What is Behavior Therapy?
Behavior therapy for autism involves rearranging what happens before the target behavior, what happens after, and teaching the expected replacement behavior. Conventional wisdom about discipline and behavior management dictates we put our energy into when problems occur, applying a punishment or loss of privileges to correct the problem. Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Except this doesn’t work, which is why you are reading this now.
What Kind of Behavior Therapy works?
The problem with punishment, like removing privileges or time-out, is this does not teach the expected replacement behavior. Punishment models causing pain and threats to influence others’ behavior. The announcement of a punishment or threat of such is a drain on the caregiver and a strain on the relationship. Think about it like this. Whatever you put the most energy into, that is what you get back!
Okay, so now what? Start by asking the right question. Let’s say you have a problem with hitting. The wrong question is, “What do I do when they hit?” The correct question is, “What will I do when they are not hitting?” Especially when they are faced with a trigger or disappointment and before they start hitting.
This way you get to say things like “I really appreciate that you are letting yourself be mad the right way, without hitting.” “You are doing a great job of working on self-control, keep it up and X will be your reward.” See, wouldn’t this just feel better? These responses build relationship and the idea that the person can do better, is doing better, applying effort with competence and success.
We start by identifying a target behavior, such as “Be gentle with your body and words.” Identify the right way to be mad. What words and gestures are okay? Voice level, can they raise their voice, how much, can they tighten fists shake them and release? We need to specifically label and teach what IS expected.
Next for effective positive behavior therapy for autism, we get control over access to resources; rewards. Instead of taking them away, which usually makes things worse immediately, we sell them time with preferred materials and activities, like phone and video game time. You give them increments of time, or things they want, like preferred snacks and drinks, based on how well they are following rules you have written down. Now you are the one giving and encouraging, instead of criticizing and taking away. Much better, yes? You get an interaction that is energizing for you both instead of draining.
Be Inconsistent
Now for a clever trick. You deliberately make your behavior program inconsistent. What, you were taught you had to be consistent? Wrong answer. Here is a better way. Let’s say you print different denominations of “money.” You have ones, fives, tens, twenties, fifties, one hundreds. You go about giving the bills over when the problem is NOT occurring. “You have been home all day, and I really appreciate you have been working on following the rule of being gentle with your body and words.”
They never know when you will catch them following the rule. Inconsistent. Maybe most of the time they get a one or a five, but sometimes they may get a twenty or a one hundred, which can buy them more of what they want. This inconsistency keeps them responding all the time as if the one hundred is about to come from you. You really get to leverage the rewards you are offering. Lastly, you have a menu of rewards that changes or has additions often. Inconsistent again. Vary the size of reward, what the reward can be, the frequency and interval at which you reward, and you have applied the best behavioral science has to offer. Congratulations, you have made yourself like a slot machine. This is the best behavior therapy for autism. Best for anyone!
Back to after they do hit. Do you take points or “money” you gave them? No, because this risks they conclude why try to earn them because you will just take them back. Instead you put them on time-out from spending their points, They can still earn them, just can’t spend them. If they want to use the computer or phone or access other rewards on the reward menu, they will have to perform a re-entry task.
“You really drained me with that big fit. You are in time-out from spending your points until you (do something to make me feel better, or make your brother feel better, or perform some small community service, like sweeping the kitchen).” Or you require them to demonstrate the right way to be mad five times, teaching the behavior. This gets you out of the conflict cycle, where you demand they apologize immediately, and they win easily by not doing. This means you deliver the message and withdraw, rather than pressing forward and escalating a conflict. Give them time to calm down, get reasonable, or get bored enough to be willing to submit.
Now you are setting a healthy boundary. You are teaching them a real life skill. When you hurt someone, outside of your family anyway, you need to make a repair in order to continue the relationship and the benefits it offers. There are more nuances and techniques in behavior therapy for autism with Brad Mason, hopefully this gives you an idea of what it may look like and how it works.
Please reach out to get your behavior therapy started today!
Diagnosis Autism or Aspergers Book by Brad
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/treatments/behavioral-management
https://www.cdc.gov/autism/treatment/index.html