2026-06-25 at 140PM ET  • Professional Freedom

Professional Freedom: Owning your practice, Voice and Ethics as a Behavior Analyst

Nyetta Abernathy, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA • 2 ETHICS, 2 IBAO

This continuing education workshop is designed for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) interested in becoming independent practitioners or those newly navigating independent practice. While independent practice offers opportunities for autonomy and innovation, access to knowledge about business development, professional networks, and mentorship has historically been unevenly distributed within the field. Black Behavior Analysts often navigate additional barriers, including limited mentorship, systemic inequities, and a lack of transparency about pathways to independent practice.

This workshop examines the practical, ethical, and professional considerations involved in independent behavior analysis through both a professional and black cultural lens. Participants will explore business structures, ethical decision-making, scope of competence, sustainability, and professional identity outside of large agency systems while considering how systemic barriers and cultural context influence professional decision-making.

In this workshop we will discuss ethical responsibility, informed consent, culturally responsive and client-centered service delivery, risk management, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategies for building sustainable practices and supportive professional communities. The session highlights the importance of increasing access to knowledge and mentorship so behavior analysts, particularly Black practitioners, can make informed decisions that align with their values, while maintaining compliance with BACB ethical standards.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Define independent behavior analysis and distinguish it from agency-based and contract service models within the context of access, mentorship, and culturally historical barriers in the field for Black behavior analysts.
• Identify ethical responsibilities and risks unique to black independent practice, including considerations related to transparency, power dynamics, and equitable access to services.
• Describe foundational business and legal considerations for independent practitioners, including practice structures, liability insurance, and documentation requirements.
• Apply relevant BACB Ethics Code standards to common independent practice scenarios, including situations involving cultural humility, informed consent, and community-based service delivery.
• Recognize the importance of professional boundaries, scope of competence, and mentorship, particularly for practitioners navigating spaces where formal guidance has historically been limited.
• Develop strategies for sustainability and professional support, including community building, mentorship networks, and burnout prevention for black independent practitioners.