BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION: History, Critical Features, and Recent Outcome Research

This chapter discusses how, over the past 50 years, behavioral consultation has become foundational to school psychology practice. We briefly describe how behavioral consultation emerged as an alternative to mental health consultation. Specifically, we will discuss how it is a prevention-focused, indirect service delivery model using principles of behavioral theory. We describe the research related to how behavioral consultation introduced a problem-solving process inclusive of four steps (i.e., problem identification, problem analysis, treatment implementation, and evaluation) and that the use of behavioral consultation emphasized measurement of discrete behaviors, implementation of evidence-based interventions, assessment of treatment fidelity, and data-based decision-making. We will also discuss that in application, the purpose of behavioral consultation is to both promote client outcomes as well as build consultee’s skills. The latter emphasizes the importance of implementation, measurement, and promotion; all of which will be described with an emphasis on current research to adopt and sustain intervention delivery within consultation. Finally, we will describe the limitations of behavioral consultation and the pressing need for additional research to integrate the theory and practice of behavioral consultation with the needs of youth from marginalized communities.