|
Thinking and Action: Breaking Down the Behavior Chain
SESSION INFO
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session Type: Workshop
“I wasn’t thinking!” How many times have we heard clients say this when asked about the decisions that brought them here? The truth is, they were thinking—but the thoughts that guided their choices often went unnoticed or unexamined. In today’s session, we’re going to dig deeper into those thought patterns and uncover what’s really happening in the moments before a poor decision is made. We’ll introduce a simple, effective tool—the behavior chain—that helps break down the sequence of events leading up to an action. This approach can easily be incorporated into everyday office visits, giving us practical insight into our clients’ decision-making. From there, we’ll explore cognitive restructuring: how to challenge and reshape unhelpful thinking in ways that support positive change. By the end, you’ll have strategies to not only understand offender behavior, but also to actively guide clients toward healthier, more constructive choices.
|
|
|
SESSION PRESENTERS
Kristen Kaplanis
Chief of Probation , Canton Municipal Court
Kristen Kaplanis comes to us from the Canton Municipal Probation Department. She began her career as a Victim Advocate before transitioning to Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP) with the Stark County Court of Common Pleas. During her ten years as an ISP Officer, she supervised probationers in the CHANCE Drug Court Program, developed policies, and ensured compliance with annual audit standards. In 2011, Kristen joined Canton Municipal Court, where she first served as an ISP Officer, later promoted to Senior Officer, and became a certified facilitator for Thinking for a Change. She served as the Specialized Docket Coordinator for 8 years, overseeing the Mental Health, Drug, and Veterans Treatment Courts. Kristen’s current capacity is Chief of Probation. She is passionate about advancing probation practices, strengthening officer–probationer engagement, and inspiring other officers to grow in their careers.
|
|
|
|
|
|