Cognition Behavior and Mindfulness Clinic

We provide clinical services for children, adolescents and caregivers in areas such as language, cognition, social skills, social-emotional concerns, challenging behaviors and more.

Clinical services include four distinct programs: Language and Cognition Program, Mindfulness and Acceptance Program, Complex Behavior Program, and Caregiver Training and Consultation Program. Services are delivered one-on-one, in group settings and via telehealth.

Language and Cognition Program

The Language and Cognition Program provides applied behavior analysis services to children diagnosed with autism. Services are conducted weekly at the clinic in one-on-one or small group, early academic settings.

Services address areas such as language ability, motor skills, play and leisure skills, social skills, adaptive behavior and cognitive development. Intervention plans are individualized, and services are supervised by board certified behavior analysts.

• Individual assessment on language, cognition and overall functioning
• One-on-one or small group weekly instructions
• Individualized treatment plan tailored to the child’s needs
• Focus on positive behavioral supports

Mindfulness and Acceptance Program

The Mindfulness and Acceptance Program provides social-emotional intervention for children with autism. Mindfulness and acceptance-based intervention helps children learn how to manage their difficult or challenging thoughts and troublesome emotions by practicing mindfulness, discovering their own values in order to engage in meaningful behaviors throughout their daily life. Services aim to promote psychological and behavioral flexibility by teaching children mindfulness skills, how to engage in value-driven behaviors, and how to deal with life’s difficulties. The lessons and discussions presented in sessions are delivered using hands on, fun and engaging activities.

• Available for children ages 6-17 years of age
• Clients participate in two, one-hour sessions per week
• Sessions are one-on-one, small group or delivered via telehealth, depending on the needs of the child

Complex Behavior Program

The Complex Behavior Program addresses the need for evidence-based treatment on persistent, complex and challenging behaviors. The program includes applied behavior analysis interventions, functional analysis, behavior intervention plan implementation and support, and caregiver training.

• One-on-one support
• Accept referrals from other health care providers
• Focus on positive behavioral supports
• Provide supervision by board certified behavior analysts and UIC faculty

Caregiver Training and Consultation Program

The Caregiver Training and Consultation Program is a self-paced online program where caregivers are guided through basic concepts of behavior and how to use them to interact with their child and set up their home for the child’s success. Throughout the program, caregivers will receive one-on-one consultations with board certified behavior analysts. Once enrolled, caregivers will access the online learning modules via the UIC Blackboard platform. Consultation sessions are conducted remotely via telehealth platforms. Common topics in this program include:

• Teaching new skills
• Adjusting to new routines
• Managing challenging behavior
• Special topics addressing toilet training, food selectivity and bedtime routines

Student training

Students who are interested in working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities and in gaining internship and clinical practicum experiences are encouraged to contact the CBM and apply for trainee positions. Students are provided experience and supervision by faculty and doctoral students in one or more of the following areas: implementation of evidence-based treatment in individual or group therapy, case management, assessment administration, report writing, research, interdisciplinary collaboration and more. Limited opportunities for board certified behavior analysts supervision are provided.

Research

One of the primary missions of the CBM is to conduct research on best practices in the field of autism. We collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of researchers to promote evidence-based treatment and improve the quality of life of individuals with autism and their families. CBM clients have the opportunity to voluntarily allow researchers access to their treatment data in order to conduct outcome analysis on various components of their routine intervention procedures.

Our team