A behavior specialist primarily holds a degree in psychology, social service, or mental health that observes and treats individuals with special needs. You also might need to qualify for a license to work according to the state you choose to practice in. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) license can come in handy. As a behavioral specialist, you can work at private health care institutions or with government public healthcare, mostly in clinical environments. Here, we’ll discuss the Behavior Specialist Job Description.
Behavioral Specialists help children and adults with communication, behavioral, and learning challenges. Behavior Specialists observe clients in their workplace or school environments. While working in schools or healthcare centers it would be beneficial if you were fluent in the native language to form a deeper connection.
As a behavior specialist, there are certain skills you are expected to have:
- Hands-on experience with patients with special needs
- Knowledge about behavioral analysis
- An understanding of symptoms associated with disorders
- Good intrapersonal skills
- communication skills verbal and written
- Stress management skills
- Functional Analysis
- Ecological Analysis
Responsibilities
As a behavioral specialist, you are supposed to observe and assess the patient’s behavior. They could use the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) to assess and devise a treatment plan according to the diagnosis. Be there for the patient throughout the treatment. Monitoring the treatment process and progress. Maintaining records of all patients. You can also work with other mental health professionals such as psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. Their most important responsibility lies in evaluating the client in a non-clinical setting.
Behavioral specialists can work with individuals with disabilities, emotional problems, and anyone who needs behavioral therapy. You can work in educational institutions as well to provide aid to special students. Behavioral Specialists are themselves specialized but there are also specific niches. Such as some work with children on the spectrum that help with autistic, ADHD. Behavior is an umbrella term for various sets of disorders and issues behavior specialists focus on one or two areas that interest them.
If you decide to focus on specific disorders, you could earn accreditation for the same. Like if you’re focusing on autistic patients or children a certification from the council of exceptional children could enhance your resume.
A Behavior Specialist can help to:
- Increase and improve communication skills
- Improve concentration skills
- Decrease problematic behavior
Some Behavioral Specialists are required to observe groups and devise treatment plans for them. Some qualifications that are looked for are the Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP). Specialists are to be up to date with trends in the educational and health care system to be of better service and enhance the treatment for patients. Documentation of progress and maintaining records for future reference and case study is also a part of the job.
School
A day in the life of a behavior specialist who works in an educational institution usually goes by like this. It starts with meetings, program development, and educational evaluations. They usually work in such institutions as consultants. They usually juggle between various schools so the day starts by traveling to a particular school, and going over their cases. Then they conduct evaluations during class hours to observe various students. They can figure out triggers, antecedents that lead to inappropriate behavior from these evaluations. They can also collaborate with teachers and other staff involved with the children to inquire about such behaviors. Teaching staff can also assist with development plans.
Then they devise plans for concerned children, set benchmarks, and inform teachers of behaviors to look out for. The specialists are also responsible to calculate the effectiveness of the devised plans. If the disorder is already diagnosed the specialist can help with the development plan or help diagnose. They also create an Individual Education Plan for students who suffer from disorders. This plan is discussed with the student’s teachers and caretakers or they also assist and provide therapy during school hours.
In schools, specialists are expected to tend to at-risk students such that they thrive. The development plan is usually a joint venture to guide both the student and the teacher. Modeling good development plans is crucial for regular progress. These plans should meet the goals of treatment and show improvement in the child’s behavior. Conducting conflict resolution meetings when there’s a deadlock is essential. As consultants usually work for various institutions, managing time and data appropriately is part of the job. Specialists are also called in to provide training to teachers and caretakers in school.
Hospitals and Clinical Settings
Behavior Specialists are required in healthcare settings to work with an addiction treatment program, old age patients. They could be responsible for making home visits to older patients with a history of abuse. The specialists will conduct interviews and screenings regularly for elderly patients. They also work on treatment plans for addiction treatment such that patients can do better at the day-to-day tasks and improve socialization. Behavioral Specialists can also give out referrals after the treatment is complete. Specialists who focus on substance-related disorders are usually inclined towards working in healthcare environments.
Salary
The salary for Behavior Specialists depends on the settings and the state they choose to work in. Individuals working in cities, hospitals, or prestigious educational institutions might have an upper hand. Overall, the rate is around $25 per hour to $45 per hour. While the average salary monthly ranges from $38,000 to $64,000.
FAQ
- How can I become a behavioral specialist?
Start with a bachelor’s degree majoring in psychology, social service. You can then proceed to specialize in cognitive or any field of psychology you like during your Masters. Finally, you need a Behavior Analyst Certification license to practice. - Where can I work as a behavioral specialist?
You can work in healthcare, de-addiction centers. You can also work as a consultant for educational institutions. - How much can I earn as a behavioral specialist?
You can earn case to case basis. It also depends on where you choose to work. On average, your salary could range from around $38,000 to $64,000.
