Tara Concelman – Behavior Analyst

OB: Please give us an introduction to what you do.

Tara: I work with families who are home schooling or are trying to solve behavior issues within their own home. I teach families the principles of behavior so they can apply them to their parenting skills and their home schooling methods.

OB: Why did you get interested in helping children and families?

Tara: I have a child with autism who is 19 years old. I (and my family) have utilized many forms of therapeutic interventions to address his unique needs. The principles of behavior are what made the most difference in his and our lives. So, through my education and experience it is my goal to help parents find the tools they need to address the special requirements of their children. Most therapies and interventions involve a clinical treatment program but the natural environment is where treatments or behavior plans will be most beneficial and effective. So, I would like to be able to go into people’s homes and teach families using the principles of behavior and the techniques of behavior analysis so that parents can be equipped with the ability to respond and educate and meet the needs of their own children.

OB: What is your approach to therapy for children who need help, and how is it unique?

Tara: Behavior analysis responds to problems through direct observation and documentation. All behavior has a function, all learned behavior continues through reinforcement (it works). Behavior that is a problem for people directly affected by it, is not necessarily a problem for the person doing in it. Behavior analysis uses the tools of observation and measurement to determine the function of the behavior. When a function is determined, behavior can be changed through the application of the principles of the behavior to teach a new appropriate behavior to accomplish the same function and to reduce or extinguish the problem behavior. That is behavior analysis in a very brief nutshell. The direct observation, and measurement are what make it unique.

OB: Are there factors that parents can watch out for to help reduce or eliminate bad behavior. For example, diet, TV time, etc.?

Tara: I cannot actually make a blanket statement in defense of a particular diet, or of particular rules governing the use of television, because families are unique, children are unique. Certainly diet affects the functioning of an organism but it is not a cure. It is a treatment option and a lifestyle option. Television with no controls and without monitoring is detrimental but the level of control and the management of television usage will be an individual decision. Perhaps that is also what makes me unique in my approach to families is my belief that one size does not fit all.

OB: What kind of preparation did you have for your career?

Tara: I have a Master’s degree in Education in 1990. I home schooled and directed the education of both of my children who are now 17 and 19. I am current taking graduate courses in Behavior Analysis, as well doing 1500 supervised field work hours before I sit for my certification exam. I have worked with home schooling families in the areas of curriculum, behavior, and child development for the past 10 years.