Behaviour Analysis Courses...help!

Soon2bExStudent

I am finishing my degree in psychology this coming june and for the past year have been plagued with what i would imagine most final year psychology students are faced with..next year! I have worked as a care staff in two different areas..currently in my third, in a service for people with intellectual disabilities. I work in the secure unit with those clients who display extreme challenging behaviour. I would eventually like to do educational psychology (p.s. does anyone know when the new 3-yr course will be replacing the current one????), however I am also interested in behaviour analysis. I have applied for the new MSc in Coleraine, and will be applying for the associate level course in Trinity also. What does anyone think of this field? Job prospects? Also could anyone working in that area let me know what its like? I would greatly appreciate any help!!!!:)

Eoghan-psych

Soon2bExStudent wrote:

I have applied for the new MSc in Coleraine, and will be applying for the associate level course in Trinity also. What does anyone think of this field? Job prospects? Also could anyone working in that area let me know what its like? I would greatly appreciate any help!!!!:)

Though I can't speak specifically to the masters course, I know some of the behavioural staff in Coleraine - some trained my undergrad Prof., and one did his PhD in NUIM while I was there. They have a proper hardcore behaviour analytic group up there, which is a definite must for serious ABA training [it's all well and good having someone who is technically proficient, but if they aren't actually looking at CB from a behavioural perspective, there are limits on what they can teach]. I'm all but certain that both Coleraine and Trinity's courses fulfil the BACB requirements in terms of teaching.

In terms of the field itself - you'll have seen first hand the effect that ABA-style interventions can have. I haven't been quite that lucky yet, but having been 'brought up' as an undergrad by hardcore behaviour analysts the charting of effects is indelibly burned into my mind. I've also got several relatives on the autism spectrum, who we only see very infrequently. They started in a behavioural program just after I started as an undergrad, and they came for a visit last summer [4 years on]. The effects were obvious.

Accredited behaviour analysts work with the people who have been pretty much discarded - the unteachable kids, the disabled adults, the 'broken' people - and *help* them. ABA is the single most effective intervention strategy for people on the autism spectrum, and people with a whole host of other difficulties and disabilities. Relatively speaking, it's pretty much the *only* effective intervention strategy in many cases. I'm preaching to the choir a bit here, but behaviour analysts are thin on the ground so a little choir preaching does no harm.

In terms of job prospects - under Irish law every child is entitled to an education commensurate with their abilities. The scientific evidence shows that ABA is the best way to provide that education to a significant portion of the population. As awareness grows, so too does the level of employment. If all else fails, you can always go abroad to s

I'm working towards a research qualification in the basic side of things at the minute, with the intention of moving into applied training and work once I graduate [the research project has a cog-neuro component which should give me a foot in the door to non-behavioural departments when I go looking for academic positions].

I'm rambling now.

niamhey

There's definitely prospects in ABA - its a huge growth are in Ireland at the moment. I'm currently working in an ABA school having just finished an MSc in applied psychology and its a great job. If you don't go straight onto a masters i would definitely recommend applying to one of the schools. There's around 12 schools in the country but the ABACAS schools are the only ones i've worked for and I suspect they are way ahead of the rest in terms of comprehensively applying the science. Staff enter as teacher assistants, working 1:1 with children with autism. Then there is a class teacher grade, supervisors, deputy director, director of education. Long-term, there's consultancy roles. You can work your way up to this by having a masters/PhD in ABA, getting certified through BACB. This won't take the rest of your life either - i know consultants who are still young, making good money and working in really satisfying and challenging roles.
I hope that wasn't all irrelevant to you. Just letting you know that there are lots of senior jobs to be had eventually, so it is definitely a good career prospect but i would recommend working in the area before deciding on it. It may be a good idea to work in one of the schools before embarking on the masters as it would help you learn more from a masters and be sure of what you're getting into, since an ABA environment is so different from a care environment.
Good luck with everything!
ps there's MSc courses in galway and maynooth aswell but i think maynooth isn't taking applications this year.

Soon2bExStudent

Thanks a million for your reply..its really helpful! That is exactly what im doing actually...applying to schools..i thought it would be better to work in the environment first and then apply next year. There has only been one job advertised recently in a school - which i applied for but havent heard back yet. Would u mind telling me how you got your job in the school? Do u need a lot of experience to get a job like that?

Playboy

There is a Masters in ABA starting in Galway this coming September afaik.

niamhey

Glad to be of help! Its not too tough to get a job in the schools. They're so into on-the-job training that they're very open about taking on staff with the right attitude. Your care experience is very valuable, since one of the most crucial areas they seem to look at is experience of challenging behaviour. They don't expect staff to come in with sophisticated knowledge of ABA - just a willingness to learn and to commit to applying the principles (and take part in their training course, which is very interesting and relevant).
I had some specific ABA teaching experience before I applied (supervised home programmes) but as far as I know, no-one else in the particular place i work had (apart from senior staff of course!). I answered a newspaper ad but its worth sending in an unsolicited CV. If you haven't heard back from a place its worth giving them a ring. My interview was a relaxed chat, asking about my experience of challenging behaviour, interventions etc and some very general what do you know about ABA stuff.

P.S. I have to make it really clear that this is just my opinion and i'm no way trying to represent the organisation i'm describing. I'm speaking purely from my own personal experience and biases!

Eoghan-psych

Playboy wrote:

There is a Masters in ABA starting in Galway this coming September afaik.

I have heard rumours and rumblings that Maynooth will be offering a doctoral course in the near future - it'll be a taught doctorate, like many of the ABA courses in the states and the DClinPsy courses.

It may never happen, but if it does it'll be good.

AC1

I'm not sure when there will be a full-time three year doctorate in educational psychology in ireland, but UCD are trying to set up a part time doctorate course in the next year or two, for those who already have the masters.

suzieq

Hey SoontobeXstudent,
all the recommendations so far have been exactly what you need to hear. I work as a behaviour specialist (challenging behaviour). There is a certain point where you need to make the choice as to whether you want to go down the behaviour support specialist or remain within the ABA educational element e.g. ABA schools and working within autism. Definitely go for the schools: not sure if you know the full list but they are cropping up all over the place. If you are in Dublin theres The Red Door, ABACAS, Saplings, St. Catherines in Wicklow and a few preschools. Getting trained in these schools is essential in my mind. You'll have a much better understanding in the long run.
As fasr as courses go, there's a course in Galway, Coleraine, Bangor (in Wales) and MAs due to start in Limerick and Trinity (the Trinity one will be an extension of the BCABA qualification). Maynooth would be great if they offer their course as a Phd (would be interested in that myself!). BACB registration is also essential in the long run if you want any sort of recognition so I would go for an Masters level course ahead of the Trinity one for the moment.

Hope this is a help anywho. Good luck with it all!

Darragh

mstaff

hi can anyone tell me what the"CAS" part of ABACAS stands for??

*Dee*

Hello,

Im new and I cant believe how helpful everyone is!

I was just wondering in refrence to Suzieq's comment,
Is The University of Limerick getting an ABA MSc. or was she speaking of a different pyschology course I know they have a doctorate in cliical psychology but I didnt realise they might be getting the ABA courses?

Also Iwas just wondering about the schools everyone was talking about are there such ones in the south west?:o

niamhey

there's a CABAS in cork

cassie22

ABACAS replaced the american CABAS school system. Its replaced the American consultants with Irish ones. The CAS stands for 'centre for Autism schooling'. I've been working there for a year and it's great experience but I'm looking for a change. Maybe something on the Southside. Any suggestions?

ducky02

Hi
I wonder if anyone could give me some advice regarding courses and what ones to do.If so I would really appreciate it.

I just got my degree from art college .The plan was alway to continue my studies to become an art therapist.For three summers I have worked at a summer camp in California for people with special needs.I worked as the Arts and Crafts co-ordinator and as a counselor. Through this experience I decided I wanted to work with children with special needs.

So now my ideal career would be to be qualified in working with children (possibly with autism) with special needs through art.whether its through art therapy or as a behaviour analysis.I want to an expert basically.

So my question is what is the best way to get fully qualified or experience in this field of work.I applied to be a special needs assistant but couldnt get an interview.What course should I be looking to do,is a course in Child Psychology pointless without a psychology degree ?Would a child development course be irrelevant? Are there any degree courses in behaviour analysis???

Please if anyone has any advice in which courses would best suit me for the line of work I want to be qualified in?

Sorry this email isn't more eloquent I wrote it twice and deleted it by mistake

snorlax

well for art therapy there is a masters course in the Crawford College of Art and design http://www.cit.ie/Courses.cfm/section/details/id/124/nkey/62//action/page/aID/188/CatName/Courses.html

*Dee*

Hello I was just wondering if anyone knows about this course begining in Limerick as one person suggested anyone any ideas/thoughts?

ducky02

thanks for the recommendation of the art therapy.Iwas more looking for the behaviour analysis and psychology courses but i do appreciate your suggestion.

lilwyrdsis

You won't have any problem finding work in ABA in Ireland anyway, it is rapidly growing. I work in ABACAS, they currently have 3 schools, but there are a lot of other groups and schools around the country as well.

Teedo

Great advice from people on here.

Just in relation to the MSc in Maynooth - from what i can gather, there will be a Masters/Doctorate starting in the next year or two, with a specific focus on ABA, with some CBT and ACT elements in it. It has been approved by the BACB, they are just awaiting some final elements before advertising application forms. From what I've heard it sounds like it will be a great course for anybody interested in ABA and psychotherapy. Apparently there is a waiting list of up to 300 for it (not all guaranteed to apply however) with only 10 places available, so the competition will be quite high I'd imagine.

Just on a side, does anybody know any ABA Schools in the south-east? Specifically, Kilkenny?