Psychological Safety in ABA: How Leaders Build Trust, Inclusion, and Innovation

In this episode of EveryDay ABA, Paola (BCBA) and Brittanny (RBT) sit down with Dr. Kristyn Peterson, BCBA and OBM expert, to unpack psychological safety- what it really means, why it's often misunderstood, and how behavior analysts can use evidence-based strategies to promote it in the workplace. From Amy Edmondson’s foundational research to the 4 Stages of Psychological Safety by Timothy Clark, this episode bridges behavioral science with leadership, inclusion, and culture-building. If you’ve ever wondered how to give feedback, create safer work environments, or move from clinical to organizational work, this episode is for you.

 

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

• Define psychological safety and distinguish it from related but distinct concepts such as being “nice” or avoiding conflict in the workplace.
• Compare and contrast trauma-informed, person-centered, and psychologically safe supervision practices in applied settings.
• Describe the four stages of psychological safety as outlined by Timothy Clark.
• Analyze how psychological safety supports or hinders performance feedback, innovation, and mission alignment in ABA organizations.

 

References:

Clark, T. R. (2020). The 4 stages of psychological safety: Defining the path to inclusion and innovation. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Edmondson, A. C. (2019). The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. Wiley.

Helbig, K., & Norman, M. (2023). The psychological safety playbook: Lead more powerfully by being more human. Page Two Books.

Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384–399. 

 

👤 Guest Expert:

Dr. Kristyn Peterson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, CWP

Kristyn is a Behavior Analyst, a former clinical director, and current OBMer and multi-entrepreneur. Throughout her career she is always looking for ways she can use the science of behavior to make a macro-level impact, which drove her interest in behavioral systems analysis, process improvement, and psychological safety. In addition to providing continuing education for BCBAs, she co-owns a technology consulting company Zendicoded, volunteers as a subject matter expert for NASQN, and supports PhD and master's students in their dissertations and theses. She's passionate about helping people create kinder, safer workplaces. 

 

Find her on Instagram: @aba_in_the_wild  OR  LinkedIn 

Join her courses: 

LSS White Belt (July) 

Psychological Safety 4-Week Intensive