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Thus far…. Throughout this unit, you have learned to apply the theories of behavioral modification to hypothetical scenarios with clients. Throughout this unit, you have learned to apply the theories of behavioral modification to hypothetical scenarios with clients. The goal of the ABA professional is to maximize and enhance the client's functioning; however, sometimes issues surface regarding ethical practice. The goal of the ABA professional is to maximize and enhance the client's functioning; however, sometimes issues surface regarding ethical practice.

Discussion Question How would you define acting ethically? How would you define acting ethically?

Unit 9 Ethical practice is most simply defined as doing what is right. Ethical practice is most simply defined as doing what is right. However, sometimes this is not always easy to determine. However, sometimes this is not always easy to determine. For example, an aversive practice might be documented as a highly effective intervention, but ethically, the ABA professional must look at the benefits and risks of such a practice and determine whether it is an appropriate and ethical option for the client. For example, an aversive practice might be documented as a highly effective intervention, but ethically, the ABA professional must look at the benefits and risks of such a practice and determine whether it is an appropriate and ethical option for the client.

Unit 9 In this unit, we will look at some examples of potential ethical conflicts and how these might be addressed appropriately. In this unit, we will look at some examples of potential ethical conflicts and how these might be addressed appropriately. We also will explore the basic ethical standards for all practicing ABA professionals. We also will explore the basic ethical standards for all practicing ABA professionals.

Unit 9 Finally, we will become familiar with the major board and certification options for ABA professionals. Finally, we will become familiar with the major board and certification options for ABA professionals. Proper credentialing and continuing education is an ethical standard. Proper credentialing and continuing education is an ethical standard. Additionally, visiting these ABA Websites will help you become more familiar with the field, standards, certification options and opportunities for employment. Additionally, visiting these ABA Websites will help you become more familiar with the field, standards, certification options and opportunities for employment.

Final Project Please start thinking about your Final Project, which is due by the end of Unit 9. Please start thinking about your Final Project, which is due by the end of Unit 9. Your Final Project will consist of an analysis of questions related to two separate case studies. Your Final Project will consist of an analysis of questions related to two separate case studies. Each case will present a problem that you, the future ABA professional, need to assess. Each case will present a problem that you, the future ABA professional, need to assess.

Final Project Each case covers the theories, concepts and research that we will have discussed this term. Each case covers the theories, concepts and research that we will have discussed this term. Your answers to the questions should consist of information from the text and supplemental readings. Your answers to the questions should consist of information from the text and supplemental readings. You may also use sources from the UAH- Salmon Library or credible Internet sources, but your primary sources should be the readings assigned for the course. You may also use sources from the UAH- Salmon Library or credible Internet sources, but your primary sources should be the readings assigned for the course.

Final Project Answers to the questions should be typed up in a Word document, double-spaced in 12 point font. Answers to the questions should be typed up in a Word document, double-spaced in 12 point font. Your answers should be 3 to 4 pages for each case in order to address all required parts of the Final Project. Your answers should be 3 to 4 pages for each case in order to address all required parts of the Final Project. Please make sure to use proper APA format to credit the sources you use in your case study analysis. Please make sure to use proper APA format to credit the sources you use in your case study analysis.

Ethics: Definition 1- the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation 2- a: a set of moral principles: a theory system of moral values 2- a: a set of moral principles: a theory system of moral values b: the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group b: the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group c: a guiding philosophy d: a consciousness of moral importance 3- plural: a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness) 3- plural: a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness)

Code of Ethics Different professions have their own code of ethics that govern practice in working with consumers Different professions have their own code of ethics that govern practice in working with consumers

Ethics often includes topics such as: Empowerment Empowerment Self-determination Self-determination Advocacy Advocacy Scope of practice Scope of practice Providing services based on ability to pay Providing services based on ability to pay confidentiality confidentiality

Patient Consent Patients must consent to mental health services, unless patient is a minor, and then parent or guardian must consent to treatment Patients must consent to mental health services, unless patient is a minor, and then parent or guardian must consent to treatment Patient must consent for information to be released Patient must consent for information to be released

Confidentiality What do you think this means? What do you think this means?

Confidentiality Defined Refers to the consumer’s rights not to have any information revealed to anyone about their treatment without their written permission Refers to the consumer’s rights not to have any information revealed to anyone about their treatment without their written permission

Limits of Confidentiality Actual or suspected child abuse (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect) Actual or suspected child abuse (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect) Actual or suspected elder or dependent adult abuse (abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, and neglect) Actual or suspected elder or dependent adult abuse (abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, and neglect) Risk to self (suicidal) Risk to self (suicidal) Risk to others (homicidal) Risk to others (homicidal) Gravely disabled (danger to self or others) Gravely disabled (danger to self or others)

Tarasoff 1974: Prosinjit Podder, an Indian Graduate student, studying at Berkeley, begins to date Tatiana Tarasoff. He feels that she is his intended. 1974: Prosinjit Podder, an Indian Graduate student, studying at Berkeley, begins to date Tatiana Tarasoff. He feels that she is his intended. He gets upset when she expresses interest in other men. He goes to counseling at the University Health Service. He gets upset when she expresses interest in other men. He goes to counseling at the University Health Service. He tells the psychologist, Dr. Moore, that he wants to get a gun and shoot Tarasoff. He tells the psychologist, Dr. Moore, that he wants to get a gun and shoot Tarasoff. Dr. Moore sends letter to campus police, they investigate Podder, they think he is not a danger, tell him to avoid Tatiana. Dr. Moore sends letter to campus police, they investigate Podder, they think he is not a danger, tell him to avoid Tatiana. When Tatiana returns from Brazil at the end of summer, Podder stalks, stabs her to death. When Tatiana returns from Brazil at the end of summer, Podder stalks, stabs her to death.

Tarasoff Legal Action Parents of Tatiana sue campus police, UC Regents, Health Service, for failure to warn Tatiana about Podder’s desire to kill her. Parents of Tatiana sue campus police, UC Regents, Health Service, for failure to warn Tatiana about Podder’s desire to kill her. At trial court, case is dismissed (not heard). At trial court, case is dismissed (not heard). California Supreme Court reverses the trial court’s decision, stating that the trial court must hear the case. Reasoning: “therapist bears a duty to use reasonable care to give threatened persons warnings as are essential to avert foreseeable danger.” California Supreme Court reverses the trial court’s decision, stating that the trial court must hear the case. Reasoning: “therapist bears a duty to use reasonable care to give threatened persons warnings as are essential to avert foreseeable danger.”

Tarasoff II California Supreme Court: “When a therapist determines, or pursuant to the standards of his profession should determine, that his patient presents a serious danger of violence to another, he incurs an obligation to use reasonable care to protect the intended victim against such danger.” California Supreme Court: “When a therapist determines, or pursuant to the standards of his profession should determine, that his patient presents a serious danger of violence to another, he incurs an obligation to use reasonable care to protect the intended victim against such danger.”

How do you protect a victim, rather than just warn a victim? California Supreme Court: “The discharge of this duty may require the therapist to take one or more of various steps. This, it may call for him to warn the intended victim, to notify the police, or to take whatever steps are reasonably necessary under the circumstances.” California Supreme Court: “The discharge of this duty may require the therapist to take one or more of various steps. This, it may call for him to warn the intended victim, to notify the police, or to take whatever steps are reasonably necessary under the circumstances.”

It is also important to empower your clients. Why might this be? How could a professional do this?

Empowering Clients Enables them to recognize their strengths and abilities Enables them to recognize their strengths and abilities Promotes independence Promotes independence Enables them to solve problems in the future on their own and successfully Enables them to solve problems in the future on their own and successfully

Some strategies for empowering clients Challenge stereotypes/labels Challenge stereotypes/labels Treat clients as collaborators Treat clients as collaborators Focus on what clients see as “the problem” and listen to their viewpoints Focus on what clients see as “the problem” and listen to their viewpoints Ask about exceptions to the problems and points of light in their life Ask about exceptions to the problems and points of light in their life Recognize strengths and validate these Recognize strengths and validate these

Ethics Overall, when acting ethically, one might ask themselves: Overall, when acting ethically, one might ask themselves: What is the right thing to do? What is the right thing to do? What is worth doing? What is worth doing? What does it mean to be a good behavior analyst? What does it mean to be a good behavior analyst? End goal: Further the welfare of the client End goal: Further the welfare of the client

How do you know what is the right thing to do? How might one’s own values and prior experiences influence their thoughts on this?

What is the right thing to do? Personal history influences our decision making Personal history influences our decision making Personal experiences Personal experiences Cultural/religious beliefs Cultural/religious beliefs Professional training and experiences Professional training and experiences To ensure that personal experiences and cultural/religious beliefs don’t take over, it helps to consult research literature, case studies, supervisors, and colleagues To ensure that personal experiences and cultural/religious beliefs don’t take over, it helps to consult research literature, case studies, supervisors, and colleagues

How do you know what is worth doing?

What is worth doing? Social validity of the intervention Social validity of the intervention Cost-benefit ratio: Does the potential benefit to the individual justify the short- and long-term cost for providing the service? Cost-benefit ratio: Does the potential benefit to the individual justify the short- and long-term cost for providing the service? Existing exigencies: Behaviors that are more serious warrant intervention consideration before behaviors that are less problematic Existing exigencies: Behaviors that are more serious warrant intervention consideration before behaviors that are less problematic

The good behavior analyst…. Follows the Golden Rule Follows the Golden Rule Is self-regulating Is self-regulating Calibrates decisions over time to meeting changing cultural values and contingencies Calibrates decisions over time to meeting changing cultural values and contingencies

Professional standards Written guidelines or rules of practice that provide direction for the practices associated with an organization Written guidelines or rules of practice that provide direction for the practices associated with an organization

What are some professional standards we discussed last week that would be important for ABA professionals to have?

Professional Standards See… See… APA: Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct APA: Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct ABA: The Right to Effective Behavioral Treatment and The Right to Effective Education ABA: The Right to Effective Behavioral Treatment and The Right to Effective Education BACB: Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts and The BCBA and BCABA Behavior Analyst Task List BACB: Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts and The BCBA and BCABA Behavior Analyst Task List

Ensuring Professional Competence Academic training that includes: Academic training that includes: Formal coursework Formal coursework Supervised practica Supervised practica Mentored professional experience Mentored professional experience Certification and licensure Certification and licensure Behavior Analyst Certification Board Behavior Analyst Certification Board Keep practice within your area of competence Keep practice within your area of competence

Being Ethical in What you Say Avoid making unsubstantiated claims (e.g., “I am certain I can help your son”) Avoid making unsubstantiated claims (e.g., “I am certain I can help your son”) Maintain a healthy dose of humility Maintain a healthy dose of humility Only present yourself with valid credentials (never claim to have certifications, licenses that you don’t have) Only present yourself with valid credentials (never claim to have certifications, licenses that you don’t have)

Discussion Question Of the ethical guidelines discussed, which ones seem particularly important? Why? Of the ethical guidelines discussed, which ones seem particularly important? Why?

Why is adhering to these guidelines important for treatment success and patient safety?

Great job tonight! Any ending questions or comments? Any ending questions or comments?