This presentation highlights the enhanced value and effectiveness of integrated Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and mental health caregiver coaching in reducing high-risk behaviours among children and youth with autism. By leveraging a joint clinical approach, the complementary skill sets of ABA and mental health practitioners can strengthen caregiver psychoeducation and deepen caregivers’ understanding of recommended strategies, ultimately increasing their engagement and motivation. This collaborative approach supports greater generalization and maintenance of intervention strategies across home and community settings for both the client and family, increasing the positive long-term impacts. With combined expertise, the joint team is positioned to deliver a more holistic, family-centred, and trauma-informed intervention that effectively addresses both overt and covert high-risk behaviours. Finally, we will demonstrate that conducting joint sessions can increase the individual skillsets of the clinicians and can lead to more efficient use of both the clinician and the client’s time and resources.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand how a joint ABA and Mental Health caregiver coaching session can improve the overall outcome on stabilizing high risk behaviours in youth with autism. This can lead to improvements in long term family and clinical skills and decrease the required resources needed for both clinicians and families. 

2. Learn to use a tool that is commonly introduced within joint caregiver sessions to support caregiver responses to high-risk behaviours. They will be encouraged to apply this tool within their own practice, as appropriate.