Although function-based treatments have been proven to decrease challenging behavior, it is unclear whether these results translate to socially significant outcomes. In fact, researchers rarely analyze what happens outside the highly controlled setting in which behavior analytic sessions typically occur. In our first study, we used a changing…

This dissertation was designed to determine which behavior analytic intervention was more effective in the treatment and reduction of mouthing non-nutritive substances in children diagnosed with autism. This study included four participants in an A-B-A reversal design with a component analysis across four intervention phases. The study…

Behavioral activation (BA) has significant and long-lasting effects on depression in adults, and a growing body of evidence supports its efficacy with adolescents. It remains unclear, however, whether BA reduces systematically-observed depressive behavior in addition to subjective report of depressive symptoms. In this single-case study, three…

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the evidence-based treatment for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that has the strongest evidence of positive effects on the ASD population. However, historically, ABA has developed a reputation of limited social validity, with Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) often being cited…

In the current study, we conducted a brief assessment within a multielement design to identify motivating operations (MOs) that increased or decreased the value of negative reinforcement for children with a history of challenging behavior when presented with tasks or demands. For three of the four participants, we identified specific MOs that…

The purpose of the current study was to examine the dosage and fidelity of EMT en Español strategies that are posited to drive change in child outcomes. The study is a re-analysis of data collected during the National Institutes of Health (NIH) R21 grant "Teaching Spanish-speaking Caregivers to Implement EMT en Español: A Small Randomized…

Anxiety disorders are one of the most commonly re-occurring co-occurring diagnoses of children with autism, affecting approximately as many as 84% of children with ASD (Chalfant, et al., 2006) as opposed to 13% of children without autism (van Steensel et al., 2011). A growing body of research indicates that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an…

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for youth experiencing anxiety. While various group-based CBT programs have demonstrated effectiveness for anxious youth, few have integrated SMART technology into service delivery to increase engagement and active learning. The On Second Though (OST) program is a social-emotional…

Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) often display externalizing behaviors (e.g., aggression and defiance) and experience internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression). When left untreated, these difficulties can result in negative outcomes for students in school and beyond. Cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBIs) offer…

Up to 80% of children diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms that persist into adulthood (Barkley et al., 2007), and up to 8% of college students report having the disorder (DuPaul et al., 2009). COVID-19 has exacerbated ADHD-related difficulties with concentration, academic performance, and emotional distress (Breaux et al., 2021; Pollak et al.,…

Treatment integrity has a direct impact on early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) outcomes for children with autism. Research suggests that providing feedback can improve treatment integrity in EIBI. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two remote feedback methods, videoconference feedback and email feedback, on…

The purpose of the current study was to examine differences in multidimensional perfectionism, help-seeking, negative affectivity, and social-emotional well-being between grade 9 to 12 early college high school students who received the modified version of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Perfectionism (CBT-P) small group counseling intervention…

The first manuscript consisted of a systematic and quality review of studies that used telehealth to support caregivers of children exhibiting challenging behaviors. A summary of training components, procedural fidelity, social validity, and evidence of impact was reported. While there exists a great deal of information on remote implementation of…

This dissertation develops a program designed to tackle teacher stress and enhance knowledge about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among elementary school teachers. Grounded in cognitive theory and labeling theory, the program addresses the prevalent issue of teacher burnout and elevated stress levels compared to other professions,…

College students have been facing a variety of challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic generated fear and led to a spectrum of psychological consequences (Liu et al., 2020) ranging from increased anxiety and depression to behavioral changes such as difficulty sleeping. The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis presents an imperative…