Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Clinical Behavior Analysis
By Thomas J. Waltz, Emily Johnson, and Cristal Weeks
Clinical behavior analysis (CBA) involves the application of behavior analytic principles to the full range of human problems, many of which have traditionally been considered "mental health" issues. CBA clinicians work with the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and other behavior to help people move beyond their problems and toward living more fulfilling lives.
The Clinical Special Interest Group of ABAI is for those who have an interest in clinical applications of behavior analysis. Clinical behavior analysts work in both research and applied settings. Below is a sample of clinical domains in which CBA clinicians work:
- Anxiety disorders
- Behavioral gerontology
- Behavioral health
- Childhood disorders
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Couples therapy
- Developmental disabilities
- Family therapy
- Forensic psychology (assessment and treatment)
- Habit disorders
- Health psychology
- Mood disorders (e.g., depression)
- Serious mental illness (e.g., borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia)
- Substance abuse
- Trauma
The Clinical SIG is dedicated to facilitating collaboration between researchers and clinicians to further the field's ability to serve clinical populations. This group seeks to promote CBA at ABAI events and is interested in maintaining the long-standing relationship between basic research and clinical application. At the 2011 convention, the Clinical SIG met to continue work on several ongoing projects. A new Clinical SIG newsletter is being developed and will have regular features such as brief updates from CBA academic training programs and research labs, promoting workshops and conference events, and coordinating events for the annual ABAI convention. The Clinical SIG is working to develop an annual student paper competition; categories and timelines were discussed at the ABAI annual convention and updates on this project will be found in the next SIG newsletter. SIG members are working on a special issue of the International Journal of Behavior Consultation and Therapy. Please check our group listing at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Clinical_SIG/ for updates on these endeavors.
If you would like to join the Clinical SIG, please contact us using the link at www.abainternational.org/Special_Interests/clinical.asp.