A no-cost human behavior science partnership

We need real people for our graduate students to learn from.

Q: Do I have to be struggling with something?

No. You can participate to learn, improve something, understand a pattern, work toward a goal, or because you are curious about behavior science.

They can study textbooks all day. Eventually, they need to learn from actual human beings. That is where you come in.

Bring something you would like to make easier, learn, change, or understand. Or come with no idea at all and ask what the science of behavior might contribute to your life.

I’m curious Show me how this works ↓

$0Cost to participate

30–45 minTypical meeting length

Twice a monthTypical meeting rhythm

OnlineMeet by Zoom from wherever you are

Any ageBehavior science is for human life

Curiosity countsYou do not need a “problem”

A different kind of exchange

They need experience.
You have a real life.

Behavior science is the study of human behavior in real life. Our graduate students study behavior change by looking at how people learn new skills, build habits, change routines, communicate, organize their lives, follow through on personal goals, respond to their environments, and make meaningful changes over time. They need opportunities to use that science with real people, not invented assignments.

You bring

Your life.

A goal, a routine, a family situation, something you want to learn, a habit you want to change, a barrier you keep running into, or nothing more than curiosity.

They bring

The science.

Questions, observation, research, ideas, practice, and professional guidance as they learn how to apply behavior science thoughtfully with real people.

Give us something to figure out

What could behavior science do with your life?

There is no required topic. These are examples, not a menu you have to choose from.

Family routines

Family routines, family habits, family communication, mornings, bedtime, transitions, chores, independence, cooperation, and other everyday patterns that are harder than they need to be.

Habits

Build healthy habits, change habits that no longer work for you, understand why a pattern keeps returning, or make daily habits and routines easier to maintain.

Learn something

Learn new skills, build practical life skills, improve study habits, learn a language, or finally make something you have wanted to learn stick.

Communication

Family communication, relationship skills, workplace communication, workplace behavior, difficult conversations, household agreements, and behavior that affects relationships.

Organization & follow-through

Organization skills, planning, remembering, starting, finishing, follow through, and arranging your environment so personal goals become easier to reach.

Daily consistency

Healthy habits, work habits, daily routines, movement, meal planning, sleep routines, self-monitoring, or any other everyday pattern you want to make easier to maintain.

Aging, independence & family support

Life skills, independence, meaningful routines, learning, connection, and quality-of-life goals for older adults, grandparents, and the people who share life with them.

Faith & values

If faith, culture, family traditions, or personal values matter to you, those values can help define what meaningful change looks like.

“I have no idea. I’m just curious.”

That is a completely valid reason to participate. You do not need to arrive with a problem to solve.

If something involves what people do, learn, practice, repeat, avoid, or build into daily life, behavior science may have something useful to contribute. It gives us a way to study behavior change across habits, routines, life skills, communication, relationships, work habits, organization, independence, learning, and personal goals.

Who is this for?

You do not need to have a problem.

You can participate because you need support. You can also participate because you think this sounds interesting.

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Maybe life feels overwhelming right now.
You would like another set of eyes on something that keeps making daily life harder.

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Maybe you want to accomplish something.
A skill, habit, routine, relationship pattern, or personal goal can be worth studying even when life is already going well.

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Maybe you are building a life with other people.
You may be a parent, spouse, partner, grandparent, adult child, roommate, friend, or part of a family trying to make everyday life work better together.

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Maybe you are in a season of change.
College, a new career, mid-career growth, retirement, parenthood, an empty nest, or learning something completely new can all create interesting questions for behavior science.

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Maybe you are just curious.
You can literally show up and ask, “What could behavior science help me understand about my own life?”

Yes, we know what you are thinking

Okay. What’s the catch?

There is not a paid program hiding behind this one. The reason this can exist without charging you is built into how our graduate students invest in their own advanced education and professional development.

Their education helps fund your participation.

The students invest in advanced training and mentorship as they prepare for careers in behavior science. We built a model where that education creates something useful for real people instead of living only in textbooks, worksheets, or made-up scenarios.

No participation fee.
There is no cost to take part.

No paid upgrade.
This is not the free sample before a sales pitch.

No special life circumstance required.
You can come with a goal, a question, a challenge, or curiosity.

No “right” age or stage.
Behavior science can be explored across the lifespan.

What participation looks like

Low pressure. Real life. Useful practice.

You do not need to prepare anything formal or know professional language. Start with whatever you know.

Tell us what interests you.

It can be a specific goal, something happening at home, something you want to learn, or “I’m just curious.”

Meet your student team online.

Participation is generally 30 to 45 minutes twice a month by Zoom.

Work on something real.

The students ask questions, study patterns, research relevant ideas, and learn how to make suggestions that fit your life.

The students are not doing this alone.

Their work is guided and reviewed by experienced behavior science professionals with, at minimum, master’s degrees in behavior science, 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, successful completion of a board examination, and state licensure where applicable. Some of our supervisors have even gone on to earn PhDs.

Matthew Hilley, founder of Behavior Science for Real Life

Why this exists

It started with people, not a business model.

This company grew out of founder Matthew Hilley volunteering his time with families in Culpeper, Virginia. The work started locally and eventually became something much larger.

Local roots, independently reported. The original Culpeper community work was profiled by the Culpeper Star-Exponent in January 2025.

Along the way, another opportunity became impossible to ignore: graduate students learning behavior science needed meaningful experience with real people, while people everywhere had goals, routines, relationships, skills, habits, and everyday challenges that could become meaningful learning opportunities for both sides.

So the two sides were connected. Students could invest in the advanced education and mentorship required for their development, and that learning could create no-cost opportunities for real people.

The purpose
Use education to lift people up, not build busywork.

The standard
Listen first. Be useful. Treat people like people.

Behavior science is for human life

Any age. Any stage.

There is no single “type” of person this is built for. Behavior science becomes useful anywhere people are learning, choosing, practicing, communicating, building routines, changing habits, developing life skills, improving organization, or working toward personal development goals that matter to them.

Who might participate?

Children and teenagers, together with their families

College students figuring out how they want life to work

Single adults building routines, skills, relationships, or goals

Married people, couples, parents, and families

Mid-career professionals changing how they work or live

Grandparents and older adults building meaningful, independent lives

Those are examples, not categories you have to fit into. If you are a human being with a life, there is probably something behavior science could help you examine more closely.

Questions people will reasonably have

Before you raise your hand.

Do I have to be struggling with something?

No. You can participate because you want to learn, improve something, understand a pattern, build a skill, reach a goal, or because behavior science sounds interesting to you.

Is there an age requirement?

People across the lifespan can participate. Children and teenagers participate with their families, while adults can participate for themselves. College students, parents, grandparents, single adults, married adults, and working professionals can all bring meaningful questions to behavior science.

Is it really free?

Yes. There is no cost to participate. The graduate students invest in the advanced education and mentorship that makes this model possible.

How often would I meet?

Participation is generally two online meetings each month, about 30 to 45 minutes per meeting. Matching and scheduling can vary based on the people involved.

What is behavior science?

They are graduate students studying behavior science and learning how to understand behavior, teach skills, examine patterns, use research, and apply what they are learning thoughtfully with real people.

Can my faith, culture, or values be part of what we work on?

Yes, when those things matter to you. Your goals should reflect the life you want to live. The team’s job is not to choose your values for you.

Do I need to know what I want to work on before I sign up?

No. “I’m curious” is enough. Your first conversations can be used to explore what in your life might be interesting or useful to look at through behavior science.

Can people throughout the United States express interest?

Yes. Meetings are online, and people throughout the United States are welcome to express interest in participating.

Raise your hand

You do not need to know what you want yet.

Tell us enough to start a conversation. “I’m just curious” is a valid answer.

Thank you. You do not need to have everything figured out. We’ll review your note and contact you about what participating could look like.