FCT (Functional Communication Training) is a behavior intervention strategy that involves teaching individuals an appropriate and effective communication response to replace maladaptive behaviors that serve the same function. The goal of FCT is to give the individual a functional way to communicate their needs or wants, thereby reducing the likelihood of problematic behaviors that may have been previously used to achieve the same result.
Example
A child frequently screams when they want help opening a toy. The therapist uses FCT by teaching the child to ask for help verbally or using a picture card instead of screaming. Each time the child asks for help appropriately, they receive the assistance they need (reinforcementReinforcement is a fundamental concept in Applied Behavior A...). Over time, the child learns that asking for help is a more effective way to get their needs met, and the screaming behavior decreases.