Understanding and addressing pseudoscientific practices in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders: Considerations for applied behavior analysis practitioners

Capuano et al. (2021) wrote a how-to guide for BCBAs. The paper tells you what to say when a parent asks for a treatment that has no science behind it.

They give a decision tree and a list of red-flag treatments. The goal is to keep the family on your side while you say no.

The guide works. Teams that used the tree kept parents in treatment and cut pseudoscience use.

Staff said they felt clearer and calmer when tough questions came up.

McNamara (1978) set the first ethics checkpoints. Capuano et al. (2021) turn that old advice into a ready script you can use today.

Walton (2016) tells us to rebrand ABA with warmer words. Capuano’s team shows exactly which warm words to use when you refuse a fad diet or energy crystal.

Kirby et al. (2022) push cultural reciprocity. Their idea pairs well here: ask the parent what they hope the pseudoscience will do, then match that hope with real ABA goals.

You will face requests for bleach, camel milk, or neuro-linguistic programming. This paper hands you a polite script that keeps trust and keeps kids safe. Print the decision tree, tape it in your team meeting room, and role-play it during staff training. One calm sentence can save a family from harm and save your reputation.