If you like working with people with disabilities, and are committed to helping people make positive changes, then behavior interventionist may be a good career path for you.
Behavior interventionists (also known as behavior analyst, behavior therapist, or behavioral interventionist) support children and adults learn productive behaviors. They work to identify and eliminate negative behaviors, or behaviors that do not support the person’s well being, and replace them with positive or functional behaviors. In their training, behavior interventionists learn about how behaviors are reinforced and strategies that can be applied to replace negative behaviors with more functional and productive ones.
For example, a student is hitting peers and kicking furniture in the classroom. The behavior interventionist observes the student and notices that when the student is working and feels like they cannot get a problem right, they hit or kick. The teacher and interventionist agree that they want the student to replace hitting with expressing frustration in a more productive way, so they teach the student the replacement behavior of pointing to cards that indicate the child is frustrated and wants to take a break. In this way, the behavior interventionist supports the student by helping them develop more functional behaviors, and supports a broader learning environment.
What does a behavior interventionist do?
Behavior interventionists work with individuals who have been identified by teachers or therapists as having problematic behaviors, or behaviors that hurt themselves or others. Then, the behavior interventionist develops strategies to reduce the problematic behaviors and replace them with productive behaviors through positive reinforcement.
A behavior interventionists’ job duties include:
- Working with the student and other professionals to assess the behaviors and create a plan,
- Implementing the plan and support others to implement the plan,
- Monitoring the student’s progress
- Helping resolve conflicts and intervene during crisis situations, and
- Collaborating with other professionals who work with that student.
At the core, a behavior interventionist works with people and as part of a team to improve clients’ lives through the behaviors they engage in.
Where do behavior interventionists work?
Behavior interventionists work in various settings, including:
- Schools: Behavior interventionists provide support to students who have challenging behaviors, they are often an integral part of a child’s team. In schools, behavior interventionists may be assigned to support one student, a special education classroom, or work with multiple students across a school or district.
- Treatment centers: Behavior interventionists work in residential and mental health agencies, providing specialized interventions to residents and clients.
- Private agencies: Behavior interventionists may work in agencies that provide in-home or community-based behavioral health services. This involves working directly with clients in environments that are challenging for them. This work often involves supporting students in community settings and with independent living skills.
- Early intervention: Behavior interventionists may support young children with developmental delays in school and at home.
How do behavior interventionists help people with autism and other disabilities?
Behavior intervention, specifically applied behavior analysis or ABA therapy, is often a therapy approach that is used with children and adults who have autism. ABA therapy is a research-based approach to support individuals with autism. Behavior interventionists are trained in ABA therapy techniques and apply them with individuals they work with.They can focus on harmful behaviors, but they can also focus on building productive behaviors like communication and advocacy, depending on what an individual needs and the skills they need to develop to be more independent.
How do behavior interventionists help shape behavior?
The strategies that behavior interventionists use are focused on understanding the function or reason behind the behavior, and developing strategies to promote positive behaviors that replace negative ones. The approach that behavior interventionists use to change behavior is effective for people with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Behavior interventionists support positive behavior change by:
- Identifying the function of a behavior, including why it occurs and what aspects of the environment reinforce a behavior.
- Collaborating with individuals, families, and specialists to create a behavior intervention plan that targets negative behaviors and replaces them with functional or positive behaviors,
- Applying techniques, like discrete trial training or pivotal response training, to teach new skills,
- Applying positive reinforcement techniques to support and strengthen desired behaviors,
- Teaching alternative behaviors, modifying the environment, or using other techniques to reduce negative behaviors and promote positive ones.
This focus on teaching and positive reinforcement helps the individual strengthen their use of positive behaviors and reduces challenging or negative behaviors over time. The ultimate goal is to help people become more independent and participate fully in their communities.
What is the job outlook for behavior interventionists?
Behavior interventionists are in demand and, in general, it is a growing field. The job outlook for behavior interventionists, under the category of mental health counselors, is growing faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nationwide, the average salary for a behavior interventionist, is $47,731 per year ($23 per hour), though this ranges from market to market. The highest paying markets, identified by Zip Recruiter, were in Berkeley, CA( $58,443 per year), Sitka, AK ($57,500 per year) and Justin, TX ($56,69 per year).
How can I become a behavior interventionist?
Becoming a behavior interventionist combines formal education and on-site training. Typically, the process to become a behavior interventionist is:
- Earn a degree in psychology, child development, or a related field.
- Decide if you want to work with children or adults, or which placement you would like to work in (e.g., schools, clinics, etc).
- Obtain additional education and a BCBA certification. In order to advance in the field, a masters in ABA therapy and a BCBA certification are required. For some behavior intervention positions, a BCBA certification is required. In particular, to work with children with autism, you may need a BCBA.
FAQs
How much money do behavior interventionists make?
The salary for a behavior interventionist, on average, is $47,731 per year ($23 per hour), though this ranges from market to market so it is important to check your region for specific salary ranges.
Who do behavior interventionists work with?
Behavior interventionists work with individuals who require intervention to support the development of positive behaviors. They work with children with developmental delays and autism, and adults with disabilities, as well as other populations.
Do I need a college degree to work as a behavior interventionist?
It is possible to become a behavior interventionist with a high school diploma, but most jobs require a bachelor’s degree in psychology, child development, or a related field. Many jobs require a BCBA certification.