vendredi 11 novembre 2016

The Job Of A Behavior Intervention Specialist

By Anthony Roberts


Behavior intervention specialists are practitioners in the field of psychology who specialize in facilitating positive and healthy behavior through the elimination of destructive and negative conduct. Usually, they work with communities, groups, or individuals. They aim at replacing disruptive, negative, and harmful behaviors with positive ones. A behavior intervention specialist needs to understand the condition of the client first before offering help.

In this job, workers have to interact with both individuals and groups so that they can facilitate healthy function in the setting being considered. This form of help targets behaviors that make functioning in public or private settings problematic. These behaviors usually make it problematic for people to function well in various settings such as counseling centers, schools, workplaces, and health agencies among others.

The client population being considered usually determine the kind of behaviors that warrant intervention. For instance, factors that may cause disruptive behavior in school settings include emotional stress, medical conditions, and learning disabilities among many others. Factors applying to students do not apply to adult populations. In adult populations main factors include mental disorders, emotional disorders, substance abuse, and physical disabilities. Knowledge of psychological issues and behavior problems is paramount to being in a position to help.

Behavioral intervention combines knowledge from multiple fields. Some of the fields from which knowledge is derived are counseling and education, psychology, community health, and social work. This allows practitioners to work in a wide range of occupational settings. They also work with different client populations. The success of this method of correcting behavior highly depends on support systems such as schools and families to help with the adjustment, implementation, and monitoring.

Help provided follows specific steps, starting with making attempts to know the problems that are causing one have difficulties in functioning in their daily life. The assessment is done by drawing knowledge from various disciplines. Methods of collecting information include observation, psychological tests, and interviews. An intervention plan is only formulated after the professional understands what they are dealing with. The plan has to be based on the assessment gained after collecting information.

The reason why the plan is used in the first place is to achieve change in behaviors. Progress in the plan is checked using strategic goals. As the client interacts in their daily life, they are monitored to assess progress. Plans can be overhauled or modified if they prove to be ineffective. Referrals are made to appropriate professionals if there is need.

To become a behaviorist, one needs to obtain a bachelor degree in applied behavior analysis. Alternatively, one may obtain a related degree in counseling, early childhood education, social work, or psychology. A bachelor degree is usually enough for one to obtain certification with the BACB, the certification body in the US.

Having a master degree is necessary for becoming a board-certified behavior analyst. Before certification, one has to provide proof of coursework, experience, and education. One must also pay a certification fee and pass the certification exam administered by the BACB.




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