Dr. Sarah Pastrana, PhD, BCBA-D

Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Doctoral (BCBA-D)

 

Dr. Sarah Pastrana is doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and is an Associate with Semiahmoo Behaviour Analysts, Inc. She has worked and studied in the field of applied behaviour analysis since 2002, providing services to individuals with autism and their families in home, school, and community settings. Sarah obtained her Master of Science in ABA at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, and her PhD in Special Education at the University of British Columbia. She holds Education Level 2 certification in Practical Functional Assessment and Skills-Based Treatment of severe problem behaviour. Sarah is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia, primarily instructing Masters and Doctoral students in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities program. She provides supervision to individuals seeking certification in behaviour analysis, and serves as the Director of Supervision for SBAI. Sarah has presented research at regional and international conferences and contributes to the development of resources for AIDE Canada. Sarah is active in various behaviour analytic organizations and served as a board member for the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) from 2012-2024, most recently holding the position of President.

Click here to view the Supervision Workshop Series presented Dr. Sarah Pastrana, eligible for 3.5 Continuing Education units: https://semiahmoobehaviouranalysts.ca/supervision-series/

Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Pastrana, S. J., Frewing, T. M., Grow, L. L., Nosik, M. R., Turner, M., & Carr, J. E. (2016). Frequently assigned readings in behavior analysis graduate training programs. Behavior Analysis in Practice.
  • Frewing, T. M., Rapp, J. T., & Pastrana, S. J. (2015). Using conditional percentages during free-operant stimulus preference assessments to predict the effects of preferred items on stereotypy: Preliminaryfindings. Behavior Modification, 39, 740-765.
  • Frewing, T. M., Tanner, A., Bonner, A. C., Baxter, S., & Pastrana, S. J. (2015). The immediate and subsequent effects of response interruption and redirection on vocal stereotypy. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 16, 351-361.
  • Pastrana, S., Rapp, J., & Frewing, T. (2013). Immediate and subsequent effects of response interruption and redirection on targeted and untargeted forms of stereotypy. Behavior Modification, 37, 591-610.

Professional Writing

Professional Consulting Services  – March 2021 to Present

  • Autism & Intellectual Disabilities Knowledge Exchange Network (AIDE Canada).
  • AIDE Canada is an organization that provides information and tools about autism and intellectual disabilities and is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.  In my role as a contracted professional consultant, I develop resources and written materials for publication on the AIDE Canada website, and review written materials developed by other professionals.

Presentations

Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations

  • Pastrana, S. J., Frewing, T. M., & Lanovaz, M. (2024, March). Professional employment survey of behaviour analysis practitioners in Canada.Traditional paper presented at the 16th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis, Vancouver, Canada.
  • Mumford, L., Frewing, T. M., Gunn, T., Smith, K., & Pastrana, S. J. (2024, March). Supervision in schools: Practical ways to model compassionate care. Panel discussion presented at the 16th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis, Vancouver, Canada.
  • Mirenda, P., Elfert, E., Gunn, T., Pastrana, S., & Stock, R. (2023, March). What can we do about it?”: A solutions-focused conversation. Panel discussion presented at the 15th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis, Vancouver, Canada.
  • Pastrana, S. J. (2020, March). Discussant, poster session. 12th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis, Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • Pastrana, S. J., Grow, L. L., & Frewing, T. M. (2019, March). A comparison of response interruption and redirection and operant discrimination training to establish vocal stimuli as reinforcers. In T. Frewing’s (Chair) Recent advances in skill acquisition for children with autism. Symposium presented at the 11th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis, Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • Pastrana, S. J., & Grow, L. L. (2018, May). A comparison of response interruption and redirection and operant discrimination training to establish vocal stimuli as reinforcers. In S. Pastrana’s (Chair), Recent advances in teaching social and communication skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Symposium presented at the 44th annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, San Diego, California.
  • Atkinson, J., & Pastrana, S. (2018, March). Using heart rate to regulate exercise intensity during cardiovascular fitness training. Poster presented at the 10th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis, Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • Pastrana, S. J., Grow, L. L., & Frewing, T. M. (2017, May). Identifying preferred interactions using a structured interview and stimulus preference assessment. In S. Yeon’s (Chair), Technological advances in stimulus preference assessments in individuals with autism. Symposium presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Denver, Colorado.
  • Pastrana, S. J., Grow, L. L., & Frewing, T. M. (2017, March).  Identifying preferred interactions using a structured interview and stimulus preference assessment. In S. Pastrana’s (Chair), Recent advances in assessment and intervention for individuals with autism. Symposium presented at the 9th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Pastrana, S. J., Grow, L. L., & Frewing, T. M. (2017, February).  Identifying preferred interactions using a structured interview and stimulus preference assessment. In L. Grow’s (Chair), Recent advances in preference assessment methodology. Symposium presented at the 35th annual conference of the California Association for Behavior Analysis, Anaheim, CA.
  • Pastrana, S. J., Frewing, T. M., Grow, L. L., Nosik, M. R., Turner, M. D., & Carr, J. E. (2016, May). Essential readings in behavior analysis: A content analysis from universities with approved BACB course sequences. In S. Pastrana’s (Chair), Recent advances in higher education settings. Symposium presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Chicago, IL.
  • Pastrana, S., DeLisser, K., & Reiman, B. (2016, March). Ethics panel: Adult residential services. Paper presented at the 8th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Pastrana, S., & Eadon, C. (2016, March). Use of a progressive ratio schedule to assess potential reinforcers. Paper presented at the 8th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Pastrana, S. (2014, May). The effects of a systematic desensitization procedure on arachnophobia. Poster presented at the 40th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International in Chicago, Il, USA.
  • Pastrana, S., Crawford, S., & Baxter, S. (2014, May). Using public posting to improve staff data completion. Poster presented at the 40th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International in Chicago, Il, USA.
  • Pastrana, S., Allen, K., Broto, J., Frewing, T., Lang, H., & White, S. (2014, March). Behaviour change in behaviour analysts: Three self-management strategies. Symposium presented at the 6th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Frewing, T., Baxter, S., Pastrana, S., Boiselle, S., Tanner, A., Bonner, A. & White, S. (2014, March). The use of stimulus control procedures in combination with differential reinforcement or response interruption and redirection of vocal and motor stereotypy. Symposium presented at the 6th annual conference of the British Columbia Association of Behaviour Analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Crawford, S., Pastrana, S., & Baxter, S. (2014, March). Using public posting to improve staff data completion. Poster presented at the 6th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • Drover, R., & Pastrana, S. (2014, March). Replacing inappropriate mands for social attention by teaching functionally equivalent alternative responses. Poster presented at the 6th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • Eadon, C., & Pastrana, S. (2013, March). Using the iPad application ‘Injini’ to teach generalization of tracing skills. Poster presented at the 5th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis.
  • Lang, H., Pastrana, S., & Baxter, S. (2013, March). Using the multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessment and sequential food presentation to increase consumption of non-preferred foods. Miniseminar presented to the 5th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis.
  • Pastrana, S., Rapp, J., & Frewing, T. (2012, May). Immediate and subsequent effects of response interruption and redirection on targeted and untargeted forms of stereotypy. Poster presented at the 38th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International.
  • Lang, H., Pastrana, S., & Baxter, S. (2012, March). Using a yoked contingency observational learning protocol to teach new skills. Poster presented at the 4th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis.
  • Pastrana, S. Frewing, T., & Rapp, J. (2012, March). Recent research in the assessment and treatment of stereotypy. Miniseminar presented to the 4th annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis.
  • Parrott, L., Pastrana, S., & Baxter, S. (2011, March). Expanding a student’s community of reinforcers through a conditioning/pairing procedure: Looking at books. Poster presented at the 3rd annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis.
  • Baxter, S., & Pastrana, S. (2011, March). Learning to listen: Listener emersion, two case studies. Miniseminar presented to the 3rd annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis.
  • Baxter, S., & Pastrana, S. (2010, June). Multiple exemplar instruction: Increasing verbal repertoires. Miniseminar presented to the 2nd annual conference of the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis.

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