By Matt Harrington, BCBA · Behaviorist Book Club · Clinical decision guide
One of the most consequential decisions a behavior analyst makes is not just what intervention to use, but how to approach the clinical question in the first place. For reducing restraint and seclusion in schools: creating safety, the difference between an evidence-based, individualized approach and a traditional, protocol-driven one can significantly impact outcomes.
This guide lays out the key factors side by side to support your clinical decision-making.
| Factor | Evidence-Based Approach | Traditional Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Proactive Support: Prevention of challenging behavior through environmental design, skill building, and reinforcement systems | Reactive Approach: Management of challenging behavior after it occurs, often through physical intervention |
| Role of functional assessment | Proactive Support: Central to intervention design; all strategies are function-based and individualized | Reactive Approach: Often absent or conducted after the fact; interventions target topography rather than function |
| Staff training emphasis | Proactive Support: De-escalation, reinforcement strategies, antecedent modifications, and trauma-informed practices | Reactive Approach: Physical restraint techniques, crisis management procedures, and containment strategies |
| Impact on student-staff relationship | Proactive Support: Strengthens trust and rapport; positions staff as supportive allies in the student's learning | Reactive Approach: Can damage trust and create adversarial dynamics; students may avoid or resist staff |
| Data use | Proactive Support: Ongoing data collection on behavior frequency, antecedents, and intervention fidelity drives continuous improvement | Reactive Approach: Data often limited to incident reports filed after restraint or seclusion events |
| Long-term outcomes | Proactive Support: Reduction in challenging behavior, increased prosocial skills, improved school climate and academic engagement | Reactive Approach: Behavior may temporarily stop during restraint but often increases over time; risk of injury and trauma |
| Alignment with BACB Ethics Code | Proactive Support: Directly consistent with Code 2.15 (least restrictive effective treatment) and Code 2.01 (effective treatment) | Reactive Approach: Raises concerns under multiple ethics codes when used without exhausting less restrictive alternatives |
| Scalability | Proactive Support: Designed for school-wide implementation through tiered frameworks like PBIS | Reactive Approach: Typically applied on a case-by-case basis without systemic infrastructure |
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Use this framework when approaching reducing restraint and seclusion in schools: creating safety in your practice:
Does the data support a need for intervention? Is there a meaningful impact on the individual's quality of life, safety, or access to reinforcement?
YES → Proceed to assessment NO → Document reasoning, monitor
A functional assessment should guide intervention selection. Avoid defaulting to standard protocols without individual analysis. Consider environmental variables, setting events, and private events.
YES → Select evidence-based approach matched to function NO → Complete assessment first
Goals should be co-developed. Assent and informed consent are ethical requirements. The individual's preferences and values matter in selecting both goals and methods.
YES → Proceed with collaborative plan NO → Engage in shared decision-making
This course covers the clinical and ethical dimensions in detail with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
Reducing Restraint and Seclusion in Schools: Creating Safety — Do Better Collective · 2 BACB Ethics CEUs · $25
Take This Course →2 BACB Ethics CEUs · $25 · Do Better Collective
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.