In this episode, Nicole and Christina unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in ABA: control. From instructional and stimulus control to emotional regulation, boundaries, and autonomy, they explore how “control” shows up in real life, with kids, clients, and ourselves.

Through personal stories, clinical insight, and plenty of humor, they reframe control not as coercion, but as empowerment: helping learners build trust, flexibility, self-advocacy, and skills that actually matter in their world.

A must-listen for BCBAs, educators, and parents of neurodivergent kids who want ABA that’s compassionate, contextual, and human.

• Identify and explain at least 3 types of control utilized in ABA
• Describe at least two common misconceptions about control along with at least two strategies for reframing control as trust-building and autonomy supported teaching.
• Apply at least two flexible, naturalistic strategies to support learner autonomy and reduce reliance on coercive control

• This season of Reinforcing Conversation is powered by ⁠The New England Center for Children⁠.

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  Keywords: ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, BCBA, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, RBT, Registered Behavior Technician, Autism, ADHD, Neurodivergent, Parenting, Control, Motivation, Empowerment, Autonomy