The Mindful BCBA: Using Mindfulness Techniques to Feel Less Anxious and More Effective in Behavior Analytic Practice

Presenter: Brian Brutzman, PhD, LBA, BCBA, Director of School-Based Services

CEU: 1 Learning CEU

Description: This presentation will be a reflective and practical discussion on how BCBAs can integrate mindfulness principles into their professional practice to reduce anxiety, enhance effectiveness, and improve client outcomes. The presenter will draw parallels between his personal journey with mindfulness and ABA—both requiring continual learning and deliberate practice. Mindfulness, defined as present-moment awareness cultivated through meditation, is reframed in behavior analytic terms as the systematic observation of private events without judgment. We will delve into conceptual overlaps between ABA and mindfulness, noting that both focus on environmental influences, require consistent practice, and often involve counterintuitive approaches. We will then introduce “the anxious BCBA” in a series of case examples, illustrating how practitioner anxiety can undermine assessment and intervention fidelity. Finally, we will provide an alternative way forward: "the mindful BCBA." This new approach will come replete with actionable advice for BCBAs who want a less anxious and more sustainable way forward.

Watch here: https://bkbehavior.showdme.net/app/#/learning-path/699dd5e6b815e70007265ff3/overview/