This course explores the intersection of mental health and disabilities, focusing on applying ABA principles to improve mental health outcomes. Participants will learn about common mental health challenges, risk factors, and practical strategies to support individuals with disabilities. Topics include anxiety, depression, trauma, and promoting psychological well-being through effective interventions.
This course expands beyond the current BCBA and BCaBA Task Lists by combining Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support community engagement and mental health among adults with disabilities—an integration not explicitly described in existing task list content. It remains behavior-analytic in nature by employing functional assessment, behavior intervention planning, contextual strategies, and values-based language to address both overt behaviors and psychological flexibility. The course is designed for certified and aspiring behavior analysts, especially those in supervisory or program-development roles, equipping them with practical and ethically grounded skills to foster social connection, psychological well-being, and inclusive community participation for neurodiverse adults.
This Ethics course provides 2 CEU credits for BACB, QABA, and IBAO.
Author/Speaker
Katherine Saint, PhD, LPC, BCBA-D, Katherine has her doctorate in Behavior Analysis and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Katherine presents locally and internationally on topics related to autism, mental health and behavior analysis. Katherine has a private practice focusing on mental health counseling and is the Director of Training at Fox Valley Autism Treatment Program in Appleton, WI. Katherine has designed college courses as well as published books and articles related to mental health. Katherine also teaches master level behavior analytic courses at Pepperdine University.
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Carlos Torres, B.S., Carlos is a published author, coach and Program Director of Transitions, a young adult program for people with disabilities. He creates curriculum and designs groups to develop social skills, vocation skills, leisure skills, and relationship skills. Carlos’ model for the young adult program has been studied and then replicated in Tokyo, Japan. Carlos presents locally and internationally on working with young adults with disabilities.
Instructor Qualifications
Dr. Saint’s extensive experience designing programs for young adults with disabilities—including creating a comprehensive assessment and curriculum for independent living—directly supports her expertise in building community. Her work at the Transitions Young Adult Program demonstrates her ability to integrate ABA strategies to teach functional skills while leveraging ACT principles to promote psychological flexibility and social connection. Combined with her published work on autism and depression and her ACT-focused presentations at ABAI, she is uniquely qualified to deliver a course that merges ABA and ACT to foster community engagement for adults with disabilities.
