Positive Cues

09/04/2026

I just launched Positive Cues, a newsletter where I'm sharing what I've learned as a BCBA and as Founding Clinical Director of StarBright Centers.

If you're a parent navigating ABA, early intervention, or a tough diagnosis, or you're a fellow practitioner in the field, this is for you. I'm writing about the practical stuff: what actually works, what to look for in a good ABA program, and honest lessons from building a clinical practice from the ground up. No jargon, no fluff.

First post is up now. Would love to have you along.

Why I'm starting this, and what you can expect

02/16/2026

Bribery vs. Reinforcement: The Timing Matters ⏰
The difference between “bad parenting” and “good therapy” often comes down to when the item is delivered.
🚫 Bribery (Antecedent):
Offering the reward while the problem behavior is happening to stop it.
“If you stop screaming, I’ll give you the iPad.”
Result: You just reinforced the screaming. 📉
✅ Reinforcement (Consequence):
Delivering the reward after the desired behavior has occurred.
“You finished your puzzle! Here is the iPad.”
Result: You reinforced the work. 📈
RBT STUDY HALL IS TOMORROW!
We are reviewing these exact concepts to get you ready for the exam.
📅 Tuesday @ 8:30 PM EST
On TikTok Live
BehaviorAnalysis

02/10/2026

Task List Tuesday: C-2 📝
Are you a “Chef” or a “Scrambler”? 🍳
C-2 (Prepare for the session) is the difference between a smooth session and a chaotic one.
If you have to turn your back on the client to find a stimulus... you’ve already lost instructional control. 📉
The C-2 Checklist:
✅ Read the notes (Did the plan change?)
✅ Gather the stimuli (Do I have the red card?)
✅ Check the reinforcers (Is the iPad charged?)
Pro Tip: Arrive 10 minutes early. That 10 minutes saves you 3 hours of stress.
What is the ONE thing you always forget to bring? 👇

02/09/2026

I ghosted you this weekend. And I’m not sorry. 👻☕️

I took Friday, Saturday, and Sunday completely OFF. No posting. No planning. Just resting.

Why? Because my internal “Check Engine Light” came on. ⚠️

In Behavior Analysis, we know that behavior goes where reinforcement flows. But we also know about Response Effort.

When the effort to keep going exceeds your energy reserves, you hit a wall. In our field, we call that Burnout. And Burnout leads to sloppy data, low patience, and bad therapy.

Actually, the BACB Ethics Code (1.05) reminds us that we have an obligation to address personal issues (like exhaustion!) before they impact our clients.

So, technically... napping was my ethical duty. 😉

I’m back today feeling recharged and ready to drop some knowledge. But let this be your permission slip:
You cannot pour from an empty cup. (And you definitely can’t run a DTT session from one).

Did you rest this weekend, or did you grind? Be honest! 👇

BehaviorAnalysis RestIsProductivity MondayMotivation PositiveCues BehaviorTech

02/04/2026

Stop negotiating. Start sequencing. 🛑🧠
It’s Wisdom Wednesday! Here is a quick tip for my parents and teachers who are tired of the power struggles.
The mistake we make is using the word “IF”.
❌ “If you eat your veggies, you get dessert.”
To a child, “If” sounds like a suggestion. It sounds like a deal we can haggle over.
The fix? Switch to “FIRST/THEN”.
✅ “First veggies, Then dessert.”
It seems small, but it changes the dynamic from a Bribe (“I’ll give you this if you do that”) to a Sequence (“This happens, and then that happens”).
It’s factual. It’s predictable. It works.
Try it today! Drop a “🦉” if you’re ready to stop the negotiating!

02/03/2026

Are you a Cavewoman or a Modern Michelle? 🦖💅

When it comes to reinforcement, we have levels to this game! Task List B-7 breaks it down:

1️⃣ Unconditioned Reinforcers (Primary):
Think Cavewoman Carla. These are things you are BORN wanting. You don’t need to learn to like them.
Examples: Food, Water, Warmth, Oxygen. 🍕💧
2️⃣ Conditioned Reinforcers (Secondary):
These are neutral things that became valuable because of Pairing.
Example: You didn’t care about “Likes” on Instagram as a baby. You learned they were good because they represent social attention. 👍
3️⃣ Generalized Conditioned Reinforcers (GCSR):
Think Modern Michelle. These are the heavy hitters. They have been paired with SO many backup reinforcers that they work almost anytime.
Examples: Money, Tokens, Gift Cards. 💸

Why they rule: You don’t get “full” (satiated) on money like you do on pizza.

Which one motivates you more right now? Pizza (Unconditioned) or Paycheck (Generalized)? Let me know in the comments! 👇

BehaviorScience CavewomanCarla Reinforcement

02/03/2026

Are you cooking without a recipe? 🚩🍳

Imagine trying to bake a soufflé, but the recipe stops right before telling you how long to keep it in the oven. Disaster, right?

That is exactly what happens when a Skill Acquisition Plan (C-1) is missing ingredients.

In this mock question, we have the Goal (Tact Animals), the Materials (Cards), and the Reinforcement (FR1). But when the client makes a mistake... silence.

Without an Error Correction Procedure, you are guessing.
Do you say “No”?
Do you model the right answer?
Do you just stare awkwardly?

A complete C-1 Plan acts as your “Recipe Card.” It must tell you two main things:
1️⃣ What to do when they get it RIGHT (Reinforcement).
2️⃣ What to do when they get it WRONG (Error Correction).

If you don’t have both, you don’t have a plan—you have a guess.

💡 Pro Tip: Consistency is the secret sauce. If I correct errors one way and you do it another way, the client gets confused and learning stops. Stick to the written plan!
Drop a “👨‍🍳” in the comments if you always read the plan before starting your session!

02/03/2026

Stop cooking with chaos! 🍳🚫

If you tried to bake a cake without a recipe, you’d end up with a mess. The same goes for teaching new skills!

Task List C-1: Written Skill Acquisition Plan
Think of this as your Recipe Card. It ensures every RBT on the team cooks the exact same dish every time.

The 7 Essential Ingredients:
1️⃣ Target Behavior: What are we teaching? (Make it operational!)
2️⃣ Materials: What do I need? (Shoes, visuals, tokens?)
3️⃣ Prompting: How do I help? (Physical, gestural, verbal?)
4️⃣ Consequences: What happens when they get it right? (Reinforcement!)
5️⃣ Error Correction: What do I do if they mess up?
6️⃣ Data: How do I measure it?
7️⃣ Generalization: Can they do it at home/school too?

Don’t guess. Follow the recipe. 📝✅

ChefChaos

02/02/2026

Welcome to Domain D: Experimental Design. 🥼🧪

This week, we are becoming Scientists. We aren’t just measuring behavior anymore; we are manipulating the environment to prove Control.

The Starting Lineup:
🔹 IV (Independent Variable): The Intervention. (What I do).
🔹 DV (Dependent Variable): The Behavior. (What the client does).
🔹 Functional Relation: The proof that the IV caused the change in the DV.

If you can keep your IVs and DVs straight, the rest of this week will be a breeze.

Who is ready to find some Functional Relations? 👇

Science StudyTips

01/31/2026

Withholding reinforcement for all ‘adulting’ behaviors today. 🛑

No emails. No graphing. No laundry.
Just snow and silence. 🌨️

Happy Saturday, everyone! Stay warm!

TNSnow