About the presentation:
Behavior analysis as a discipline values interprofessional collaboration (e.g., Slim & Reuter-Yuill, 2021; LaFrance et al., 2019), although it is unknown how many trainees receive supervision in interdisciplinary research and practice settings. I will discuss how research supervisors can set the occasion for behavior analytic trainees to become involved in interdisciplinary research, and how the resulting operant variability may promote effective practice and progress in research. I will share three examples of my collaborative research experiences within a large mental health teaching hospital: (1) an application of behavior skills training with facilitators of acceptance and commitment therapy; (2) a randomized controlled trial of behavior skills training to teach staff safety skills to mental health hospital staff; and (3) an ongoing evaluation of ProjectECHO for adults with intellectual disabilities. The reinforcing value of these relationships will be discussed in terms of trainee development and progress of the field.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able to describe examples of behavior analysts contributing to interdisciplinary research in a mental health teaching hospital.
- Participants will be able to describe a reinforcing outcome of interdisciplinary research for trainee development.
- Participants will be able to describe a reinforcing outcome of interdisciplinary research for the progress of the field.
About the presenter:
Dr. Kendra Thomson, PhD, BCBA-D is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Disability Studies at Brock University. Kendra earned her Ph.D. in Psychology with specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis from the University of Manitoba in 2011 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2013. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health lab at York University before starting her academic career at Brock in 2014. Kendra has over 20 years of experience in various clinical and research settings supporting people with learning differences across the lifespan. With her trainees, Kendra conducts community-based research that focuses broadly on translating evidence-based behavioural training strategies to empower people with lived experience and their families/care providers, and professionals to improve independence and quality of life. Most recently Kendra and her team have been investigating Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) for improving quality of life for caregivers. Kendra also holds a part-time Scientist position in the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, ON. She is a past president of the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis and was honoured to be the recipient of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts “Jerry Shook Award” in 2021. She is a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) Council (soon to be the College of Psychologists and Behavior Analysts as of July 1, 2024). She serves in several other roles at CPO including being a member of the Behaviour Analysis Working Group, the Behaviour Analysis Professional Standards Committee, and the Registration Committee.