The Good Behaviorist: 9 Qualities

Mikal Britt, Behaviorist for 10+ years

  1. OBSERVING: The Good Behaviorist will have an antennae sticking up at all times – monitoring and processing what is happening around. This means going deeper than the surface, seeing the subtext, paying attention to both the background and the foreground simultaneously. This ability makes the Good Behaviorist a better problem-solver, able to see solutions or triggers that other people would miss.
  2. LOOSENESS: What I really mean is adaptability. The Good Behaviorist will be able to adapt their skill set to any environment: the classroom, an assembly, P.E., a field trip, in-home, around the community, in nature, with crowds, in stores, under high-stress, and with low-stress. Whatever the situation calls for, the Good Behaviorist will shape-shift and have the looseness and intelligence to modify and alter intervention techniques based on the environment.
  3. TOLERANCE: This is similar to patience, but is more about genuine acceptance rather than just putting up with The Good Behaviorist will love people who are different. The Good Behaviorist will admire people who have their own special way of being in this world.  You will see this in the eyes of the Good Behaviorist. You will hear it in the passion of their words. The Good Behaviorist can spend time long periods of time with the “most annoying person in the world” and still have a pretty good time.
  4. CURIOSITY: The art of curiosity means never getting bored, constantly re-inventing, always looking for new perspectives, new answers, new rewards, newCuriosity should be constant, never satisfied, like hunger. It might temporarily get fulfilled, but it always returns looking for more. A state of wonder means the Good Behaviorist never becomes complacent, never settles, and is always brainstorming new ideas.
  5. A BIG HEART: The Good Behaviorist sees the good in everyone and does not hold grudges, even on the bad days. It’s that simple.
  6. SELF-DISCIPLINED: The Good Behaviorist remains calm and can control impulses and explosiveIt is almost a form of acting, and it is done for the sake of the client, so escalating situations do not intensify more than they need. The Good Behaviorist never adds to the chaos and is always a safe zone for the client.
  7. FUN: This quality cannot be underestimated. Without fun, we have nothing. Behavior therapy is tricky because we may be working with clients who are young and lack the self-awareness or the desire/tools to change. So making things fun brings a refreshing angle that is appealing to the client. It also makes the client & therapist bond.  Even with teenage and young adult clients, keeping the work and the atmosphere light-hearted and upbeat helps the Good Behaviorist and client communicate more effectively.
  8. CONNECTIVITY: The Good Behaviorist will form a strong bond with the client. This can come in many forms, and no one way is correct. It may take time, but soon enough a good connection will be clear and obvious. Even when the connection is difficult, the Good Behaviorist makes valiant efforts and identifies limitations that need to be worked on to improve the connection.
  9. OPENNESS: This means being open to suggestions, open to change, open to change and to communication. It’s being direct about feelings, observations, boundaries, and thoughts. The Good Behaviorist is careful with words yet also honest, and knows how to communicate directly without offending. While open, The Good Behaviorist exercises clear boundaries and limits.