A Practical Guide to Functional Assessment and Treatment for Severe Problem Behavior

Dr. Joshua Jessel completed his master’s degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where he worked with individuals who exhibited severe problem behavior on the neurobehavioral inpatient unit of the Kennedy Krieger Institute. He went on to earn his doctoral degree at Western New England University with his primary research focusing on the assessment and treatment of problem behavior with autistic children. Dr. Jessel continued to extend this line of research as a postdoctoral fellow at a clinic in Texas where he oversaw nearly 100 children admitted to an outpatient program. Dr. Jessel has currently authored over 50 research articles and chapters and continues his scholarship as an assistant professor at Queens College in New York City. I have worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities for over 30 years as a volunteer; camp counselor; researcher; clinical psychologist in the British National Health Service; Chief Psychologist in developmental centers in Texas; consultant for many community services; and consultant to the states of Louisiana and Wyoming. I have been involved in professional training in Britain, Louisiana State University and now Queens College. It has always struck me that children and adults with developmental disabilities would have a better life, be happier, more autonomous and valued by other people if their staff and family members got a little help to do few simple things –interact positively and often, use contingent reinforcement accurately, teach a few simple skills and be more sensitive to preferences. I also believe that if these happened consistently, staff and family members would feel more competent.

Part 1: Introduction to Behavioral Assessment and Intervention
1. Problem Behavior
2. Applied Behavior Analysis and Problem Behavior
3. A Perspective on Today’s Applied Behavior Analysis
4. Prevention and Behavioral Hygiene Procedures

Part 2: Functional Assessment of Problem Behavior
5. Indirect Assessments
6. Descriptive Assessments
7. Functional Analysis
8. Practical Considerations

Part 3: Function-Based Treatments
9. Foundational Treatment Components of Function-Based Interventions
10. Conemporary Intervention Approaches when Addressing Dangerous Behavior
11. Addressing Severe Problem Behavior without Clear Socially Mediated Functions
12. ABA Meets Psychopharmacology: The Interaction of Two Methodologies

Part 4: Promoting Sustainability and Compassionate Care
13. Application Considerations for Compassionate, Culturally Responsive and Trauma-Informed Behavioral Practices
14. Professionals / Caregiver Training
15. Implementation Considerations
16. Collaborating with Relevant Stakeholders