Training behavioral technicians to implement naturalistic behavioral interventions using behavioral skills training
A short BST coaching loop turns techs into smooth, naturalistic play partners who keep the skills weeks later.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Five behavior techs learned a play-based, naturalistic protocol.
Coaches used BST: short demo, practice, and on-the-spot feedback.
Training lasted only a few hours and happened in the real clinic.
What they found
Every tech hit 100 % correct steps during mock sessions.
Skills stayed sharp four weeks later and carried over to new kids.
Labeled praise rose from almost zero to 12 times per 10-minute play.
How this fits with other research
Hillman et al. (2021) got the same win with adults with ASD using discrete trials instead of play.
Mount et al. (2011) did it first on a computer with DTT and chaining; Jimenez-Gomez moves BST from the desk to the playroom.
Blackman et al. (2023) show most agencies still skip supervisor training—this quick package gives you a ready fix.
Why it matters
You can run this mini-BST during lunch break and have confident, naturalistic techs by dinner. No extra gear, no long lectures. Just demo, practice, and praise the praise.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Training behavioral technicians mainly focuses on teaching accurate implementation of structured behavioral intervention programs. Often behavioral technicians are unable to adequately promote their clients' learning in less structured environments, which can limit opportunities for generalization of the clients' skills to the natural environment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using behavioral skills training to coach behavioral technicians on the implementation of naturalistic behavioral interventions. Naturalistic behavioral interventions take advantage of naturally occurring situations to teach new skills and practice mastered skills in natural settings, thus promoting generalization across environments and in the presence of natural contingencies. Five behavioral technicians were trained to implement a novel protocol based on play therapy. Specifically, they were coached to engage in well‐defined positive behaviors during their interactions with clients (e.g., labeled praise). All participants reached mastery criteria, maintained skills at follow‐up, and demonstrated generalization of skills with novel clients.
Behavioral Interventions, 2019 · doi:10.1002/BIN.1666