Behavioral Management

When may behavioral management services be helpful?

Some individuals with acquired brain injury or dementia may have ongoing difficulties with behavior that can interfere with their ability to function at home or within the community. Utilizing functional behavioral analysis, we collaborate with families, caregivers, and providers to identify approaches to reduce problem behaviors and increase functional behaviors, maximizing the individual’s participation in the community and enhancing quality of life.

Behavioral challenges may include:

• Impulsive behaviors (acting without thinking ahead)

• Social skills problems

• Resistance to everyday care needs or requests

• Mental inflexibility

• Repetitive behaviors

• Loud or inappropriate verbalizations

• Sexually inappropriate behaviors

• Aggressive behaviors, such as damaging property, self-injury, or physical aggression towards others

Working together with clients, family members, and other healthcare providers, your psychologist at the Center for Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology will help define the specific problem behaviors that will be addressed, as well as the desired target behaviors that we will work to encourage. We then, as a treatment team, help characterize the problem by better understanding what factors contribute to its presentation, and what factors seem to reinforce more adaptive behaviors. We will then work together to identify a plan that is specific to the client’s unique strengths and needs, supporting behavior in positive ways and helping to set up an environment that has the best potential to maximize functioning. We work with family members, caregivers, and others that interact with the client to educate regarding general principles of behavior as well as to provide specific communication tools and approaches to addressing the client that can improve interactions and functioning.

If you would like to request an appointment for services, please call 925-322-3100, or click the link below: