Assent refers to an individual's agreement or willingness to participate in an intervention or activity, distinct from legal consent, which is provided by a parent or guardian on behalf of a minor or individual who lacks decision-making capacity. In applied behavior analysis, the growing emphasis on assent reflects a substantive shift in how the field conceptualizes the role of the client in the therapeutic process.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via RethinkBH
Take This Course →Including ethics, supervision, and topics like this one. New live CEU every Wednesday.
Join Free →Client involvement in therapeutic decisions is a cornerstone of ethical and effective behavior analysis. In this insightful webinar, Dr. Cody Morris, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, will explore the significance of client participation in the decision-making process and the critical role of assent in behavioral interventions. Participants will gain an understanding of how fostering autonomy and independence benefits client outcomes, while also learning to differentiate between various levels of client involvement to avoid misinterpretations and oversights. Dr. Morris will define assent, outline its essential components, and discuss its implications for clinical practice. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for ensuring clients' voices are respected and incorporated into treatment planning.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 0 | — |
Dr. Bridget Taylor is co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group and is Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink Behavioral Health. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Psychologist. Dr. Taylor is past president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and past Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently serves on the board of the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB). Active in the Autism research community, Dr. Taylor has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters, on innovative practices to improve the lives of individuals with autism. Her most recent work explores compassionate relationship-building with families in the provision of clinical services to individuals with autism. Dr. Taylor has been recognized by the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International for her outstanding contributions and received ABAI’s Fellow designation.
Side-by-side comparison with a clinical decision framework
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Research-backed answers to common clinical questions
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.