This week, Paola, Brittanny, and Leslie sit down with Board Certified Behavior Analyst Patricia (Tricia) Lund to unpack one of the most avoided yet deeply human topics- death, dying, and grief. Together, they explore how people experience grief, why traditional behavior plans often miss the mark, and how clinicians and caregivers can respond with compassion instead of compliance. From understanding the five concepts of death to recognizing secondary losses and writing grief-informed treatment plans, this conversation blends heart and science to help BCBAs, therapists, and families create safer, more humane spaces for people navigating loss.  Whether you’re a clinician, educator, or family member, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can support, not suppress, grieving behaviors.

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After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Explain how grief can serve as a setting event impacting behavior and motivation.
• Identify strategies for creating grief-informed Functional Behavior Assessments and treatment plans.
• Differentiate between grief-informed and trauma-informed frameworks in ABA.

References: 

Chow, E., Jahoda, A., & Hastings, R. P. (2017). Do men and women with intellectual disabilities understand death? Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30(6), 1039–1050. 

Kubler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying. Collier Books/Macmillan Publishing Co.McEvoy, J., & Clare, I. (2020). From theory to reality: Unraveling the development of a mature death concept. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 64(4), 289–302. 

Mitchell, M. B., & Schuurman, D. L. (2020). Becoming grief-informed: A call to action. Dougy Center: National Grief Center for Children & Families. https://www.dougy.org/assets/uploads/Becoming-Grief-Informed_A-Call-to-Action.pdf

O’Riordan, C., McEvoy, J., & Jahoda, A. (2024). Adapting complicated grief therapy for people with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37(2), 245–260.

Patricia Lund is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with 10+ years of experience serving adolescents and adults in residential and community settings. She’s a Certified Sexuality Educator, Certified Trauma Professional, and Special Education Teacher currently completing coursework in Thanatology—the scientific study of death, dying, and grief. Her mission is to make ABA more compassionate, culturally sensitive, and grief-informed.

Learn more about Tricia’s CEUs at BehaviorLive.com  

Tricia's Consultation Services at Summit Behavior Consulting