Clinical SIG – 2025 Annual Report – Inside Behavior Analysis

By Thomas J. Waltz

Clinical behavior analysis (CBA) involves the application of behavior analytic principles to the full range of human problems, many of which have traditionally been considered “mental health” issues. CBA clinicians work with the relationships among thoughts, feelings, and other behavior to help people move beyond their problems and toward living more fulfilling lives. Critically, CBA clinicians work with clients to identify the contextual determinants of distress and wellbeing, and work with clients to influence those determinants to meet their goals. The Clinical Special Interest Group of ABAI is for those interested in clinical applications of behavior analysis. Clinical behavior analysts work in both research and applied settings.

A sample of clinical domains in which CBA clinicians work includes:

• Anxiety disorders

• Behavioral gerontology

• Behavioral health

• Childhood disorders

• Cognitive rehabilitation

• Couples therapy

• Family therapy

• Forensic psychology (assessment and treatment)

• Habit disorders

• Intellectual and developmental disabilities

• Health psychology

• Mood disorders (e.g., depression),

• Serious mental illness (e.g., borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia)

• Substance abuse

• Trauma

The Clinical SIG is dedicated to facilitating collaboration between researchers and clinicians to further the field’s ability to apply clinical populations. This group seeks to promote clinical behavior analysis (CBA) at ABAI and is interested in maintaining the longstanding relationship between basic research and clinical application. At the 2025 convention, the Clinical SIG met to make progress on the SIG transitioning to an ABAI Associate SIG and to help current ABAI membership understand the breadth of CBA applications beyond early intervention. This includes developing a SIG website that hosts member-exclusive content (e.g., videos, practice resources, training directory, syllabus bank). Please look for the Clinical SIG in the ABAI Associate SIG roster to become a SIG member (https://www.abainternational.org/constituents/special-interests/associate-sigs.aspx).

Also discussed at the convention were the new accreditation and licensure pathways opening for clinical behavior analysts in master’s-level health services (clinical) psychology. Examples of programs pursuing this pathway concurrent with the ABAI Accreditation Board’s tiered pathway to accreditation were provided.

To be kept up to date on Clinical SIG activities and to interact with current members, sign up for the listserv at https://groups.io/g/ClinicalSIG or join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/abaiclinicalsig/.