Modern Skills: Training Series for Parents and Social Coaches (Teen and Adult)
Equip yourself with evidence-based behavior analysis techniques to create meaningful change in your clients' social development.
As Featured In
Modern Skills has been recognized by leading publications for our innovative approach to social skills development.
What You Will Gain From This Training Series
Our comprehensive training equips you with practical tools to transform social coaching approaches.
Evidence-Based Knowledge
Master behavior analysis principles for effective social coaching.
Practical Strategies
Learn techniques for reinforcement, anxiety reduction, and skill building.
Coaching Expertise
Develop skills to guide parents and work directly with teens/adults.
Professional Growth
Expand your practice with modern, client-centered methodologies.
Expand Your Behavioral Health Practice with Evidence-Based Social Skills Training
Understanding the Environmental Foundations of Behavior
Observe
Identify patterns in behavior through careful observation in various contexts
Analyze
Determine environmental triggers and reinforcers that maintain behaviors
Intervene
Develop targeted strategies based on environmental influences
Observable and Measurable Behaviors
Concrete Descriptions
Replace vague terms like "anxious" with observable actions like "fidgeting" or "avoiding eye contact" to create clarity in assessment.
Measurement Methods
Learn to quantify behaviors through frequency counts, duration recording, and interval sampling techniques for accurate progress tracking.
Socially Significant Targets
Focus on behaviors that meaningfully improve client quality of life, including conversation skills, emotional regulation, and social initiations.
The Four Functions of Behavior
Access
Behaviors that obtain desired items or activities
- Requesting preferred activities
- Joining conversations to access social interaction
Escape
Behaviors that avoid unpleasant situations
- Changing topics during uncomfortable discussions
- Creating distractions to avoid difficult tasks
Attention
Behaviors that gain notice from others
- Telling jokes to make others laugh
- Exaggerating stories to maintain interest
Sensory
Behaviors that feel good internally
- Self-stimulatory behaviors
- Seeking preferred sensory experiences
Positive Reinforcement Strategies
Immediate Recognition
Provide specific praise within 3-5 seconds of desired behavior to strengthen the connection between action and consequence.
Progressive Reinforcement
Gradually increase expectations as skills improve, shifting from continuous to intermittent reinforcement schedules.
Individualized Motivators
Identify personalized reinforcers that truly motivate each client, recognizing that effective rewards vary among individuals.
Natural Social Reinforcers
Teach clients to recognize and value naturally occurring social rewards in everyday interactions.
Problem Behavior Reduction Techniques
Functional Assessment
Identify why the behavior occurs
Proactive Environment Design
Modify triggers that lead to problem behaviors
Replacement Skill Teaching
Develop appropriate alternative behaviors
Reinforcement Implementation
Strengthen positive behaviors consistently
Essential Social Skills Development
Advanced Conversation
Nuanced social interactions
Perspective Taking
Understanding others' viewpoints
Emotional Regulation
Managing feelings appropriately
Nonverbal Communication
Reading and using body language
Basic Social Initiations
Starting appropriate interactions
Anxiety Reduction in Social Situations
Identify Triggers
Help clients recognize specific social situations that consistently trigger anxiety responses.
Recognize Physical Signs
Teach awareness of bodily anxiety signals like increased heart rate or muscle tension before they escalate.
Challenge Thoughts
Implement cognitive restructuring techniques to reframe catastrophic thinking patterns.
Apply Coping Strategies
Practice grounding techniques, deep breathing, and progressive exposure to build confidence.
Integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Defusion
Help clients recognize thoughts as mental events rather than literal truths, creating distance from unhelpful thoughts that hinder social engagement.
Values Clarification
Guide clients to identify what truly matters to them in relationships, using these values as motivation for challenging social situations.
Present Moment Awareness
Teach mindfulness techniques that anchor clients to the present during social interactions rather than getting lost in anxiety.
Committed Action
Develop specific, measurable goals aligned with personal values to maintain progress even when social situations feel difficult.
Transform Your Approach with Modern Skills
Ready to add social skills to your practice? Our comprehensive training series equips you with evidence-based strategies that work.
Expert-Led Training
Learn directly from behavior specialists with years of clinical experience supporting families.
Practical Toolbox
Take home concrete strategies you can implement immediately to see real progress.
Lasting Impact
Build skills that strengthen your child's social development for years to come.
Monthly Live Training Sessions
We provide you the support your practice needs to effectively add Social Skills through our on-demand training and live monthly coaching calls with our founder Christine Benedetti-Middleton, BCBA
Building Social Confidence at Every Age
Our library of 600+ expertly designed programs supports individuals across all developmental stages.
Research-Based BST Model
Clear instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and immediate feedback create lasting skill development.
Comprehensive Skill Areas
From social skills to workplace readiness—we cover essential life domains with age-appropriate scenarios.
Strategic Monthly Rollout
New content matches your caseload needs, growing alongside your clients and practice.
Monthly Rollout: Tailored by Age & Skill Level
Strategic Release Schedule
Our phased content delivery matches your clients' developmental stages.
- Teen/Adult Pre-Requisite Skills
- Pre-K–2nd Grade & Beginner Adult
- 3rd–5th Grade & Intermediate Adult
- Middle School & Advanced Adult
- High School Programs
- College & Beyond (Bonus)
Grows With Your Practice
Build fluency in 1:1 settings before expanding to group coaching.
- Consistent language across programs
- Familiar strategies for staff and clients
- Seamless transition between service models
Designed for Growth
Our library evolves alongside your clients' developing needs.
- Customizable for varied support levels
- Structured for repeated practice
- Supports both individual and group settings
- New programs added monthly
Whether you support young children just starting their social learning journey or adults preparing for work, relationships, or independence—our library equips your team with the tools to make a lasting impact.
Let’s grow together!
Inside The Training
Easy to navigate, step by step program including live coaching calls with Modern Skills Founder.