From Buy-In to Belonging: Enhancing Therapeutic Relationships in Skills-Based Treatment

Course Abstract: Achieving meaningful social validity in Applied Behavior Analysis requires moving beyond initial stakeholder buy-in toward sustained, values-driven therapeutic relationships. Meaningful, culturally inclusive practice requires us to build trusting therapeutic relationships that reflect shared values, lived experience, and long-term commitment. This presentation explores an integrative approach to embedding inclusionary measures of values connection with the goal of enhancing relevance, equity, and long-term outcomes for diverse clients and their support systems. Grounded in principles from Self-Determination Theory, the session highlights how autonomy, relatedness, and competence can be actively nurtured through inclusive leadership practices and Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques.

Attendees will learn to leverage MI strategies to elicit authentic client and caregiver values, align treatment goals with intrinsic motivations, and foster genuine collaboration with mutual respect, cultural relevance, and shared purpose. Inclusive leadership will be presented as a guiding framework to empower practitioners to co-create culturally responsive, person-centered interventions that reflect the lived experiences of all stakeholders. Participants will examine how to infuse values-discovery and client-centered collaboration throughout assessment, skill selection, and outcome planning. Special attention will be given to shifting therapeutic dynamics to promote trust, equity, and belonging. Strategies for inclusive training and intentional carryover planning will be shared to enhance the long-term relevance and sustainability of intervention outcomes so participants will leave equipped to elevate the social validity of SBT by prioritizing connection and embracing values as a core component of meaningful behavior change.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how principles from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) can be integrated to support autonomy, relatedness, and competence in ABA caregiver therapeutic relationships.
• Apply Motivational Interviewing (MI) strategies to elicit client and caregiver values and align treatment goals with intrinsic motivation.
• Identify key elements of inclusive leadership that foster culturally responsive, collaborative therapeutic relationships.
• Design inclusionary and values-based carryover systems within SBT that strengthen treatment generalization and long-term impact.
• Evaluate outcome measures through a lens of cultural inclusion and social validity, ensuring they reflect the priorities and lived experiences of the client and their community.

Presenter Bio:
Deanna Purslow is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) specializing in compassionate, inclusive care for individuals with complex behavioral needs. With a focus on Skill-Based Treatment (SBT), naturalistic teaching, and mentorship, Deanna supports emerging practitioners in delivering ethical, individualized interventions with fidelity. Their work emphasizes safety, connection, and dignity, aiming to cultivate therapeutic relationships and socially meaningful outcomes through values-based, empowering behavior analytic practices.