My ABA journey started in 2005 as an intern at The UC Irvine Health Child Development School. This school offered a school-based mental health program for children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and other neuro-developmental conditions. As an intern, I was trained to implement behavioral strategies under the supervision of Dr. Ronald A. Kotkin. After graduation from UC Irvine, I continued as a behavioral technician for 10 years working with school-aged children in the home and school settings. In 2015 I acquired a Master of Science in Counseling and a Behavior Analyst Certification. Throughout this journey, I have gained experience with administering behavior and developmental assessments, implementing and creating individualized behavioral plans, facilitating social skills training, and collaborating with other service providers including teachers, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists. Moreover, I have experience with implementing Behavioral Skills Training (BST) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for coaching caregivers and training and supervising RBTs and candidates pursuing BCBA coursework. I’m a Los Angeles native living on the Big Island of Hawaii with my husband and our dogs. When I am not wearing my BCBA hat you can find me somewhere outdoors or cooking a Michelin-worthy fare with my husband.
I take a holistic approach to make the most meaningful impact based on the client’s strengths and the specific values of the family. I center my focus on the client’s emerging skills and set up the environment to encourage growth.
In my book, the best experiences are witnessing progress. For example, when a child starts to say their first words after functional communication training or when a parent captures an opportunity to teach their child a new skill by confidently using behavioral strategies.
I love helping families thrive and I love that we have a science that WORKS to encourage individuals to reach their highest potential.
A compassionate behavior analyst with a holistic approach to helping individuals reach meaningful and lasting behavior change.