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Episode #260: Functional Communication Training—Getting Started with Dr. Bethjoy Houck

Functional Communication Training can change everything when behavior is really communication and we take the time to listen.

In this reprise episode, I’m revisiting one of our most popular conversations of the year, all about Functional Communication Training and how to get started in a way that is practical, ethical, and truly supportive for students. I hear so many questions about what to do when students are struggling to express their needs and emotions and how to move beyond problem behavior into meaningful communication. This conversation with Dr. Bethjoy Houck gives you a clear, research-based way forward.

We walk through what Functional Communication Training actually is, why it is different from simple mand training, and why identifying the true function of behavior through assessment is essential before jumping into intervention. We also break down how to thoughtfully select functional communication responses so they are easy to prompt, meaningful to the learner, and sustainable across environments. Whether you are a speech-language pathologist, BCBA, RBT, or parent, this episode is filled with real-world examples that bring the research to life and help you apply FCT with confidence and compassion.

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Dr. Bethjoy Houck received her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in 2008, her Master’s degree in Autism and Developmental Disabilities from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009, and her Ph.D. from the University of North Texas (UNT) in Health Services Research with a concentration in Behavior Analysis in 2023. In 2022, Bethjoy was awarded the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis Innovative Student Dissertation Grant, which provided support for her dissertation, An Evaluation of the Effects of Trauma-Related Stimuli on Behavior During Preference Assessments and Functional Analysis with People with Intellectual Disabilities. Prior to starting her doctoral program at UNT, Bethjoy worked for 10 years as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in schools, home programs, center-based services, and group homes. She currently works as the clinical director for the Behavior Analysis Resource Center (BARC).

BARC is a service-learning project directed by Joseph Dracobly, Ph.D. BCBA-D. BARC is a service-learning project that exists to:
1. conduct evidence-based assessments and develop individualized treatments to reduce problem behavior for people with intellectual disabilities (ID),
2. provide focused treatment for people to develop skills needed to access medical and dental care,
3. conduct research on effective and compassionate assessment and treatment approaches for problem behavior that focus on expanding the individual’s access to resources to improve quality of life, and
4. provide training to behavior analysts and students in behavior analysis on how to effectively deliver services to people with ID and severe problem behavior across a variety of settings. BARC currently operates across multiple sites, including the UNT Kristin Farmer Autism Center and the Lonestar Day Treatment Program.

What’s Inside:

  • What Functional Communication Training really is, and why it goes beyond basic mand training
  • Why identifying the function of behavior is essential before implementing FCT
  • How to select communication responses that are easy to prompt, ethical, and effective
  • Practical examples of using AAC, visuals, and object exchange to support meaningful communication

Mentioned In This Episode

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