Overview
Developing Function Based Treatment Goals
In this first discussion, begin by reviewing this learning activity, which demonstrates how to use the Competing Behavior Pathway Diagram to develop your treatment goals. Then, review the options to guide your response to the questions below. You can select Option A or B for this discussion.
Option A:
Cicero is a thirteen-year-old client who frequently engages in verbal outbursts in the classroom, which includes yelling and using inappropriate language. These outbursts occur approximately 3-4 times a day and disrupt the learning environment for them and their peers. The function of Cicero's verbal outbursts appears to be attention-seeking and a means of expressing frustration or unmet needs. By understanding this, the intervention can focus on teaching Cicero some alternative, appropriate ways to gain attention and express their needs.
Option B:
Provide a brief description of a client that you have, or are currently working with, including the behavior of concern, the context in which the behavior occurs, the function of the behavior, and what the general goals intervention should focus on (Use Scenario A as an example for organizing your description). Be sure to develop this work independently from already “established” written BIP goals/objectives for this client…pretend you are starting from scratch.
Include the following in your post:
- Fill out a Competing Behavior Pathway Diagram to include in your post for reference.
- Identify and operationally define one target behavior for intervention with the client.
- Describe how you will prioritize the problem behavior, referencing Cooper et al., (2020) worksheet (Figure 3.9) on page 66.
- Develop at least one clear and measurable short-term and long-term treatment goal for your client.
- Select a functionally equivalent replacement behavior based on your short-term goal and discuss how you will evaluate the social significance of the replacement behavior, including consideration of cultural responsiveness.
- Use the unit readings to support your response.