By Matt Harrington, BCBA · Behaviorist Book Club · Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
Start by fully understanding the recommendation, including the rationale behind it and the professional context from which it comes. Evaluate the evidence fairly, considering literature from the relevant discipline rather than only behavioral sources. If the treatment lacks evidence, assess the potential for harm. For benign treatments, a measured response that shares information about evidence-based alternatives may be appropriate. For potentially harmful treatments, more direct advocacy is warranted. In all cases, frame your response in terms of client welfare rather than disciplinary correctness.
Focus on shared goals, particularly the client's best interests. Rather than dismissing a colleague's recommendation, ask questions that invite them to discuss the evidence behind it. Share relevant research in accessible language without being condescending. Acknowledge the value of their professional perspective and expertise in their own domain. Propose collaborative approaches such as collecting data on all treatments being implemented so that effectiveness can be evaluated objectively. Building the relationship before conflict arises makes advocacy much more effective.
Yes, when the treatment is not harmful and the family has been provided with accurate information about the evidence base. Families have the right to make autonomous decisions about their child's care. Code 2.09 of the BACB Ethics Code (2022) requires involving clients and stakeholders in treatment planning. The behavior analyst's role is to provide honest, clear information rather than to veto decisions. When a nonbehavioral treatment is benign and important to the family, supporting their choice while continuing to provide effective behavioral services serves the client better than creating an adversarial dynamic.
IEP meetings are collaborative by legal mandate, and behavior analysts should approach them as team members rather than adversaries. Present data and evidence clearly and accessibly. Propose data-based decision-making frameworks that the team can use to evaluate different approaches. If you disagree with a proposed goal or service, articulate your concerns in terms of the student's needs and the available evidence. Document your concerns in the meeting notes. If the team makes a decision you believe is harmful, follow your organization's procedures for escalating concerns.
Attend interdisciplinary team meetings consistently and participate actively. Show genuine interest in what other professionals contribute. Ask colleagues about their approach and how it complements behavioral services. Invite collaboration on shared cases. Share your own data and findings in accessible language. Avoid jargon that creates barriers. Acknowledge the limits of your own expertise and express willingness to learn. Provide brief educational materials about ABA to colleagues who express interest. These investments in relationship building pay dividends when disagreements inevitably arise.
Escalation is appropriate when you have evidence that a recommended treatment poses a direct risk of harm to the client, when you have attempted to address the concern through direct professional communication without resolution, and when the potential harm is significant enough to warrant action beyond informal dialogue. Escalation pathways may include reporting concerns to a clinical supervisor, raising the issue with the treatment team's leadership, documenting concerns formally, or in extreme cases involving legal or regulatory reporting. The decision to escalate should be based on the severity of potential harm and should be documented thoroughly.
Cultural factors may influence families' preferences for particular treatments, their trust in different professionals, and their understanding of their child's needs. Under Code 1.07 of the BACB Ethics Code (2022), behavior analysts must be culturally responsive. This means understanding that families may value treatments that align with their cultural beliefs even when those treatments lack behavioral evidence. Respecting cultural context while providing accurate information about treatment effectiveness allows families to make informed decisions that honor both their values and their child's needs.
Yes. Understanding the treatments your clients are receiving from other providers allows you to coordinate care more effectively, identify potential interactions between treatments, and communicate more knowledgeably with interdisciplinary colleagues. This does not mean endorsing treatments that lack evidence but rather being informed enough to evaluate recommendations fairly and to participate meaningfully in interdisciplinary discussions. Familiarity with other disciplines' terminology, methods, and evidence standards also facilitates more productive collaboration.
Proposing that the team collect data on all treatments being implemented provides an objective basis for evaluating effectiveness. This approach is consistent with the behavior-analytic emphasis on empirical evaluation and is often acceptable to professionals from other disciplines who also value outcomes. By defining measurable targets and collecting data across conditions, the team can let the data speak rather than relying on professional opinion alone. This data-driven approach often resolves disagreements more effectively than theoretical arguments about which approach is superior.
An adversarial approach can damage professional relationships, reduce referrals, create a hostile work environment, and ultimately harm clients by disrupting the collaborative network they depend on. When behavior analysts are perceived as rigid, dismissive, or territorial, other professionals may exclude them from decision-making, withhold information, or actively work against behavioral recommendations. The client suffers when their providers cannot work together effectively. Advocacy for evidence-based treatment is essential, but the strategy for that advocacy must account for the relational dynamics that affect client care.
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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.