What Do Behavior Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for behavior specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what behavior specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Behavior Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about behavior specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Behavior Specialists diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
Popular Job Titles For Behavior Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Behavior Specialists
- Behavioral Health Clinicians
- Therapists
- Family Services Counselors
- Behavior Therapists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Military and Family Life Counselors
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
- Clinical Therapists
- Behavioral Therapists
- Behavior Support Specialists
- Marriage and Family Therapists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for behavior specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Behavior Specialists
Behavior Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Individual and Family Services: 32.8%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 30.8%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 14.7%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 6.7%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 3.2%
- Other Residential Care Facilities: 1.5%
- Other: 10.3%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of behavior specialists can be found working in the Individual and Family Services sector. In 2022, about 32.8% of all jobs for behavior specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Offices of Other Health Practitioners (30.8%), Outpatient Care Centers (14.7%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (6.7%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (3.2%) and Other Residential Care Facilities (1.5%).
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What Do Behavior Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what behavior specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work behavior specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that behavior specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for behavior specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Behavior Specialists
Based on 40,094 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Behavior Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 14,571 | 36% |
| Social Work | 13,762 | 34% |
| Mental Health | 13,610 | 34% |
| Treatment Planning | 12,241 | 31% |
| Behavioral Health | 12,124 | 30% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Behavior Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 10,970 | 27% |
| Teaching | 4,896 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 4,887 | 12% |
| Planning | 4,749 | 12% |
| Presentations | 4,428 | 11% |
Based on 40,094 job postings related to behavior specialists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 36% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, mental health, treatment planning, behavioral health and family therapy were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for behavior specialists, followed by teaching, coordinating, planning, presentations and multilingualism.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 14,571 | 36% |
| Social Work | 13,762 | 34% |
| Mental Health | 13,610 | 34% |
| Treatment Planning | 12,241 | 31% |
| Behavioral Health | 12,124 | 30% |
| Family Therapy | 9,721 | 24% |
| Crisis Intervention | 5,717 | 14% |
| Case Management | 5,398 | 13% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 4,855 | 12% |
| Psychiatry | 4,805 | 12% |
| Behaviour Therapy | 4,692 | 12% |
| Working With Children | 4,397 | 11% |
| Human Services | 3,903 | 10% |
| Group Therapy | 3,798 | 9% |
| Psychotherapy | 3,702 | 9% |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 3,616 | 9% |
| Clinical Experience | 3,180 | 8% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 3,176 | 8% |
| Patient Treatment | 3,159 | 8% |
| Special Education | 3,108 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 10,970 | 27% |
| Teaching | 4,896 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 4,887 | 12% |
| Planning | 4,749 | 12% |
| Presentations | 4,428 | 11% |
| Multilingualism | 4,146 | 10% |
| Management | 4,043 | 10% |
| Customer Service | 3,492 | 9% |
| Good Driving Record | 3,472 | 9% |
| Professionalism | 3,436 | 9% |
| Relationship Building | 3,291 | 8% |
| Writing | 3,259 | 8% |
| Leadership | 3,221 | 8% |
| English Language | 3,208 | 8% |
| Detail Oriented | 3,172 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 3,043 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,859 | 7% |
| Advocacy | 2,632 | 7% |
| Empathy | 2,533 | 6% |
| Teamwork | 2,498 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Behavior Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Specialists | 10,439 | 9.8% |
| Behavioral Health Clinicians | 9,702 | 9.1% |
| Therapists | 12,121 | 11.4% |
| Family Services Counselors | 3,957 | 3.7% |
| Behavior Therapists | 7,692 | 7.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was behavior specialists, with 3,791 unique job postings. Behavioral health clinicians were second, with 2,748 postings, followed by therapists, family services counselors and behavior therapists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to behavior specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Specialists | 10,439 | 9.8% |
| Behavioral Health Clinicians | 9,702 | 9.1% |
| Therapists | 12,121 | 11.4% |
| Family Services Counselors | 3,957 | 3.7% |
| Behavior Therapists | 7,692 | 7.2% |
| Respiratory Therapists | 8,115 | 7.6% |
| Military and Family Life Counselors | 6,568 | 6.2% |
| Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists | 8,708 | 8.2% |
| Clinical Therapists | 8,324 | 7.8% |
| Behavioral Therapists | 3,796 | 3.6% |
| Behavior Support Specialists | 2,028 | 1.9% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | 3,423 | 3.2% |
| Licensed Therapists | 4,658 | 4.4% |
| Autism Behavioral Therapists | 2,173 | 2% |
| Family Therapists | 2,157 | 2% |
| Behavior Technicians/ABA Therapists | 5,370 | 5% |
| Behavior Intervention Specialists | 1,565 | 1.5% |
| Licensed Clinical Therapists | 2,434 | 2.3% |
| Licensed Behavioral Health Clinicians | 1,281 | 1.2% |
| Child and Family Therapists | 2,094 | 2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for behavior specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for behavior specialists.
How much do behavior specialists make?
Behavior Specialists: How do you become one?
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