At TJ Swift House we strongly believe in following our guiding principles every single day. Four of our most important principles stem from one common strategy: positive behavior support. Positive behavior support, also known as PBS, is a set of research-based strategies used to increase quality of life and decrease problem behavior by teaching new skills and making changes in a person’s environment. PBS can be used in nearly every aspect of life to promote positive change and behavior on a day to day basis.
There are four main principles that establish positive behavior support.They are as follows:
- We must know the person we are supporting and how they communicate.
- We must know the person’s preferences and dreams.
- We must allow people to learn and do things to the best of their abilities.
- We must be aware of our emotional state.
Fully understanding these fundamental guidelines of PBS is crucial in executing the strategy in every day life. 70% of communication is nonverbal, so it’s important to understand that all behavior is communication. Observing body language is a great tool when it comes to understanding someone’s behavior and communication. Behaviors are always an attempt to obtain something or get away from something. Closely observing body language and facial expressions is a great place to start when it comes to discerning what an individual may be feeling at any given moment.
There are many factors that promote positive behavior, such as providing choices, offering praise, changing environments, redirection, and avoiding trigger words. PBS is the single most important technique we can implement as an agency to improve the quality of every single individual’s life.
Stay tuned for more detailed information and examples pertaining to positive behavior support.
