Subspecialty Areas in ABA: Sleep Consultation with Nicole Shallow

In the Field: The ABA Podcast

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Allyson speaks with Nicole Shallow, a behavior analyst and sleep consultant based in Vancouver, Canada. Nicole shares her journey into the world of behavioral sleep consulting and the critical role of understanding the underlying physiological factors affecting sleep. They explore how behavior analysts can expand their scope to address sleep issues, how to stay within one's scope of competence, and why collaboration with medical professionals is essential.

Nicole provides valuable insights into the assessment process, the connection between sleep and other issues like gastrointestinal problems, and the importance of building strong, individualized sleep plans for clients.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Nicole’s journey into sleep consulting and behavior analysis, starting as a Behavior Interventionist and specializing in sleep through mentorship.
• How sleep is often a symptom of broader physiological or environmental issues, such as gastrointestinal problems or stress.
• The importance of understanding sleep physiology and when to refer to medical professionals.
• Behavioral strategies for addressing common sleep issues and building individualized sleep interventions.
• Tips for behavior analysts wanting to expand their scope of competence into new areas, such as sleep.
• Collaboration with parents and other professionals to ensure a holistic approach to sleep interventions.
• The need for more research in the field of behavior analysis on sleep, given the current limitations of small sample sizes.
• How Nicole integrates ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) principles and soft skills when supporting families through sleep challenges.

Actionable Step:
For practitioners interested in expanding their skills into sleep consulting, start by reviewing behavioral sleep medicine research and completing a relevant CEU. Nicole suggests getting mentorship in sleep consulting to ensure competency in addressing more complex sleep issues.

Resources Mentioned:

• Nicole Shallow - Your Behavior Gal
• Hanley’s Sleep Assessment Tool
• Behavior Live (for CEs related to sleep)
• LinkedIn (for networking and mentorship opportunities)

Connect with Nicole:

• Instagram: @yourbehaviorgal
• Website: Your Behavior Gal

Takeaways for Listeners:

• Building a successful sleep intervention requires understanding not only behavioral factors but also physiological and environmental components.
• Collaboration with parents and other professionals is essential to creating sleep plans that work for each family.
• Behavior analysts can broaden their scope and contribute to more comprehensive care by specializing in areas like sleep.

Disclaimer:

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All information and products are for educational purposes only.