Behavioral Health Technician Course

Lesson 1 • Professional Ethics and Conduct

Covers ethical principles guiding behavioral health practice. Builds the professional identity needed for safe, respectful client interactions.

Lesson 2 • BHT Scope of Practice

Defines legal and ethical boundaries of the technician role. Prevents scope violations by clarifying what BHTs may and may not do.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory and Documentation Standards

Introduces compliance frameworks and accurate record-keeping practices. Ensures technicians meet documentation standards from day one.

Lesson 4 • Mental Health and Illness Basics

Defines mental health, psychiatric diagnoses, and the biopsychosocial model. Grounds all subsequent clinical learning in shared terminology.

Lesson 1 • Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders

Addresses addiction, withdrawal syndromes, and dual-diagnosis presentations. Prepares technicians to support clients with complex co-occurring conditions.

Lesson 2 • Mood and Depressive Disorders

Examines major depressive disorder, bipolar spectrum, and related conditions. Enables technicians to recognize mood episodes and respond appropriately.

Lesson 3 • Anxiety and Trauma-Related Disorders

Covers generalized anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and phobias. Prepares technicians to support clients experiencing fear-based and trauma-driven symptoms.

Lesson 4 • Personality and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Reviews borderline, antisocial, and other personality disorders alongside ADHD and autism spectrum. Builds empathy and practical interaction strategies.

Lesson 1 • Core Principles of Therapeutic Communication

Introduces active listening, empathy, and non-judgmental stance. Establishes the communication foundation required for all client-facing work.

Lesson 2 • Documentation of Client Interactions

Translates verbal interactions into objective, accurate clinical notes. Reinforces the link between communication quality and documentation integrity.

Lesson 3 • Communicating with Distressed Clients

Covers de-escalation language and tone management during emotional crises. Directly supports safety outcomes in high-stress clinical moments.

Lesson 4 • Cultural Humility in Communication

Addresses cultural, linguistic, and identity factors that shape communication. Ensures technicians adapt their approach to diverse client populations.

Lesson 1 • Reliability and Data Integrity

Covers interobserver agreement and strategies to maintain data accuracy. Ensures the data technicians collect is trustworthy and clinically useful.

Lesson 2 • Graphing and Interpreting Behavioral Data

Teaches line graph construction and visual analysis of behavioral trends. Enables technicians to communicate data findings to clinical supervisors.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Behavioral Observation

Defines observable behavior and distinguishes it from inference. Builds the objectivity required for valid data collection in clinical settings.

Lesson 4 • Data Collection Methods

Covers frequency, duration, interval, and intensity recording systems. Equips technicians to select the right method for each target behavior.

Lesson 1 • Skill Acquisition and Teaching Procedures

Introduces discrete trial training, naturalistic teaching, and task analysis. Equips technicians to teach new skills across functional domains.

Lesson 2 • Prompting and Prompt Fading

Covers prompt hierarchies and systematic fading to build independence. Directly supports skill acquisition goals in behavior support plans.

Lesson 3 • Implementing Behavior Support Plans

Translates written behavior support plans into consistent daily practice. Ensures technicians implement plans with fidelity and document outcomes accurately.

Lesson 4 • Reinforcement Systems and Token Economies

Designs and implements structured reinforcement programs in clinical settings. Builds practical skills for motivating clients toward behavioral goals.

Lesson 1 • Emergency Protocols and Escalation

Covers when and how to activate emergency responses and notify clinical staff. Ensures technicians act decisively and correctly in life-safety situations.

Lesson 2 • Safety Planning with Clients

Guides technicians in collaborating on individualized safety plans. Empowers clients while reducing risk of self-harm and psychiatric emergencies.

Lesson 3 • Environmental and Antecedent Strategies

Modifies settings and routines to reduce crisis likelihood proactively. Shifts focus from reactive response to preventive environmental design.

Lesson 4 • Understanding the Crisis Cycle

Maps the phases of behavioral escalation from trigger to recovery. Enables early intervention before crises reach their peak intensity.

Lesson 1 • Recognizing Medical Emergencies

Covers signs of overdose, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and other emergencies. Ensures technicians respond quickly and correctly to life-threatening events.

Lesson 2 • Psychiatric Medication Classes

Reviews antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anxiolytics. Provides the pharmacological literacy needed to support medication-adherent clients.

Lesson 3 • Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

Identifies common and serious side effects requiring observation and reporting. Protects client safety by ensuring technicians recognize medication-related changes.

Lesson 4 • Vital Signs and Physical Health Monitoring

Teaches measurement of blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature. Connects physical health monitoring to psychiatric medication safety.

Lesson 1 • Certification Pathways and Continuing Education

Maps credentialing options and continuing education requirements for BHTs. Motivates career investment by clarifying advancement opportunities.

Lesson 2 • Supervision and Reflective Practice

Defines the supervisory relationship and how to use feedback for growth. Builds the reflective habits that sustain long-term professional competence.

Lesson 3 • Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration

Covers communication and role clarity within multidisciplinary treatment teams. Ensures technicians contribute effectively to coordinated client care.

Lesson 4 • Burnout Prevention and Self-Care

Identifies compassion fatigue, burnout signs, and evidence-based self-care strategies. Protects technician well-being and sustains quality client care over time.