Professionalism is a term frequently invoked in behavior analysis but rarely defined with the precision the field demands. When we say we want behavior technicians to be professional, what specific behaviors are we describing.
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Join Free →According to the Cambridge Dictionary, "professionalism" is the "combination of al the qualities that are connected with trained and skilled people". How do we in the behavior analytic community define "professionalism" and how do we utilize the principles of behavior-change to increase behaviors determined as professional within our community. In 2024, the CASP community enacted a Professionalism Special Interest Group to address just these questions. In this presentation, we will review behaviors identified as "professional" that align with the RBT Ethics Code. We will discuss how those behaviors can be defined, measured, and, if necessary modified using performance monitoring and feedback.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Ethics |
| APA | 0 | — |
| COA | 1 | — |
Mary M. Stevenson is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst with more than a decade of experience advancing clinical quality, workforce development, and compassionate, assent‑based care across the ABA field. She currently works with Soar Autism Center, where she supports Behavior Analyst Trainees awaiting Arizona licensure, providing supervision, competency development, and mentorship to ensure new clinicians enter the field confident, ethical, and practice‑ready.Mary works directly with frontline staff with the goal of raising the quality of care in early intervention, ensuring that the youngest learners receive developmentally appropriate, dignifying, and effective support. As a parent of two young adults on the autism spectrum, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. This dual perspective fuels her passion for high‑quality staff training and her belief that well‑supported clinicians create the conditions for meaningful, dignified outcomes for the individuals and families they serve.In addition to her clinical and training leadership, Mary serves as the President of the Arizona Association for Behavior Analysis (AzABA) and is an active contributor to statewide and national professional initiatives. She has presented at major conferences including CASP, AzABA, and BABA, with topics spanning staff training, assent‑based practices, interdisciplinary ethics, and the evolution of technician development.Mary holds a Master of Education in Special Education with a specialization in Autism/Consultation and Collaboration from Arizona State University and is also credentialed as an International Behavior Analyst. Her earlier career includes roles in higher education, clinical supervision, and public service, giving her a uniquely broad perspective on systems change and professional development.Across all her work, Mary is known for her clarity, compassion, and commitment to shaping a more ethical, skilled, and sustainable ABA workforce.
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258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
252 research articles with practitioner takeaways
233 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.