Thanks for joining me in Session 315 of The Behavioral Observations Podcast. In this episode, I spoke with Drs. Gabi Morgan and David Adams to dive deep into trauma-informed behavior analysis. Gabi brings her 30-year journey in the field—from undergrad roots to professorship at Bay Path University—while David shares his evolution from child and family therapy to clinical psychology, with a heavy focus on foster and adoptive parenting. Both guests are passionate about closing the divide between trauma therapy and behavioral strategies, and they credit mentors like Dr. Jeannie Golden for lighting the way.
We kick things off by unpacking what trauma really means. In doing so, as a content warning, please be aware that we do make general references to a variety of traumatic and adverse experiences. Having said that, David walks us through SAMHSA's three-part definition: the event, the experience, and the effects. It's not the event itself that defines trauma—it's the individual's response. He introduces "adverse conditioning experiences" as a behavior-analytic twist on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), spotlighting how negative associations get wired in through conditioning.
From there, we contrast PTSD and complex PTSD. Same core symptoms (intrusive thoughts, avoidance, etc.), but complex PTSD adds prolonged exposure and three extra layers: impaired self-worth, rocky relationships, and emotional dysregulation. Gabi drives home a critical point: folks with developmental disabilities are at higher risk for trauma but often fly under the diagnostic radar. We need to get better at spotting trauma-related behaviors in this population.
Screening, Brain Science, and Practical Strategies
Screening is a big theme. We all agree behavior analysts aren't formally trained in assessment, but we have to be aware of how this is done. Gabi loves the Child Health and Development Institute's Child Trauma Screen (CTS), and the Massachusetts Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (Mass CANS) tool.
David then nerds out on the neurobiology: trauma affects the amygdala (hypervigilance), hippocampus (memory glitches), hypothalamus (stress gone haywire), and frontal lobe (decision-making on the fritz). Enter the "amygdala hijack"—when fear short-circuits rational thought. Bottom line? Kids in fight-or-flight aren't in a teachable moment. Safety and calm have to come first.
We close the show with actionable takeaways: risk-benefit analyses for every intervention (especially with histories of food neglect), "kind extinction" (empathy + withholding reinforcers), and the six pillars of trauma-informed care (safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, cultural competence). TIC isn't a "hyphenated" ABA—it's the whole framework.
Advice for new BCBAs? Seek trauma training, question "business as usual," and be the stable adult in a kid's chaotic world. Empathy, creativity, and reducing fear are your superpowers.
Additional Resources
- Toward Trauma-Informed Applications of Behavior Analysis (Rajaraman, et al., 2021)
- Inside JABA 10 with Drs. Jenn Austin and Adithyan Rajaraman
- Dr. Camille Kolu's BOP episode on Buffers (a must listen!)
- 4th Annual Bay Path University Trauma-Informed Practice and ABA Conference
- David's book: Trauma-Informed Foster and Adoptive Parenting
- SAFE-T Assessment Training from Cusp Emergence University
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- The inaugural ABA CON CEU cruise, which launches on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas from February 16–20, 2026. Learn more about this cruise here.
- The 2026 Stone Soup Conference! This is one of the best values in the online conference space. I'm actually going to be one of the speakers at this year's event, along with a great cast of other characters you're probably familiar with. Save on your registration by using promo code PODCAST26!
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- The 2026 Verbal Behavior Conference! Taking place March 26–27, 2026, in Austin, Texas, or livestream and on-demand on BehaviorLive. Presenters will include Drs. Mark Sundberg, Patrick McGreevy, Caio Miguel, Alice Shillingsburg, Sarah Frampton, Andresa De Souza, and Danielle LaFrance will share how Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior can guide the assessment and treatment of generative learning challenges in children with autism and other developmental disabilities. And don’t miss the special pre-conference workshop on Wednesday, March 25. The discounted early-bird registration price is only available for a limited time, so get your ticket right away!