The Limits of Counterconditioning in Real-World Cases

Many professionals rely on counterconditioning as a cornerstone of fear-related behavior change—but fear is remarkably good at coming back.

In this session, Dr. Kristina Spaulding examines why counterconditioning can be unstable, highlighting how changes in context, stress, or even time can undermine progress. We’ll unpack the learning processes that make responses vulnerable and share practical, science-informed strategies to improve effectiveness.

Finally, we’ll explore what else needs to be in place—beyond pairing stimuli with good things—to support lasting change in complex cases where fear, stress, and coping capacity play a central role.

What's included?

  • CEUs

    1.5 CEUs pending for CCPDT, IAABC, and KPA

  • Q&A Time with Dr. Kristina Spaulding

    30 minutes of bonus Q&A time with Kristina included in the live event and recording!

  • Recordings available!

    Lifetime access to the recording!

Your Speaker!

Dr. Kristina Spaulding

Dr. Spaulding has a PhD in biopsychology—the study of the biological basis of behavior—and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. She is the author of The Stress Factor in Dogs: Unlocking Resiliency and Enhancing Well-Being. Dr. Spaulding teaches a variety of online courses and webinars on the science of behavior through her website, www.sciencemattersllc.com. She also co-teaches the Carefree Companion Certification with Irith Bloom and serves as Vice President for the IAABC Foundation.