Author and Trainer: Olga Shapovalova, M.S., BCBA
This training is part of the Parent Academy. You can register through the Academy website: http://www.parent-academy.com/svyazatsya-s-nami/ Please indicate which training you’d like to register for.
Who Should Attend:
This training is for parents who often find themselves saying: “I’m exhausted.” “I just can’t handle it anymore.” “There’s too much going on.” “I never have time.” “I give everything to my child and have nothing left for myself.” If you’ve started worrying about your emotional state, if it feels like you’re no longer living a full life — this training is for you. You’ll learn how ABA can help you continue being a parent — an active helper and teacher for your child. Each participant will come with their own concern and define a personal goal. You’ll learn and try practical techniques to improve your emotional well-being. If four sessions aren’t enough, you can contact me to schedule additional meetings.
How the Training Works
Each group meets four times online. Each session lasts 1.5 hours, once a week. Before the first session, you’ll receive short questionnaires to complete. You may send your answers to us, but it’s optional. During sessions, I’ll ask questions that may be difficult to answer right away — and you never have to share more than you want to. Everything is voluntary. Homework is optional too — you can send it if you’d like personal feedback. Each session starts with a short talk explaining why we use certain exercises, followed by practice. It’s best if you can be in a quiet room where you won’t be interrupted for 1.5 hours. All exercises are done together with the group, followed by a short reflection and discussion.
Training cost: $85
Training Overview
Session 1: Getting to Know Behavior and Your Inner World
We’ll review what behavior is and the main behavioral principles. This helps us understand that our thoughts are also behavior, governed by the same principals. We’ll start with external behavior, then move to internal. We’ll explore why we experience worry, frustration, and other negative emotions. Each participant will reflect on this in their own way.
Session 2: Behavior Never Happens “Just Because”
ABA teaches us that all behavior has a purpose. It happens in certain conditions to achieve specific outcomes. The same applies to our thoughts and feelings — they occur for a reason, in a certain context. We learn to think and feel in particular ways through our environment. We’ll talk about avoidance behaviors — the ones that help us escape unpleasant situations — and see them as learned responses.
Session 3: Setting Personal Goals and Choosing Individual Techniques
To make progress, it’s important to know what you’re working on. We’ll define clear goals: what we want to change, where we want to go, and how quickly we want results. You’ll learn to observe your thoughts and behaviors to define your personal task. We’ll also discuss finding your own reinforcers — the rewarding outcomes that matter most in your life. These will be unique for everyone. Once your personal goal and reinforcers are clear, we’ll find the techniques that will help you reach your goal most effectively.
Session 4: How to Keep Moving Toward Your Goal
When we don’t measure progress, we can mistake big changes for small ones — or small ones for big. From the very first session, you’ll record observations about yourself using simple forms. In the fourth session, participants can share their results if they wish. We’ll review the techniques introduced earlier and discuss how they can be adapted for each person. It’s always interesting to see what changes participants make and why. What works for one person may not work for another — and that’s perfectly okay.
I look forward to seeing you at the training!
To register, email olga@parent-academy.com with the subject line: ACT for Parents
