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Behavioral Analyst

Interviews

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Ask yourself: why do people do what they do? Why do normally intelligent people get themselves involved in stupid situations? Why do you feel completely freaked out every time you even think of heights? Why do you bite your nails?

The answer, say behavioral analysts, is conditioning.

According to behavioral analysts, anything that can be learned can also be unlearned -- once you discover the proper technique. That means long nails, smarter decisions and freedom from the fear of heights.

For some people, behavioral techniques can mean learning life-changing skills. These may be life skills for developmentally disabled people or job skills for those with head injuries.

"I help developmentally disabled people who have many life issues. Some of them have anger management problems. Others are suffering from mental illness or depression. My job is to assist them in exploring their options," says Scott Martin, a Washington-based social worker and behavioral analyst.

Martin is responsible for over 50 developmentally disabled adults. He works for a community placement and production facility that hires state-funded developmentally disabled adults (known as targeted workers). When one of the targeted workers has a behavioral problem, Martin gets a call.

Martin has confronted many issues, from petty theft to inappropriate social interactions. Rather than punishing the targeted workers, Martin's employer takes a client-centered approach. When an incident happens, Martin talks to the worker to get their side of the story.

"It's important to get all sides and not rely on one person's story. If you punish someone for something they didn't do, it's hard to rebuild that trust." If Martin determines the story is true, he'll immediately provide appropriate punishment (a write-up or suspension). But he doesn't stop there.

Martin's credo is never give up. Once he knows there's a problem, he'll meet with the targeted worker, as well as the targeted worker's case manager and advocate. Together, they create a behavioral plan that lists expected behaviors -- and the rewards along the way.

Some people may receive special privileges. Others may get a special cake if they go one month without engaging in negative behavior. The important thing is positive behaviors are reinforced -- and negative behaviors have immediate consequences.

One thing every behavioral analyst has to learn? Patience. Remember when you tried to stop biting your nails? It's easy to relapse back in to your old, negative behaviors. "Some targeted workers slip a few times. What we look for is improvement -- are they getting better?" says Martin.

However, micro-improvements can be frustrating to the quick-fix junkie. "You have to make sure you can do this. It can be both very draining and exciting. But if you can't be patient, you won't help your clients."

Behavioral analyst Tannis Antonio's day starts early -- at 6:30 a.m. Her workday creeps into late evening. As an on-site advisor, she lives and works in the residential facility that houses youths with extreme behavioral, emotional, academic and familial challenges. If clients are roaming the halls at 1 a.m., she's the one who gently guides them back into bed.

Although her schedule seems overly demanding, she admits it's not the normal story for behavioral analysts. "I work seven days a week and am on call 24 hours per day. This is atypical. My staff have much more attractive working hours and conditions," she says.

What keeps Antonio going during those overtime hours? Devout dedication. "My passion comes from knowing that I can and do make a difference. The conviction to continue is that my work is valuable."

The best parts for her are the signs of appreciation. "The smiles -- and 'Thanks for giving me back my child' -- on a parent's face when they enjoy their child's company for the first time in years, the unsteady and careworn parental voice on the other end of the phone at 2 a.m. that laughs with me by 3 a.m. And the young man or woman that contacts me long after leaving the program to say, 'Thanks for never giving up on me, and for not letting me give up on myself,'" she says.

It's not just the families that Antonio helps. Working with at-risk children puts her squarely in the middle of divergent family dynamics. "I help adult clients by being a very straight up, practical person who offers practical advice and suggestions designed to provide immediate relief in crisis, within a structured and long-term plan of care," she explains.

"I do not speak analyst language, nor do I spend a lot of time trying to figure out the why of the issue. I prefer to focus on the what and determining result-oriented solutions." Her assistance helps both children and parents -- and helps people rebuild their lives.

Exploring the mysteries of the mind is never boring. Behavioral analysts enjoy an exciting, fascinating career. With some education, a little patience and a lot of compassion, you can successfully help your clients learn positive skills -- one behavior at a time.