Recorded: Learning Theory for BCBAs: The Giver as a Framework

**This course will provide the participant with 3 General Learning Type BACB CEU**

Description of General Learning Type CE Event: This presentation, intended for the purpose of providing common language and understanding between Behavior Analysts and other provider types, is a unique exploration of the theories that underlie other fields of therapy as compared against behavioral theory and behavior-analytic methodology. All of this is framed within the context of the famous children’s book, The Giver (Lowry, 1993), which provides an approach toward understanding the world through ever-increasing relational frameworks. Behavior Analysts are among the most sought-after providers of therapeutic learning methods, and are often very aware of how this science works, but unlike other therapy providers, Behavior Analysts don’t spend much time learning about the various ways people are postulated to learn. We are often taught a purely behavioral framework, which is aligned with our pillars and principles. However, our Learning Theory, Behavioral, is not the only one that has been empirically tested and found valid and reliable for use in therapeutic processes, so in our efforts to adhere to the standards of best practice, it becomes a catch-22: do we avoid learning important things because they aren’t explained by classic Behaviorism, at the risk of not growing while other fields do? Not intended as an answer for that, but rather as a simple and open source of information, this lecture is designed to help Behavior Analysts keep their “correct hats on” while also exploring information that could possibly be utilized to supplement practice, or at the very least, to have language from outside our field when trying to communicate with other provider types. All of this will be in a fun format, comparing various theories and methodologies against the famous story, The Giver (Lowry, 1993).

Instructor Bio: Nicholas Maio-Aether owns Empowered: A Center for Sexuality in St Louis, where he and his occasional teams of partnered Universities' students work to assist humans with and without disabilities achieve sexual access, sexual freedom, gender affirmation, and self-control of compulsive behaviors. Nicholas works throughout the US training BCBAs/Behavior Analysts so persons in Individualized Supportive Living (ISL) programs gain access to applicable and generalizable comprehensive sex ed and sexual opportunities. Nicholas provides Sexual Behavior Analysis, and has assisted polycules, kinksters, gay couples, trans and nonbinary humans, among others, on their journeys. Trained by GLSEN in 2003, Nicholas started Gay-Straight Alliances across Alaska while in high school, and provided them sex ed materials and trainings. Nicholas spent five years managing Hustler Hollywood in St Louis before moving into Behavior Analysis, and joined AASECT, where he currently sits on two committees. He then completed a Sex Therapy practicum under Linda Weiner, LMSW, CSTS, in 2019 before getting a second Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy, and meeting those hour requirements under Angela Skurtu, LMFT, CST, along with his LGBTQIA+ Family Systems Specialist certificate in 2021.

Target Audience: Behavior Analysts wishing to either

a) meet AASECT requirements of attending training in Learning Theory, while also providing an avenue to do so that remains behavior-analytic; or

b) expand their understanding of how ABA compares to other fields of mental health.

To earn credit, you will be required to attend the live online session and pass a quiz about it with a score of 100%. You can retake the quiz as many times as needed, but you may not receive exactly the same questions each time.