Relationship Building

Welcome to Rethink's Registered Behavior Technician Training

  • Presentation Focus: Relationship Building

Learning Objectives

  • Understand how relationship building activities meet the needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
  • Learn the importance of relationship building.
  • Explore strategies for establishing yourself as a reinforcer.
  • Identify signs of a positive relationship with clients.

Introduction to Relationship Building and Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • Core Features of Autism Spectrum Disorder:
    • Deficits in social interaction.
    • Deficits in communication.
  • Skills in these areas are essential for forming relationships.
  • Relationship building can be challenging for individuals with ASD.

Reasons for Building Relationships

  1. Addressing Deficits
    • Developing a good relationship helps address the deficits in communication and social interaction.
    • This allows for the modeling of appropriate communication and social interaction skills that clients need to learn.
  2. Enhancing Environment
    • Positive relationships make the environment and interaction more enjoyable for both the teacher and client.
    • Increased productivity and learning occur when individuals feel comfortable alongside those they like.
  3. Establishing Reinforcement
    • Building relationships helps establish the technician as a reinforcer, enhancing behavior in the client.
    • Reduces the need for contrived reinforcers during sessions.

Strategies to Establish Yourself as a Reinforcer

  • Six essential strategies for developing a strong relationship and establishing yourself as a reinforcer:
    1. Pair Yourself with Preferred Activities
    2. Make Activities More Fun
    3. Give Access to Preferred Activities
    4. Be Consistent
    5. Show Enthusiasm
    6. Show Care and Respect

1. Pair Yourself with Preferred Activities

  • Definition: A conditioned reinforcer is a stimulus that gains reinforcing value through association with established reinforcers.
  • Method: Be involved during activities that act as reinforcers for the client.
    • Examples:
    • Passive involvement: Watching a favorite cartoon with the client.
    • Active involvement: Playing with toys or games, or sharing a preferred snack.

2. Make Activities More Fun

  • Aim: Enhance the enjoyment of activities when involved with the learner.
  • Method: Add enjoyable elements to activities the learner likes.
    • Examples:
    • If a client enjoys swinging, push them on the swing to enhance the experience.
    • Add excitement to surprise toys with anticipatory sounds (e.g., countdown sounds).

3. Give Access to Preferred Activities

  • Recommendation: Provide frequent access to preferred items and activities during sessions.
  • Method: Allow free access to activities outside of teaching.
    • Importance: Prevents the client from associating the technician solely with work demands.

4. Be Consistent

  • Importance: Consistency builds trust in the relationship.
  • Tips:
    • Maintain consistency in interactions, expectations, mood, tone of voice, and facial expressions.
    • Keep work tasks required of the client consistent between sessions to stabilize behavior.

5. Show Enthusiasm

  • Importance: Demonstrates enjoyment in working with the client, enhancing rapport.
  • Ways to show enthusiasm:
    • Celebrate the client's successes.
    • Provide praise for even small accomplishments.
    • Smile to create a pleasant working environment; a smile may become a conditioned reinforcer over time.

6. Show Care and Respect

  • Importance: This builds a respectful environment, even if not overtly acknowledged by the client.
  • Tips:
    • Use respectful language and tone of voice.
    • Pay attention to signs of distress and seek guidance when necessary.
    • Avoid discussing the client in their presence, showing respect for their challenges.

When to Use These Strategies

  • Timing: Use these strategies at all times, particularly during initial meetings with clients.
  • Evolution of Strategies: Some strategies may be less necessary as relationships strengthen (e.g., pairing with activities), while others (enthusiasm, consistency, respect) should always be maintained.

Signs of a Successful Relationship

  • Indicators showing successful relationship-building efforts:
    • Increased smiles and laughter from both the technician and client.
    • Both parties look forward to sessions.
    • The client initiates interactions and seeks out the technician.
    • Reduction in challenging behavior and increased productivity during sessions.

Conclusion

  • Summary of Key Points:
    • Relationship building activities enable modeling of appropriate social interactions and communication skills.
    • Essential strategies include pairing with preferred activities, enhancing enjoyment, consistent access to preferred items, consistency, enthusiasm, and demonstrating care and respect.
    • Positive relationships lead to lower levels of challenging behavior and increased productivity, as both technician and client enjoy their interactions.