Southern Behavioral Group was founded by behavior analysts who believe in applying the scientific principles of behavior change to improving the lives of children with special needs.

Southern Behavioral Group combines years of experience addressing behavior change using educational experiences gained in the fields of Behavior Analysis and Applied Behavior Analysis.

Southern Behavioral Group improves the lives of children of all ages. We serve children in head start centers, day care facilities, pre-k programs, and all school settings.

Southern Behavioral Group serves children with Autism, Aspergers, and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, and children of typical development.

Southern Behavioral Group addresses severe and disruptive challenging behaviors, social skills, language development, verbal behavior, adaptive skills, functional skills, academic deficits, classroom behavior management, teacher training and paraprofessional training. Further, we implement improved instructional methods for children with autism, Discrete Trials Training, and we design and manage special education classrooms in collaboration with schools.

Southern Behavioral Group provides services in homes, schools, and community settings. We serve at the point of need. We come to you. We currently serve Georgia , Alabama , Tennessee, and Northern Florida .

FAQs

Do you accept insurance or Medicaid?
We are preferred insurance providers of Tri-Care Insurance which is a predominant insurance company for the military families we serve. At the present time, we are not service providers with any other insurance company. We do not accept Medicaid.

What are the costs?
Costs vary by the specific assessment or service provided, by the educational level of consultant (masters or doctoral), and by the length of service as we generally consult by the hour. Many different types of contracts are available and costs of services decrease if expanded contracts are developed.

What is the BCBA designation?
The BCBA designation is a National Board Certification in Behavior Analysis. It is an abbreviation that stands for "Board Certified Behavior Analyst." To sit for the BCBA exam, one must have educational, practical, and experiential requirements typically only found with those formally trained in their graduate work to become behavior analysts. More specific information can be found at the web site of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board: www.bacb.com

What is ABA therapy?
" ABA therapy" is a term used to describe myriad procedures that are based on the tenants of applied behavior analysis. These can include incidental teaching, naturalistic teaching, shadowing, facilitation, discrete trials training, and other instructional methods that use consistent, systematic, and frequent prompt and consequences to teach new skills. "ABA Therapy" is not synonymous with any one procedure even though it is commonly, but erroneously, described as such in the autism community. The procedures that collectively make up what is known as " ABA therapy" have been very well research for more than 50 years. There is NO OTHER therapy or approach that even comes close to demonstrating the positive effects seen in ABA.

What is discrete trials therapy/training/teaching?
Discrete Trials Training is an instructional method that presents a salient cue to a child that communicates to the child which behavior to demonstrate. Following the cue, the child is given an opportunity to respond and when correct responses are given, that behavior is reinforced. When an incorrect or no response is given, a teaching sequence is used to teach the skill. There are literally hundreds of procedural variations within discrete trials. However, the aspects that are present across procedural variations include the use of a consistent and clear cue, time to respond, a teaching sequence, the use of reinforcement, and the use of frequent learning and teaching opportunities.

Do you use DIR, Floortime, SI, RDI,?
No. If there were empirical research studies supporting their use, they would be therapies to consider. Until that time, we'll stick to what we know can be demonstrated empirically and under the highest level of scrutiny afforded to the field.