BEHAVIOR CONSULTATION - A 5-YEAR EVALUATION OF CONSULTANT AND CLIENT OUTCOMES

We documented the effects of training in behavioral consultation on 17 school psychology graduate students and on client outcomes. Training focused on: (a) principles and mastery of applied behavioral therapy a nd consultation, (b) relationship skills, and (c) systems entry issues . The dependent variables included indices of mastery of the behaviora l consultation process, knowledge and attitude toward behavior modific ation, consumer satisfaction, and treatment outcomes. Each of the cons ultants achieved a predetermined minimum criterion of 80% of behaviora l consultation interview objectives, which generalized to consultation s in school settings. Training resulted in large increases in knowledg e of behavioral consultation, small increments in already good knowled ge of behavior modification, and no changes in attitude toward behavio r modification. Consultations in school settings were initiated for 44 cases with a variety of academic and behavior problems exhibited by p reschool and elementary school children. Treatment goals were attained in 11 cases, partially attained in 19 cases, unattained in 7 cases, a nd 9 cases were terminated prior to treatment implementation. Meta-ana lytic effect sizes were calculable for 23 cases, resulting in an avera ge effect size of .95. Consultees and consultants expressed overall co nsumer satisfaction with the services and with training.