In this episode of EveryDay ABA, Paola (BCBA) and Brittanny (RBT) sit down with Dr. Kristyn Peterson, BCBA and OBM expert, to unpack psychological safety- what it really means, why it's often misunderstood, and how behavior analysts can use evidence-based strategies to promote it in the workplace. From Amy Edmondson’s foundational research to the 4 Stages of Psychological Safety by Timothy Clark, this episode bridges behavioral science with leadership, inclusion, and culture-building. If you’ve ever wondered how to give feedback, create safer work environments, or move from clinical to organizational work, this episode is for you.

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After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Define psychological safety and distinguish it from related but distinct concepts such as being “nice” or avoiding conflict in the workplace.
• Compare and contrast trauma-informed, person-centered, and psychologically safe supervision practices in applied settings.
• Describe the four stages of psychological safety as outlined by Timothy Clark.
• Analyze how psychological safety supports or hinders performance feedback, innovation, and mission alignment in ABA organizations.

References:

Clark, T. R. (2020). The 4 stages of psychological safety: Defining the path to inclusion and innovation. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Edmondson, A. C. (2019). The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. Wiley.

Helbig, K., & Norman, M. (2023). The psychological safety playbook: Lead more powerfully by being more human. Page Two Books.

Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384–399.

Dr. Kristyn Peterson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, CWP

Kristyn is a Behavior Analyst, a former clinical director, and current OBMer and multi-entrepreneur. Throughout her career she is always looking for ways she can use the science of behavior to make a macro-level impact, which drove her interest in behavioral systems analysis, process improvement, and psychological safety. In addition to providing continuing education for BCBAs, she co-owns a technology consulting company Zendicoded, volunteers as a subject matter expert for NASQN, and supports PhD and master's students in their dissertations and theses. She's passionate about helping people create kinder, safer workplaces.

Find her on Instagram: @aba_in_the_wild OR LinkedIn

Join her courses:

LSS White Belt (July)

Psychological Safety 4-Week Intensive

In this episode of EveryDay ABA, your favorite behaviorists unpack one of the most common and exhausting parenting challenges: getting young kids to sleep, and keeping them asleep! Paola (BCBA), Leslie (RBT), and Brittanny (RBT) use a behavioral lens to break down Sleep Onset Association Disorder, cry-it-out/extinction methods, gentle sleep strategies, and bedtime behavior chains- all grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and backed by science. Whether you’re dealing with midnight wake-ups, bedtime tantrums, or trying to decide between the Ferber method or no-cry approaches, this episode arms you with the behavioral tools you need to create consistent, independent sleep patterns for your child.

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⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

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📖 Get your CEU certificate here: HERE

Buy the books!

Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber

The No-Cry Sleep Solution Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley

The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers by Elizabeth Pantley

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp

Twelve Hours' Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old by Suzy Giordano

CEU LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:

1. Define and identify behavioral features of Sleep Onset Association Disorder in young children and explain its maintenance through reinforcement contingencies.

2. Explain how behavior chains are used to create effective bedtime routines, and describe how disruptions in these chains may interfere with sleep onset and maintenance.

3. Evaluate sleep hygiene strategies from a behavior analytic perspective and recommend individualized environmental and behavioral modifications to support independent sleep in children.

References:

Ferber, R. (2006). Solve your child’s sleep problems (Rev. ed.). Fireside.

Giordano, S., & Abidin, L. (2006). The baby sleep solution: A proven program to teach your baby to sleep twelve hours a night. Perigee.

Karp, H. (2002). The happiest baby on the block: The new way to calm crying and help your newborn baby sleep longer. Bantam.

Mindell, J. A., Kuhn, B., Lewin, D. S., Meltzer, L. J., & Sadeh, A. (2006). Behavioral treatment of bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and young children. Sleep, 29(10), 1263–1276.

Mindell, J. A., & Williamson, A. A. (2018). Benefits of a bedtime routine in young children: Sleep, development, and beyond. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 40, 93–108.

Owens, J. A., & Mindell, J. A. (2011). Pediatric insomnia. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 58(3), 555–569.

Pantley, E. (2002). The no-cry sleep solution: Gentle ways to help your baby sleep through the night. McGraw-Hill.

Sadeh, A., Tikotzky, L., & Scher, A. (2010). Parenting and infant sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 14(2), 89–96.

In this episode of EveryDay ABA, hosts Paola, Leslie, and Brittanny explore one of adulthood’s most frustrating challenges: sleep-onset insomnia. Drawing from evidence-based strategies in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the episode examines how faulty reinforcement patterns, mismatched stimulus control, and poor sleep hygiene can disrupt healthy sleep routines. The hosts guide you through behavioral sleep training techniques, the use of successive approximations to reshape sleep behaviors, and the importance of making the bed a discriminative stimulus (SD) for sleep—not a place for snacking or scrolling. Designed for parents, practitioners, and anyone tired of being tired, this episode offers practical, research-backed tools grounded in CBT-I, stimulus control theory, and ABA interventions.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/EveryDayABA

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate HERE!

CEU Learning Objectives:

After listening to the episode listeners will know how to:

• Define sleep-onset insomnia and know how to distinguish it from general fatigue or biological sleep disorders.
• Describe how poor stimulus control contributes to insomnia, particularly when incompatible behaviors are reinforced in the sleep environment.
• Implement self-monitoring strategies to increase behavioral awareness and promote habit change.

References:

Bootzin, R. R. (1972). Stimulus control treatment for insomnia. Proceedings of the American Psychological Association, 7, 395–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/e400972004-001

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.

Espie, C. A. (2002). Insomnia: Conceptual issues in the development, persistence, and treatment of sleep disorder in adults. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 215–243. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135243

Kazdin, A. E. (2011). Behavior modification in applied settings (7th ed.). Waveland Press.

In this episode of Everyday ABA, we unpack how applied behavior analysis (ABA) can be used to manage stress in everyday life—not just for clients, but for behavior analysts, educators, parents, and professionals. Board Certified Behavior Analyst Paola, along with Registered Behavior Technician co-hosts Brittanny and Leslie, discuss the difference between Eustress and Distress, acute vs. chronic stress, and how stress functions in our bodies. We explore research-backed coping strategies rooted in behavioral science, cognitive appraisal theory locus of control, learned optimism, and positive psychology. This episode blends research with real-life examples, practical behavior-change strategies, and CEU-worthy insights on stress, resilience, and reinforcement.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram:@EveryDayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate here: https://forms.gle/DnBx7nk5w3iLuLQk6

CEU Learning Objectives:

• Define and differentiate between acute and chronic stress, eustress and distress, and describe their physiological and behavioral impacts using examples relevant to clinical practice.
• Differentiate between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies and design ABA-based interventions to support both types of coping in clients.
• Apply the concept of internal vs. external locus of control to increase client resilience, including teaching strategies that foster internal control and learned optimism.
• Incorporate positive psychology techniques, including gratitude practices and behavioral activation, into ABA intervention plans to promote resilience against chronic stress.

References:

Achor, S. (2010). The happiness advantage: How a positive brain fuels success in work and life. Crown Business.

Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. Lyle Stuart.

Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1980). An analysis of coping in a middle-aged community sample. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 21(3), 219–239. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136617

Holmes, T. H., & Rahe, R. H. (1967). The social readjustment rating scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 11(2), 213–218. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0092976

Seligman, M. E. P. (1991). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. Knopf.

Selye, H. (1956). The stress of life. McGraw-Hill.

This episode of Everyday ABA is for anyone who gives so much to others that their own self-care ends up last on the list. Let’s get real—self-care is not about candles or spa days. It’s about building daily habits that protect your energy and support your well-being. Join Paola, Leslie, and Brittany as they break down how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) gives us the tools to redefine self-care, reduce burnout, and create a sustainable, values-driven routine that works—even when life feels overwhelming. Whether you’re a BCBA, educator, parent, or helping professional, this episode will help you rethink what self-care really looks like.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EveryDayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate here: https://forms.gle/U9ahfLysjuAc6t6C7

Learning Objectives for CEU:

• Define self-care from a behavior analytic perspective, including how reinforcement and motivating operations (MOs) influence the maintenance of self-care behaviors.
• Identify at least three environmental modifications that reduce response effort and increase the likelihood of self-care behaviors using ABA principles.
• Differentiate between functional reinforcers and escape-maintained behaviors, and give two examples of each within the context of self-care.

References:

Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones. Avery.

Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta‐analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38002-1

Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. Guilford Press.

Luthans, F., & Youssef, C. M. (2007). Emerging positive organizational behavior. Journal of Management, 33(3), 321–349. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206307300814

Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (1997). The truth about burnout: How organizations cause personal stress and what to do about it. Jossey-Bass.

Schaufeli, W. B., Leiter, M. P., & Maslach, C. (2009). Burnout: 35 years of research and practice. Career Development International, 14(3), 204–220. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620430910966406

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, board-certified behavior analyst Paola dives into how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can support mental health, from managing anxiety and postpartum depression to reshaping negative thinking patterns and building more reinforcing routines. Registered Behavior Technicians Brittanny and Leslie explain how evidence-based tools like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavioral Activation (BA), positive self-talk, and self-monitoring can be used to decrease emotional avoidance, improve mood, and build values-driven behavior. The hosts break down Albert Ellis’s ABC model, Bandura’s theory of reciprocal determinism, and show how core ABA concepts like reinforcement, rule-governed behavior, shaping, and stimulus control can empower everyday people—not just those in therapy—to take action toward mental wellness. Listeners will leave with real-world strategies to support themselves and others using behavioral science that’s accessible, compassionate, and affirming.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate here: HERE

📚 Learning Objectives for CEU:

• Define and identify the six core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and describe how each process relates to ABA principles such as rule-governed behavior, shaping, and reinforcement.
• Explain the ABC model of emotion and behavior developed by Albert Ellis, and apply the model to everyday mental health situations (e.g., postpartum depression, anxiety).
• Apply ABA strategies to everyday mental health scenarios, including self-monitoring, thought labeling, contingency management, and reinforcement for replacement behaviors.

References:

• Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
• Dimidjian, S., Hollon, S. D., Dobson, K. S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R. J., Addis, M. E., ... & Jacobson, N. S. (2006). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(4), 658–670.
• Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart.
• Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. New York: Guilford Press.

Managing money can feel overwhelming, but behavioral science offers practical tools to help. In this episode of Everyday ABA, your favorite hosts Paola, Leslie, and Brittanny explore how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can be used to improve financial habits. From budgeting and saving to reducing impulsive spending, the episode highlights small, observable changes that can lead to long-term financial stability.

🎧 Listeners will learn how behavior analysis can make saving money and staying on budget more manageable and effective.

💰 Whether the goal is to build an emergency fund, track expenses, or develop better spending habits, this episode shares research-backed ABA strategies to support financial well-being.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

👉 Enjoying the episode? Share it with a friend who could benefit from strategies for achieving financial stability. Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help spread the power of ABA in everyday life.

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 and share which financial strategy you tried this week.

📝 Get your CEU certificate: HERE

📖 Buy the book! I Will Teach You to Be Rich

📌 Resources mentioned in the episode: 💲 Cash Back Apps: Chase, Fetch Shopkick, Rakuten 📊 Spending Trackers: Earn 60,000 bonus points by using EveryDayABA's code at Chase , Budget Spreadsheet on Excel

💹 Define how behavioral principles can be applied to financial habits

💰 Identify strategies for data collection in financial decision-making

🪙 Explain how reinforcement systems can help maintain a budget

💱 Describe how antecedent manipulations can reduce impulsive spending

📖References & Resources:

• Bredehoft, D. J., & Slinger, M. (2010). Relationships between childhood overindulgence and adult attitudes and behavior. National Council on Family Relations
• Investopedia. How money impacts mental health. Read here
• Positive Psychology. Delayed gratification exercises, worksheets, & activities. Read here
• Journal of Social Psychology (1999). Self-control predicts financial success. Read here
• SWUFE Journal of Finance and Economics (2018). Mental budgeting and planned behavior. Read here
• PLOS One. Understanding money-management behavior in undergraduates. Read here

In this episode of Everyday ABA, co-hosts Paola, Brittanny, and Leslie analyze Season 3 of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum through the lens of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). This engaging discussion explores how ABA strategies like positive reinforcement, role play, video modeling, and self-talk can support romantic development for autistic individuals. Listeners are guided through key moments from the series as the hosts discuss the clinical implications of teaching dating skills, supporting emotional expression, and navigating social rules—especially those that may unintentionally teach rigid or atypical behaviors.

This episode is ideal for ABA professionals, clinicians, educators, and anyone interested in autism and romantic relationships.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate by clicking HERE

Learning Objectives for CEU:

1. Identify two evidence-based social skills strategies for teaching dating and social skills to individuals with autism
2. Describe the function of self-talk in self-regulation and coping for individuals on the autism spectrum​
3. Summarize the importance of matching support strategies to individual sensory needs
4. Discuss the role of inclusion and peer modeling in promoting social-emotional growth in autistic individuals

📚 Research References:

Bellini, S., & Akullian, J. (2007). A meta-analysis of video modeling and video self-modeling interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Exceptional Children, 73(3), 264–287.

Hull, L., Petrides, K. V., Allison, C., Smith, P., Baron-Cohen, S., Lai, M.-C., & Mandy, W. (2017). “Putting on my best normal”: Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(8), 2519–2534

Laugeson, E. A., & Frankel, F. (2010). Social skills for teenagers with developmental and autism spectrum disorders: The PEERS treatment manual. Routledge.

Palmer, D. C. (2006). On the relation between verbal thinking and overt behavior. The Behavior Analyst, 29(2), 247–261.

Strunz, S., Schermuck, C., Ballerstein, S., Ahlers, C. J., Dziobek, I., & Roepke, S. (2017). Romantic relationships and relationship satisfaction among adults with autism spectrum disorder and without intellectual disability. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73(1), 113–125.