This course provides a clear, practical overview of how behavior analysts can ethically and effectively support clients while remaining firmly within the scope of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Participants will explore how observable behavior is assessed, how environmental variables influence behavior, and how data-driven decision-making guides intervention planning. The course emphasizes ethical considerations, scope of competence, and collaboration with other professionals when clients present with complex or co-occurring needs. Through a behavior-analytic lens, learners will gain strategies for maintaining client welfare, using evidence-based practices, and ensuring that interventions remain focused on measurable behavior change rather than diagnosis or treatment outside of ABA practice.
This course is behavior analytic because it is grounded in the core principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), including the analysis of observable behavior, the use of data to guide decision-making, and the application of evidence-based interventions to improve socially significant outcomes. The content emphasizes functional assessment, identification of environmental variables influencing behavior, and the systematic selection of interventions such as reinforcement, skill building, and antecedent strategies rather than relying on mentalistic explanations. It also aligns with the BACB Ethics Code by clearly distinguishing behavior-analytic practice from mental health diagnosis or treatment, emphasizing scope of competence, client welfare, and interdisciplinary collaboration when co-occurring mental health conditions are present. By focusing on measurable behavior change, ongoing data collection, and ethical decision-making within a behavior-analytic framework, the course remains firmly rooted in ABA science and professional standards
Publication Date: Jan 2026
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 an ABA company. 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.
Instructor Qualifications
Dr. Saint’s CV
| Requirement Category |
Meets Requirement (โ) |
Evidence / Description |
| Published Peer-Reviewed Research or Books on the Subject |
โ Yes |
Author of multiple published books and scholarly works addressing applied behavior analysis, mental health, ethical practice, and scope-appropriate intervention, including publications focused on depression, autism, and behavior-analytic approaches to complex clinical presentations. Published work demonstrates subject-matter expertise in ethical application of ABA, client welfare, and collaboration across disciplines. |
| โฅ 5 Years of Practical Experience(e.g., direct service delivery, applied practice, professional engagement) |
โ Yes |
Over 15 years of applied professional experience as a BCBA-D and Licensed Professional Counselor providing direct services to individuals with complex, co-occurring behavioral and mental health needs. Extensive experience assessing observable behavior, designing data-driven interventions, maintaining scope of competence, and collaborating ethically with multidisciplinary teams while ensuring ABA services remain behavior-analytic in focus. |
| โฅ 3 Years Teaching / Training / Mentoring Experience |
โ Yes |
Extensive experience teaching, training, and supervising behavior analysts, counselors, and therapists across clinical and educational settings. Has served in training leadership roles, developed graduate-level curriculum, and delivered professional trainings and continuing education focused on ethical ABA practice, scope of competence, supervision, and interdisciplinary collaboration. |
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify observable and measurable behaviors relevant to client needs and distinguish behavior-analytic targets from mental health diagnoses or constructs outside the scope of ABA practice.
- Apply ethical decision-making and scope-of-competence guidelines when developing and implementing behavior-analytic interventions for clients with complex or co-occurring needs.
- Use data-based reasoning to select, monitor, and adjust evidence-based behavior-analytic strategies that promote client welfare and socially significant behavior change.
