RFT SIG
RFT SIGRelational Frame Theory (RFT) Special Interest Group
Values and Mission: The members of this group value generous and respectful collaboration in the spirit of contributing to a diverse, inclusive community. We hope for our community to be a nurturing one, aligned with a value of kindness, and offering support, empowerment, friendship, playful fun, responsibility, and exploration. We also hope to support members of our community to take on ambitious, creative, and progressive projects that build competency, disseminate RFT, and have an impact on the field and on human affairs, all while supporting cross-cultural and international research efforts across labs.
Affiliated 2022
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Activities
The RFT SIG holds regular community networking meetings as well as reading group discussions. The RFT SIG developed "Top 10" lists of research articles for beginning and advanced learning about RFT research. We are in the process of developing further projects that are aligned with our mission as well as developing the guidelines for SIG operation. SIG members are encouraged to join the RFT Listserv.
RFT SIG Steering Committee
The RFT SIG Steering Committee is comprised of three positions, ultimately each holding three-year terms. These positions are as follows:
Patrick Smith (3 year term ending August 2026): Community Engagement Lead. This role involves efforts directed toward co-creating and maintaining an inclusive and nurturing community that fosters positive growth among RFTers within and beyond ACBS. Projects aligned with this role include (i) hosting regular community-based events, (ii) establishing channels of communication between RFTers, and (iii) supporting members in exploring and extending beyond ACBS. This role exists to co-create spaces for members to discuss their work, share resources, and collaboratively problem-solve, regardless of their familiarity and fluency with RFT. Patrick will be inviting everyone in the SIG to support these efforts as best they can and shape the space into one that best serves all its members. Please feel free to reach out to Patrick at [email protected] with ideas and feedback on community engagement activities.
Sebastian Garcia-Zambrano (3 year term ending August 2027): Resource Development and Research Dissemination Lead. This role involves engaging the community in creating and sharing resources and platforms to encourage the consumption and production of RFT research. As a foundational theory underlying third-wave behavioral therapy and training approaches, it is essential that members have the opportunity to access the historic and ongoing research in a safe space and have the resources to conduct this research if desired. Projects that will occur within this role are (i) developing a list of key papers to guide novice and advanced consumers, (ii) supporting the development of research information and protocols, and (iii) assisting members to connect with researchers in the field to support both research and practice. Each of these projects will actively involve interested SIG members. Please feel free to reach out to Sebastian at [email protected] with ideas and feedback on resource development and research dissemination activities.
Elle Kirsten (3 year term ending August 2028): Training, Mentoring and Professional Development Lead. This role is responsible for supporting members in building competency in research and application of RFT, by maintaining and increasing the accessibility and diversity of RFT training materials, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. We will be reaching out to the SIG community for assistance in projects such as increasing the accessibility of training materials, developing peer mentoring opportunities, and connecting students with potential research committee members and advisers, as well as creating an RFT track at World Conferences. Please feel free to reach out to Elle at [email protected] with ideas and feedback on training, mentoring, and professional development activities.
Past RFT SIG Steering Committee Members
- Alison Stapleton, Community Engagement Lead (2022-2024)
- Jordan Belisle, Resource Development and Research Dissemination Lead (2022-2024)
- Siri Ming, Training, Mentoring and Professional Development Lead (2022-2025)
Member-Led Initiative: Dissemination and Implementation of RFT in Behavior Analysis
Member-Led Initiative: Dissemination and Implementation of RFT in Behavior AnalysisAs part of the RFT SIG Steering Committee’s ongoing efforts to support member-led initiatives, we are excited to introduce the "Dissemination and Implementation of RFT in Behavior Analysis" series. This monthly discussion aims to advance the integration of relational frame theory (RFT) into behavior analytic practice. Each session will feature guest speakers who will share insights and strategies for ensuring the effective dissemination and implementation of RFT in behavior analysis settings. Together, we will take actionable steps to enhance the use of RFT in clinical, educational, and organizational contexts. Let’s collaborate to bring RFT to the forefront of behavior analysis!
- RFT in ABA: Acceptability and Perspectives of Practicing BCBAs – Dr. Rachel Enoch, held 11/14/2024 (Transcript included below).
- Perceptions, Acceptability, and Capacity for Derived Stimulus Relations - Albert Malkin, held 12/9/2024
- Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACTr) in Behavior Analysis - Amanda Kelly, Michelle Kelly & Amanda Rades, held 1/29/2025
- Exploring Verbal Behavior and Relational Frame Theory - Dr. Siri Ming, held 2/18/2025
- Unlocking the Power of RFT: A Practical Guide
- Relational Frame Theory: Applications Within Schools and Educational Contexts - Sarah Cassidy & Duncan Gillard, held 5/22/2025
- How Did We Get Here? The Journey to the Undermining Pliance Parallel Process Model - Katie Palmer & John Powell, held 06/12/2025
- Intersecting Pathways: A Discussion on Verbal Behavior Development Theory and RFT - Maithri Sivaraman, held 8/14/2025
- Learning from Implementation Science - Dr. Rogério Pinto, held 9/17/2025
Findings from “A Systematic Review of Derived Relational Responding Beyond Coordination in Individuals with Autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities” - Dr. Christopher Tullis, held 10/13/2025
Effective Training and Delivery of ACT and RFT: Dissemination and Implementation Issues - Dr. Robyn Walser, held 12/2/2025
RFT SIG Online Events April 2023 - March 2024
RFT SIG Online Events April 2023 - March 2024Types of Event
Reading Group - Attendees will be invited to read an RFT journal article and come together to learn and share their thoughts. When possible, corresponding authors of selected articles will attend and present a brief overview of their paper.
Discussion Group - These sessions will involve a research presentation delivered by an RFTer/group that showcases ongoing advances, developments, and innovations in the field, followed by optional breakout rooms and large-group discussions in the main room.
Session 10 - Discussion Group 5 with a presentation from Dr. Ian Hussey
This session was held 21-Feb 2024. Attendees discussed the IRAP (implicit relational assessment procedure) including current data-based critiques of the method and findings. A recording of the session can be viewed here.
Session 9 - Discussion Group 4 with a presentation from Dr. Freddy Jackson Brown and collaborators
This session was held on 17-Jan 2024 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed artificial intelligence and relational frame theory. Here are links to Tovar et al. (2023) and Edwards et al. (2022).
Session 8 - Reading Group 5 with a presentation from Dr. Teresa Mulhern
This session was held on 13-Dec 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Facilitating relational framing of classification in young children". Slide deck available here.
Session 7 - Reading Group 4 with a presentation from Dr. Colin Harte
This session was held on 15-Nov 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Analyses of relational coherence and rule-following: Consistent liars are preferred over occasional truth tellers". Slide deck available here.
Session 6 - Discussion Group 3 with a presentation from Dr. Dana Paliliunas
This session was held on 18-Oct 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed RFT analyses of the values component of the hexaflex model of psychological flexibility.
Session 5 - Discussion Group 2 with a presentation from Dr. Francisco Ruiz Jiménez
This session was held on 27-Sep 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed RFT analyses of the self-as-context component of the hexaflex model of psychological flexibility. Note, there are some sound quality issues in the recording. So, we recommend using headphones to view the recording.
Session 4 - Reading Group 3 with a presentation from Dr. Elle Kirsten
This session was held on 16-Aug 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Assessing the Development of Relational Framing in Young Children".
Session 3 - Reading Group 2 with a presentation from Dr. Jordan Belisle
This session was held on 21-Jun 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Coherence and the merging of relational classes in self-organizing networks: Extending Relational Density Theory".
Session 2 - Discussion Group 1 with a presentation from Dr. Ian Tyndall
This session was held on 17-May 2023 and no recording is available. Attendees discussed RFT analyses of the defusion component of the hexaflex model of psychological flexibility.
Session 1 - Reading Group 1 with a presentation from Dr. Jamie Cummins
This session was held on 19-Apr 2023 and no recording is available. Attendees discussed "On the structure of relational responding".
Transparency
Speakers/topics have been selected based on SIG member requests and what we (Alison Stapleton & Patrick Smith) think is likely to be of interest to the RFT SIG membership. We will be evaluating these events and whether they serve our members based on attendance and feedback from the community. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to backchannel and email Patrick ([email protected]) any feedback so your voice can be heard, whether it's support for this type of work or guidance around how we can facilitate your attendance at a future event.
13-Dec 2023 - Facilitating relational framing of classification in young children
13-Dec 2023 - Facilitating relational framing of classification in young childrenDr Mulhern's slide deck is available below.
15-Nov 2023 - Analyses of relational coherence and rule-following: Consistent liars are preferred over occasional truth tellers
15-Nov 2023 - Analyses of relational coherence and rule-following: Consistent liars are preferred over occasional truth tellersHere is a pre-print of the article discussed at the 15-Nov 2023 Reading Group. Dr Harte's slide deck is also below.
Top 10 RFT Research Articles (Spring, 2023)
Top 10 RFT Research Articles (Spring, 2023)TOP 10 RFT RESEARCH ARTICLES
This year, the RFT SIG took on the task of developing an unofficial list of top RFT research articles to help people know where to start diving into the literature! The categories were “Just Getting Started” and “Contemporary and Advanced”. The first step involved SIG members nominating articles for consideration in both of those categories. Then, nominated articles were sent out to SIG members for the change to rank the articles. Rankings were then used to locate the Top 10 articles in each category to generate this list. Happy Reading!
* Note, the purpose of these lists is to provide a starting point for consuming the literature and is not a ranking of the worth or scholarly impact of any given article. The lists were prepared by and for the RFT SIG membership and will be updated over time.
Just Getting Started
1. Hayes, S. C., Law, S., Assemi, K., Falletta-Cowden, N., Shamblin, M., Burleigh, K., ... & Smith, P. (2021). Relating is an operant: A fly over of 35 years of RFT research. Perspectivas em Análise do Comportamento, 12(1), 5-32.
2. Cassidy, S., Roche, B., & O’Hora, D. (2010). Relational frame theory and human intelligence. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 11(1), 37-51.
3. Barnes-Holmes, D., Barnes-Holmes, Y., & Cullinan, V. (2000). Relational frame theory and Skinner’s Verbal Behavior: A possible synthesis. The Behavior Analyst, 23(1), 69-84. Note. The authors also recommend reviewing Perez (2023).
4. Ming, S., Moran, L., & Stewart, I. (2014). Derived relational responding and generative language: Applications and future directions for teaching individuals with autism spectrum disorders. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 15(2), 199-224.
5. Blackledge, J. T. (2003). An introduction to relational frame theory: Basics and applications. The Behavior Analyst Today, 3(4), 421.
6. Stewart, I., McElwee, J., & Ming, S. (2013). Language generativity, response generalization, and derived relational responding. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 29(1), 137-155.
7. Pelaez, M., & Monlux, K. (2018). Development of communication in infants: Implications for stimulus relations research. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 41(1), 175-188.
8. McEnteggart, C. (2018). A brief tutorial on acceptance and commitment therapy as seen through the lens of derived stimulus relations. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 41(1), 215-227.
9. Healy, O., Barnes‐Holmes, D., & Smeets, P. M. (2000). Derived relational responding as generalized operant behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 74(2), 207-227.
10. Stapleton, A., & McHugh, L. (2021). Healthy selfing: Theoretically optimal environments for the development of tacting and deictic relational responding. Perspectivas em Análise do Comportamento, 12(1), 125-137.
Contemporary and Advanced
1. Kirsten, E. B., & Stewart, I. (2021). Assessing the development of relational framing in young children. The Psychological Record, 72(1), 221-246.
2. Belisle, J., & Dixon, M. R. (2020). Relational density theory: Nonlinearity of equivalence relating examined through higher-order volumetric-mass-density. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 43(1), 259-283.
3. Cummins, J., Nevejans, M., Colbert, D., & De Houwer, J. (2023). On the structure of relational responding. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 27(1), 16-25.
4. Barnes-Holmes, D., Barnes-Holmes, Y., & McEnteggart, C. (2020). Updating RFT (more field than frame) and its implications for process-based therapy. The Psychological Record, 70(1), 605-624.
5. Hayes, L. J., & Fryling, M. J. (2019). Functional and descriptive contextualism. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 14(1), 119-126.
6. Foody, M., Barnes-Holmes, Y., Barnes-Holmes, D., Törneke, N., Luciano, C., Stewart, I., & McEnteggart, C. (2014). RFT for clinical use: The example of metaphor. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3(4), 305-313.
7. Delabie, M., Cummins, J., Finn, M., & De Houwer, J. (2022). Differential Crel and Cfunc acquisition through stimulus pairing. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 24(1), 112-119.
8. Mulhern, T., Stewart, I., & McElwee, J. (2018). Facilitating relational framing of classification in young children. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 8(1), 55-68.
9. Kirsten, E. B., Stewart, I., & McElwee, J. (2022). Testing and training analogical relational responding in children with and without autism. The Psychological Record, 72(1), 561-583.
10. Stewart, I., Barnes‐Holmes, D., Roche, B., & Smeets, P. M. (2002). A functional‐analytic model of analogy: A relational frame analysis. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 78(3), 375-396.
RFT SIG Member-Led Initiative - Moreno et al. Reading Group
RFT SIG Member-Led Initiative - Moreno et al. Reading GroupWhat is this member-led initiative?
Part of the role of the RFT SIG Steering Committee is to support member-led initiatives. In line with this, we are delighted to announce that, in collaboration with the RFT SIG Steering Committee, Jesse Moreno will be hosting a monthly reading group. Each month, attendees will be invited to read and discuss a journal article in a fun, low-stakes environment. Articles will be drawn from the list of papers identified by the RFT SIG membership as useful for those who are “Just Getting Started” and those who are looking for something “Contemporary and Advanced": https://contextualscience.org/top_10_rft_research_articles_spring_2023
These events are open to all RFTers, regardless of their familiarity and fluency with RFT. The first set of sessions will focus on articles for those who are "Just Getting Started", so beginners are particularly welcome :-)
To register your interest and join these sessions, email Jesse at [email protected]
Session 10 - Reading Group
This session was held 02-July 2024 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Healthy selfing: Theoretically optimal environments for the development of tacting and deictic relational responding." Pdf available here.
Session 9 - Reading Group
This session was held 03-September 2024 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Derived relational responding as generalized operant behavior." Pdf available here.
Session 8 - Reading Group
This session was held on 07-May 2024 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "A brief tutorial on acceptance and commitment therapy as seen through the lens of derived stimulus relations." Pdf available here.
Session 7 - Reading Group
This session was held 06-August 2024 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Development of communication in infants: Implications for stimulus relations research." Pdf available here.
Session 6 - Reading Group
This session was held on 05-Mar 2024 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Language generativity, response generalization, and derived relational responding." Pdf available here.
Session 5 - Reading Group
This session was held on 06-Feb 2024 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "An Introduction to relational frame theory: Basics and applications."
Session 4 - Reading Group with a presentation from Dr. Siri Ming
This session was held on 09-Jan 2024 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Derived relational responding and generative language: Applications and future directions for teaching individuals with autism spectrum disorders." Pdf available here.
Session 3 - Reading Group with a presentation from Jose (Jesse) Moreno
This session was held on 05-Dec 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Relational frame theory and Skinner’s Verbal Behavior: A possible synthesis." Pdf available here.
Session 2 - Reading Group with a presentation from Dr. Sarah Cassidy
This session was held on 07-Nov 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Relational Frame Theory and Human Intelligence." Pdf available here.
Session 1 - Reading Group with a presentation from Stu Law, PhD student
This session was held on 03-Oct 2023 and the recording is available here. Attendees discussed "Relating is an Operant: A Fly Over of 35 Years of RFT Research."