Therapeutic modality is one part of my conceptualization of a case. When I begin with a patient, I start with information and history collection in the form of interviewing. From there, I advance to assessing the patient through the use of inventories, checklist, and standardized testing. Understanding specific areas of concern and devising an organized and systematic treatment plan is my next step. In utilizing the basic principles of ABA, all behaviors are thought to serve a function. Understanding behavior and implementing change are reliant on obtaining information about antecedents, behaviors, and consequences. The behavior exhibited is examined to determine its function in the setting. After the function of behavior is understood with regard to the environment, I identify antecedents and consequences of the behavior.

The target behavior can then be altered to elicit a change in the frequency of its occurrence. By utilizing ABA techniques, I can teach social skills, verbal behavior, and reduce problematic behaviors. These skills are taught through reinforcing small excessive approximations of the desired behaviors, utilizing effective and consistent reinforcement strategies, and presenting the desired behavior repeatedly. While attempting to increase developmentally functional behavior it is important to target and decrease maladaptive behaviors. When reducing behavioral excesses, I do not reinforce the maladaptive behavior; instead, I teach and reinforce new skills. Therefore, reinforcing desired behaviors leads to the extinction of undesired behaviors.