Open AccessUsing Relational Training to Improve Performance During Acceptance and Commitment Training Sessions
Author(s) -
Callan M. Gilsenan,
Zhihui Yi,
Jessica M. Hinman,
Becky F. Barron,
Mark R. Dixon
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
behavior analysis in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2196-8934
pISSN - 1998-1929
DOI - 10.1007/s40617-021-00574-8
Subject(s) - psychology , autism , multiple baseline design , clinical psychology , protocol (science) , acceptance and commitment therapy , developmental psychology , medicine , intervention (counseling) , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology
The current study investigated the effect of relational training on improving engagement during acceptance and commitment training (ACT) sessions that aimed to reduce maladaptive behavior. Three female children diagnosed with autism participated in the current research. The relational training protocol involved eight programs designed to improve participants' ability to engage in relational responding. A concurrent multiple-baseline across-participants design was used, and participants' maladaptive behavior during ACT sessions was recorded. Results indicated a decrease in maladaptive behavior for one of the three participants, with a medium to large treatment effect. A secondary measure also showed improvement in all three participants' performance during ACT sessions. The percentage of nonoverlapping data and Cohen's d suggest a small to moderate treatment effect. Implications for implementing ACT with individuals diagnosed with autism are discussed.