01
The Five Emotional States
A shared colour language for recognising degree of control and choosing a response that fits the state.
The Anchor-Based Approach
ABA is a structured psychological methodology for turning insight into meaningful direction, observable behaviour and reviewable progress.
Developed by psychologist Dr Hanan Bushkin, it is designed to help people and professionals move from understanding to action—without reducing human complexity to a slogan.
Looking for the research position? Examine the evidence approach.
The ABA method map
Structure · action · evidence
01
Direction
Clarify what matters
02
Blueprint
Define the next behaviour
03
Practice
Act in daily life
04
Review
Track and recalibrate
A disciplined cycle that connects meaningful direction with practical behaviour and continuous learning.
Begin with ABA
Learn about the method, join the growing community or register interest in a future workshop cohort.
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A methodology for sustained action
Many people understand their patterns and still feel stuck. ABA gives that insight a sequence: clarify what matters, create a workable direction, translate it into behaviour, then use real-world feedback to refine the plan.
Its nine principles create a shared language for understanding emotional states, interpreting experience, choosing deliberately and building progress through observable action.
The 9 ABA Principles
The principles are taught in a deliberate order, creating a practical framework for steadiness, choice, action and review.
01
A shared colour language for recognising degree of control and choosing a response that fits the state.
02
A practical framework that connects a perceived threat with a workable solution, creating a clearer map for what comes next.
03
Insight becomes change when it appears in controllable, observable behaviour in daily life.
Research foundation
ABA brings established work on cognition, emotion, behaviour, goal pursuit, self-regulation, physiology and feedback into one structured framework for everyday application.
Coherent
Nine ordered principles connect insight, direction, behaviour and review.
Research-informed
Established psychological research strengthens each major area of the framework.
Research-active
Early cohort application and a formal research programme guide continuing refinement.
One methodology, different entry points
ABA is being built as both a human methodology and the foundation of a future digital platform. Each audience has a different responsibility and a different way in.
For people
Explore a structured way to connect emotional insight with practical behaviour and review.
Explore ABA for individualsFor professionals
Explore the methodology, professional applications and structured training pathway.
Explore professional trainingFor institutions
Explore talks, workshops, research, organisational learning and public-sector collaboration.
Invite or collaborateThe platform horizon
The ABA platform is being designed to make the methodology usable through clear next steps, low-friction check-ins, structured plans and progress review—while keeping safety, privacy and human support boundaries explicit.
One clear next step
The user sees simplicity while the system handles complexity.
Behavioural feedback
Action and review help the plan become more useful over time.
User autonomy
Recommendations support decisions; they do not erase agency.
Human support
Clear pathways preserve the role of professional judgement and human care.

Founder
Dr Hanan Bushkin
Johannesburg-based psychologist and founder of the Anchor-Based Approach.
“A credible new methodology should be clear enough to teach, structured enough to study and responsive enough to improve.”
Continue the conversation
Enquire about working with Dr Hanan, explore a workshop, professional training, a speaking invitation, research collaboration or institutional partnership.