The impact of psychological flexibility for stakeholders of individuals with mental health disorders & other comorbid diagnosis for treatment adherence belongs in serious BCBA study because it shapes whether behavior-analytic decisions stay useful once they leave a clean training example and enter clinic sessions and day-to-day service delivery. In The impact of psychological flexibility for stakeholders of individuals with mental health disorders & other comorbid diagnosis for treatment adherence, for this course, the practical stakes show up in safe, humane intervention that respects health variables and daily-life feasibility, not in abstract discussion alone.
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Join Free →There is a growing need for interventions to include both behavioral and psychosocial components to better address needs in families of children with intellectual disabilities; especially since emergent life events (ELEs) can affect treatment adherence in cases where there are comorbid diagnoses and minimal clinician experience. Mental health illnesses are affecting individuals on a continuous basis such that 1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness; and currently 1 in 25 Americans lives with a mental illness (CDC, 2022). Dealing with a mental health disorder can also greatly impact health-related quality outcomes when there is a developmental disorder involved. Delving more into some statistics, the prevalence of mental health disorders in children is far higher than the diagnosis of autism in children (CDC, 2023). Additionally, if there is a comorbid diagnosis, it could lead to treatment discontinuation / non-adherence amongst families of children 5 years or older. Current applied and clinical behavior analysis research with mental health disorders uses mixed assessment methods, employing direct observation of overt behaviors as well as interview, questionnaire, and other self-report measures of covert behavior and internal processes, and there is a growing need for stakeholders to incorporate compassionate care into their practices. If therapy incorporates focus on verbal conditioning clients' and stakeholders' behaviors, their psychological flexibility as well as the clients' behavior could be changed by those verbal interactions. However, if they are psychologically inflexible, there may not be treatment adherence due to stakeholder responses not obtaining stimulus generalization, which may be a product of experiential avoidance caused by psychological distress.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 1 | — |
Dr. Ashley Carrigan is an experienced behavior scientist with over a decade of expertise with primary specialization in Autism/Developmental Disabilities, Acceptance & Commitment Training (ACTr), Organizational Behavior Management, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, and Parent Training. She is a Doctoral Graduate from The Chicago School, specializing in ACTr, with a focus on integrating psychological flexibility and behavioral strategies to improve health outcomes and treatment adherence via behavioral parent training. As the Director of Training & Development at Achievements ABA Therapy, Ashley oversees clinical training, fieldwork supervision, and professional development while continuing to work with clients as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). Additionally, she is a faculty member at Kennesaw State University in the Department of Inclusive Education, where she contributes to training inclusive education teachers in the SPED master's programs. She is also actively collaborating on a grant-funded project supported by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), developing mixed-reality simulations to enhance the training of professionals in Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs). Ashley is also the Owner and Executive Director of the Center for Young Minds Behavior & Learning (CYMBAL), LLC, where she offers comprehensive consulting services. In addition, she serves on the board of several organizations and committees in the fields of behavior analysis, education, and community leadership, dedicating herself to advancing the profession and supporting future leaders in these areas. Ashley has a special research interest in Staff and Parent Training, developing programs that empower stakeholders with effective strategies to support children's behavioral health and learning. She is committed to building a community of practice that uplifts families and professionals alike, making a significant impact in the field of behavior analysis.---"Education is the passport to the FUTURE, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it TODAY" - Malcolm XConnect with me on…LinkedIn: Dr. Ashley Carrigan (www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ashley-carrigan-b60a3547)Instagram: @dr.ashleycarriganCompany Website (CYMBL): www.cymblearning.com
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
252 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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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.