 2024 · doi:10.1007/s42822-024-00156-7