Abstract

The vision for myself is to work with children, youth, and their families, who suffer from different mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, including but not limited to; intellectual disabilities, developmental disorders, autism, ADHD, and behavior problems, to improve their behaviors and quality of life. My long-term goal is to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst co-running my own behavioral-health company. My goals in the short term are in relation to the practitionerscholar model. As the model states, I will be using research in order to study ABA and non-ABA interventions and their effectiveness. I will then be implementing these interventions into my own cases, as well as working with colleagues to ensure interventions are being implemented effectively in their cases. I will also inherently gain a proficient multicultural view necessary to deal with diverse client and family situations.

Vision as a Multicultural Practitioner-Scholar: Behavioral Health practice for children with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Children and youth with different mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders are all too often cast aside and not given or don’t have access to the true care they need. My long-term goal is to become a BCBA and open-up a behavioral health business along with my sister who is also a BCBA. As a practitioner-scholar, I will be studying a vast array of behavioral interventions used in current ABA and non-ABA treatment plans for treating children both on the autism spectrum, and those suffering from other mental disorders.

I will work with colleagues to study the effectiveness of different interventions and to transfer skills to clients, as well as their families to better their behaviors and live a normal lifestyle. In the future as our business grows, we will maintain a multicultural stance that families of all social groups as well as racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds are treated equally and that they are receiving the best unbiased treatment we can give.

Role as a Multicultural-Practitioner Scholar

Background

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) reduces challenging behavior in people with intellectual disability (Hassiotis et al., 2012). The theoretical and conceptual basis for behavior analysis emerged from the fields of experimental psychology, physiology, and philosophy, effectively melding theory with scientific rigor which has since expanded to applied settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, family homes, and communities (Harvey et al., 2009). As a student of psychology, I am extremely interested in learning more about ABA therapy and the different methods included within it.

I hope to see that all children and youth with intellectual disabilities will be given access to the care they need to live a normal functioning life. My long-term goal is to become a BCBA and open my own mental health business. My short-term goals are in relation to the practitioner scholar model which means I will be devoted to the comfort and health of my clients and colleagues, to being adequate while learning, and to recognizing and implementing my work in relation to broader organizational, community, political, and cultural contexts (Distefano et al., 2004).

Vision as a Multicultural Practitioner-Scholar

Scholar practitioners are professionals motivated by many things including their ethical conduct. They care about maintaining an ethics code and treating all clients on a level playing field regardless of cultural differences. Scholar practitioners are also motivated by personal values. This means they are aware of how one views themselves and this may reflect on the care they are giving. Scholar practitioners also rely on theory and research. In doing so they are they must be committed to comprehending new knowledge and assisting individuals and organizations to strengthen their understanding and effectiveness (Wasserman and Kram, 2009).

Scholar practitioners value the relationship they share with their clients and the quality of the relationship they share with clients. As a practitioner-scholar I will be learning about different forms of interventions used to treat behavioral problems, brought on by intellectual disabilities, with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis. “Behavior analysis, which includes refined techniques for teaching and motivating adaptive behavior, should be an integral part of a multidisciplinary approach to mental health services” (Harvey et al., 2009. p. 212). Throughout my master’s program I will learn the results seen on different people who have experienced ABA therapy.

Vision as a Multicultural Practitioner-Scholar

I will see how the effects of ABA therapy have helped to integrate them into a normal functioning lifestyle. When it comes to mental health assessment and intervention, “racial and ethnic disparities are as widespread in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness as they are in other areas of health” (Snowden, 2003, p.239). Because of this, it is important when working with clients to maintain a multicultural competence. In working with clients currently I will gain first-hand experience of using ABA therapy in the field while also studying and learning more about ABA within my master’s program. The practitioner scholar model can be a guide for me to follow while treating children and youth with intellectual disabilities.

Vision

Working with children and youth and bettering their lives is something that has always been a passion of mine. My entire life I’ve worked with children and youth across many different settings. Seeing first-hand the improvements a child can make with the right intervention is something I find to be inspiring. My vision is to see all children and youth with intellectual disabilities having access to the treatments they need, and I want to play a part in providing that treatment.

In running my own mental health practice, I will be able to ensure that no potential clients are discriminated against due to any cultural differences. My master’s degree has a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis, which helps us to understand three things: how behavior works, how behavior is affected by the environment, and how learning takes place (Autism Speaks, n.d.). In understanding these three things I can help a child or youth suffering from intellectual disabilities see an improved functioning and a better lifestyle.

PSY FPX 5002 Assessment 1 Your Vision as a Multicultural Practitioner-Scholar

Throughout my life I have witnessed children of all different cultural backgrounds overcome deficits in front of them. I want to play a bigger part in helping culturally diverse clients with intellectual disabilities overcome their behavior deficits. Access to care is not always something that is fairly given across the board. “Epidemiological research consistently reveals that African, Asian, Native, and Latino Americans needing outpatient care are unlikely to receive it” (Snowden, 2003, p. 239). In wanting to become a BCBA and open my own business, it is important to develop and maintain cultural competencies. While it is important to understand others’ cultural differences it is also important to understand one’s own cultural heritage.

As a multicultural practitioner-scholar I will gain an understanding of my own cultural heritage and how it could affect the treatment I am giving. I currently work as a Behavior Health Technician with clients who are very culturally diverse, and I have a BCBA overseeing all my cases. My BCBA is great, and she is a huge support system who I ask questions to all the time. In communications with her and working with culturally diverse clients I can gain the multicultural competencies necessary to become a BCBA running my own mental health practice after I complete my master’s program.

Conclusion

We know that there are disparities in access, treatment, and quality of mental health care (Snowden, 2003). As professionals in the field of Psychology it is our role to make sure we maintain a strong set of cultural competencies. My vision is to see children and youth suffering from intellectual disabilities across all cultures be provided access and receive the

treatment they deserve so that they can be successful functioning members of society. To start realizing and embracing that vision, I wish to open my own behavioral health practice in order to give quality interventions to those who need it.

References

Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Applied behavior analysis (ABA). https://autismspeaks.org/what autism/treatment/applied-behavior-analysis-aba

Capella University. (2003). Learning Model Quick-Reference and Examples. Author.

Distefano, A., Rudestam, K. E., & Silverman, R. J. (2004). Scholar practitioner model. In Encyclopedia of distributed learning (Vol. 1, pp. 393-396). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412950596.n134

Harvey, M. T., Luiselli, J. K., & Wong, S. E. (2009). Application of applied behavior analysis to mental health issues. Psychological Services, 6(3), 212–222. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016495

Hassiotis, A., Robotham, D., Canagasabey, A., Marston, L., Thomas, B., & King, M. (2012). Brief report: Impact of applied behavior analysis (ABA) on career burden and community participation in challenging behavior: results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 56(3), 285–290. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365 2788.2011.01467.x

Snowden L. R. (2003). Bias in mental health assessment and intervention: theory and evidence. American journal of public health, 93(2), 239–243. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.93.2.239

Wasserman, I. C., & Kram, K. E. (2009). Enacting the Scholar— Practitioner Role: An Exploration of Narratives. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 45(1), 12–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886308327238

PSY FPX 5002 Assessment 1 Your Vision as a Multicultural Practitioner-Scholar