ABA Inside Track

While completing a functional behavior assessment is an ethical requirement before engaging in behavior change programming, only a minority of BCBAs consistently do this. And since many of the barriers to completing FAs revolve around seemingly insurmountable (and ethical concern of) risks to clicents, wouldn't having a more structured way to assess the risk of an FA and more quickly review mitigating factors provide a potential solution to these problems? Well, that's exactly what Dr. Stephanie Peterson and her former students Dr. Rebecca Eldridge and Dr. Neil Deochand thought when they developed their Functional Analysis Risk Assessment Decision Tool. This week, as voted on by our Patrons, how to complete a risk assessment before starting your functional analysis from the people at the forefront of this research.
This episode is available for 1.0 ETHICS CEU.
Patrons at the $5 and up levels can get that CEU for FREE! Just head on over to our Patreon Page.
Articles discussed this episode:
Wiskirchen, R.R., Deochand, N., & Peterson, S.M. (2017). Functional analysis: A need for clinical decision support tools to weight risks and benefits. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 17, 325-333. doi: 10.1037/bar0000088
Deochand, N., Eldridge, R.R., & Peterson, S.M. (2020). Toward the development of a functional analysis risk assessment decision tool. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13, 978-990. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00433-y
Schroeder, A.C., Peterson, S.M., Mahabub, M.B., & Dresch, M.K. (2025). A pilot evaluation of expert and novice use of the functional analysis risk assessment decision tool. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 811-825. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00433-y
If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, and the two episode secret code words to complete the purchase. Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

Hey, everbody.
Due to a last minute technology crisis, we've needed to push up the launch of our new website...to right now!
Please listen to this short drop to hear about some of the differences you might see.
Some of the functionality will be rolling out through today and tomorrow so you may end up at our old site as we update links and fix bugs.
To go directly to the new site, visit abainsidetrack.thinkific.com. Our regular website URL will be pointing there in the next few days too.
Any problems? Please let us know as soon as you can at [email protected]

When working with clients to support their behavior change goals, does it ever feel like you're the one doing all the convincing that the change is worth the effort? Rather than spending your energy cajoling clients that your plan is "right", wouldn't it be better to support their own belief in engaging in behavior change? Well, that's just what motivational interviewing techniques can do. And since this well-studied process is only just getting interest in behavior analysis, we're joined this week by Dr. Monica Gilbert, clinical psychologist, mental health counselor, AND BCBA, to get a crash course of the basics of how motivational interviewing can improve communication between clinicians and clients to boost your therapeutic alliance building skills into overdrive.
This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.
Articles discussed this episode:
Gilbert, M. (2025). How to stop talking and start communicating with motivational interviewing: Building effective partnerships with caregivers: A practical guide for behavior therapists. Crystal Minds Psychological Services.
Plattner, C. & Anderson, C. (2024). Creating a therapeutic alliance with caregivers: An introduction to motivational interviewing. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00948-8
Christopher, P.J. & Dougher, M.J. (2009). A behavior-analytic account of motivational interviewing. The Behavior Analyst, 32, 149-161. doi: 10.1007/BF03392180
 
If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, and the two episode secret code words to complete the purchase. Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

Enjoy a short preview of our latest full-length Book Club episode.  Want to hear the whole thing and get 2.0 CEs for FREE? Subscribe to our Patreon today at the premium $10+ levels for that plus other bonuses!
Could this best-selling self-help book actually be the best introduction to behavior analysis for a mainstream audience? Though many of us expected James Clear's "Atomic Habits" to share some lightly-spiced tips for changing behaviors, we were all impressed with the level of research and personalization that Clear put into his program for analyzing and building new behavioral habits. From a basic belief that doing a little bit of something good is better than nothing, Clear lays out some important, real-world examples of analyzing your own ABCs and sprinkles in some acceptance practice to explain an actionable series of steps to create lasting behavior change with in the areas of most significance to you. But don't take our word for it…or do, but only after a full two-hour discussion of our thoughts and in-depth review of the book.
The full episode is available for 2.0 LEARNING CEUs.
Patrons at the $10 and up level, as part of your subscription, you'll be able to earn these CEs for no charge! Subscribe to our Patreon today!
Content discussed in this episode:
Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits: An easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones. Avery.

Happy New Year, everyone! We kick off the (almost) 10th year of ABA Inside Track with a review of our recent holiday activities then get right back into our podcast research discussion with a bevy of amazing guests. First up we delve into the new (for behavior analysts) work of motivational interviewing with Dr. Monica Gilbert. Then we have three-guests-for one with Dr. Stephanie Peterson, Dr. Rebecca Eldridge, and Dr. Neil Deochand to learn about risk assessment and their development of the FARADT tool. Then we take pity on the least popular experimental design, the changing criterion, by giving it its own episode.
Still not enough learning for your behavior analytic resolutions? Why not head over to the Stone Soup online conference with a $20 discount. Just register with the code ABAIT26 and enjoy a whole day of learning.
Articles for January 2026
Motivational Interviewing w/ Dr. Monica Gilbert
Gilbert, M. (2025). How to stop talking and start communicating with motivational interviewing: Building effective partnerships with caregivers: A practical guide for behavior therapists. Crystal Minds Psychological Services.
Plattner, C. & Anderson, C. (2024). Creating a therapeutic alliance with caregivers: An introduction to motivational interviewing. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00948-8
Christopher, P.J. & Dougher, M.J. (2009). A behavior-analytic account of motivational interviewing. The Behavior Analyst, 32, 149-161. doi: 10.1007/BF03392180
 
Risk Assessment w/ Dr. Stephanie Peterson, Dr. Rebecca Eldridge, + Dr. Neil Deochand
Wiskirchen, R.R., Deochand, N., & Peterson, S.M. (2017). Functional analysis: A need for clinical decision support tools to weight risks and benefits. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 17, 325-333. doi: 10.1037/bar0000088
Deochand, N., Eldridge, R.R., & Peterson, S.M. (2020). Toward the development of a functional analysis risk assessment decision tool. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13, 978-990. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00433-y
Schroeder, A.C., Peterson, S.M., Mahabub, M.B., & Dresch, M.K. (2025). A pilot evaluation of expert and novice use of the functional analysis risk assessment decision tool. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 811-825. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00433-y
 
The Changing Criterion Design
Klein, L.A., Houlihan, D., Vincent, J.L., & Panahon, C.J. (2017). Best practices in utilizing the changing criterion design. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 10, 52-61. doi: 10.1007/s40617-014-0036-x
De Luca, R.V. & Holborn, S.W. (1992). Effects of a variable-ratio reinforcement schedule with changing criteria on exercise in obese and nonobese boys. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 671-679. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1992.25-671
Brady, M.P., Kearney, K.B., Downey, A., Torres, A., & McDougall, D. (2022). Using mnemonics, remote coaching, and the range-bound changing criterion design to teach college students with IDD to make employment decisions. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 57, 303-319. doi: 10.1177/215416472205700