Have you ever been crushed under the weight of not only your ambitious dream, but the grinding realization that others might be actively working against you?

Mari-Luci Cerda, PhD, BCBA, LBA is a Mesoamerican Indigenous woman, wife, mom, Autist, and board-certified behavior analyst with over 13 years experience working with Neurodivergent individuals and their families.

A former special education teacher, behavior specialist, and inclusion coordinator of 13 years—Mari has a deep passion for advocacy work with both schools and clinics to develop trauma-responsive, neurodiversity responsive practices. Her work focuses on shifting language and systems used in practice to reframe and move away from unintentional ableist frameworks that are often rooted in traditional therapy and educational settings. Much of this work pulls from IRM (Indigenous Research Methods) and models of care rooted in Cultural Safety and Responsiveness.

She recently opened her own trauma-responsive center, The Lighthouse Learning Center in Lubbock, TX with the goal of creating a model of true neurodiversity affirming and assent-based practices. Mari is also the co-founder of the The LEAP Institute, a non-profit with a mission to address the disparity of diverse practitioners in the ABA field.

TODAY'S MENU (for our 2-part feast)

Amuse-Bouche 

- What are you discovering at your clinic with de-implementing the 40 hour/compliance based model of ABA?

Appetizers

- How did you get into Behavior Analysis?

- In your own words, what does assent mean?

- What’s something you wish you could have told yourself when you were getting started?

Palate cleanser course 

- Why are cats so awesome?

Entree

- When was a time that you failed?

- What is the best compliment you have ever received or an “insult” you’ve received that you’re proud of?

- What’s something people seem to misunderstand about you?

—

Follow Dr. Mari on Instagram: @Autie.Analyst

Company IG: @Lighthouse.Learning.Center

https://www.lighthouselearning.org

Non-Profit IG: @Leap.Institute

https://www.leapaba.org

—

Chat with me on Instagram: ⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠

Browse the podcast pages of all our guests!  ⁠https://www.rosiebx.com/podcast

Have you ever seen a doctor for an issue, only for your concerns to be dismissed?

Have you ever tried to fit in so hard that you lost who you actually are?

In today’s episode, I talk to Maggie Haraburda M.S., LBS, BCBA about her path to becoming a neurodiverse affirming business owner and her own recent autism diagnosis.

Maggie is a neurodivergent BCBA who runs a small private practice in Philadelphia. Maggie’s business, Unfurling Littles, combines child-led ABA with Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT).

Maggie is also working alongside other practitioners within her city to build a community of providers who are Neurodiverse Affirming. Maggie’s hope is to help move the field of ABA forward, with compassionate care.

Connect with Maggie on Instagram: @Unfurling_Littles

Visit her Website: https://www.unfurlinglittles.com

Contact her by Email: [email protected]

—

Chat with me on Instagram: @rosie.eats.bx

Browse my website for CEUs and Mentorship!  https://www.rosiebx.com

Don’t you want your Continuing Education to be fun and relatable?

Today’s guest, Jordan Litt, is the Co-Founder of CEUs by Study Notes ABA. We discuss flexibility, how you can actually learn a lot from fellow colleagues, and also, what’s her beef with those talking-dog buttons?

Jordan is a BCBA, LBA-NYS and the ACE Coordinator and Co-Founder of CEUs by Study Notes ABA. Her start in behavior analysis wasn’t a straight shot to learning. In the beginning, she really struggled to find her footing until the day she was introduced to Verbal Behavior (the approach and book by B.F. Skinner). From then on, she has worked each and every day to cultivate her skills and knowledge of the science of behavior analysis. Jordan worked in a variety of environments that have taught her the true value of generalization.

What truly lights Jordan up is helping other people understand more from “simple” to advanced concepts, because she thinks that's also one of the barriers to being a good BCBA. Accepting the fact that concepts/ideas are advanced for a reason means that she’s going to have to study it, it's not going to be cut and dry, there will always be things she doesn’t quite understand, and so she must keep on learning. This is the hard part. But it’s also the fun part!

On the rare occasions when she’s not doing all things CEUs by SNABA related, you can find her hanging out with her dog Moose.

Take Study Notes CEUs! https://ceu.studynotesaba.com

Follow Study Notes on Instagram @StudyNotesABA

Email Jordan [email protected]

—

Chat with me on Instagram @rosie.eats.bx

Check out my CEUs (My Ethics & Soft Skills CEUs are with Study Notes!) https://www.rosiebx.com/ceu

What do you think of when you hear OCD? Do you imagine someone washing their hands or flipping a light switch on and off repeatedly?

Today, I share a meal with a BCBA who lives with obsessive compulsive disorder. We also discuss if using ACT as a treatment for OCD is effective.

Carissa Crabtree was born and raised in Kennesaw, GA. Growing up with a brother on the Autism Spectrum gave her true insight into the strength and resilience of the ASD community. After getting her BA in International Politics from Georgia State University, she decided to follow her mother into becoming a Behavior Analyst.  Carissa earned her ABA Masters program at Arizona State University in 2021. She joined her current company in April of 2021 as an RBT and became a BCBA in 2022.  She has worked with children and adolescents from 3 years old to 18 years old.

In Carissa’s free time, she loves to crochet, sew and quilt. She also helps run an animal rescue.

Connect with Carissa on Instagram: @the_aba_ginger

—

Chat with me on Instagram @rosie.eats.bx

Learn more about the podcast, my CEUs, and everything else on my website https://rosiebx.com

What does aggressively neutral mean? How can you incorporate psychological flexibility in all aspects of your life?

Also, what does yucky stuff mean to you?

Find out these answers and more in today’s episode with Tina Long, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA, IBA.

Tina Long is an instructional designer, behaviorist, coach, and crisis manager. She has been in the education field for over 20 years - even longer if you count the days of her childhood where she lined up her stuffed animals to be students and recruited her friends at daycare to play school. She has worked in various settings, including public schools, family homes, community based, and clinic settings to provide high quality instruction and behavior interventions across the lifespan (toddlers to senior citizens). Tina’s experience includes working for individuals with trauma experiences, learning/developmental/intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and exceptional learning needs.

Tina works to promote Psychological Flexibility with acceptance and commitment training and Psychological Safety with prosocial, shared purpose communication training. Tina holds a Masters of Education from George Mason University, along with graduate certificates in Applied Behavior Analysis and Assistive Technology. She was certified as a behavior analyst in 2013, is a Certified ACT/ProSocial Matrix Facilitator, and an ACES Trainer.

She has contributed as an author on multiple books including:

- Your Inner Game for Executive Coaching and Crisis Management: A Revolutionary Approach to Collaboration, Success, and Relief from Burnout

- From RFT to Verbal Aikido: Turning Sticky Words into Peaceful Actions With the ACT Matrix

- Matrix Mind Stretch! An Activity Book for Psychological Flexibility using the ACT Matrix

- How To Build and Market Your Business with The ACT Matrix Academy: 10 Steps for Building and Marketing a Sustainable Business (with Your Imposter Syndrome) that Protects Your Time and Health

- Coaching for Individuals with The ACT Matrix

Tina also hosted a 13 episode podcast series titled The Burnout Battle.

Check out her trainings at: TheSortingSchool.com and TeachMeACT.com.

Connect with her on Instagram: @learn_with_tlc or Facebook.

—

Chat with me on Instagram @rosie.eats.bx

Learn more about the show on my website https://rosiebx.com

What’s it like to unmask? How can being yourself ultimately lead you to your goals? Find out how today’s guest, Layla Touchet, did just that!

Layla Touchet, M.S., LPC, NCC, ADHD-CCSP, CASDCS, Professional School Counselor, Doctoral Student is a school counselor and licensed mental health counselor with certifications in ADHD & Autism along with working on her PHD in Counseling.

She also has ADHD & Autism herself. Layla has been recognized as a 2022 NBCC National Certified Counselor Award recipient and the 2022 Overall Louisiana School Counselor of the Year. Working with tiny humans, advocacy, and educating others is the heart of who she is, and she loves doing it even more when she can sit on floors, move around, incorporate her special interests, and use her fidgets.

When she's not doing those things, you can find her kickboxing before the sun rises, reading books, listening to podcasts, organizing her office supplies, & spending time with her favorite people.

Connect with Layla on Instagram: @theneurodivergentcounselor

—

Chat with me on Instagram @rosie.eats.bx

Learn more about the show on my website https://rosiebx.com

Why should we work from a trauma-assumed lens? Today I talk to dr. danyelle s. goitia beal, Psy.D., BCBA about compassionate care, self care, and being an SD for crying. You’re going to want to tune in!

Dr. danyelle s. goitia beal earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her dissertation; Trauma and Resiliency in Black American Women began a journey of breaking the stigma of traumatic events that plague the Black community. Dr. beal contributed to an anthology titled Shenomenal Women that became a #1 Best Seller. Simultaneously, she completed her pre-doctoral internship supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse and within the LGBTQIA2+ communities.

As a trauma survivor, dr. beal has overcome insurmountable odds that has formed her journey through healing which she calls “heart work”. She understands that to truly begin to live a life of intention; one must get to the “heart work” of their own healing journey. danyelle co-owns and operates a Non-Public Agency called Loving Hands Family Support Services in California. danyelle is a highly regarded Psychologist/Behavior Analyst who specializes in developmental disorders and trauma and is considered a servant leader that supports children, families and women who are underrepresented.

—

Find links to her website and socials here

Read her dissertation; Trauma and Resiliency in Black American Women

—

Chat with me on Instagram @rosie.eats.bx

Check out my CEUs and everything else on my website https://rosiebx.com

What does it mean to be compassionately blunt? What's it like to go to school at a zoo? Also can you get good sushi in Alabama? All these questions and more will be answered in today's episode with Rachel Peters, MS, BCBA!

Rachel is a board certified behavior analyst from California transplanted to the heart of Dixie. She’s a dog mom, reality tv connoisseur, sweatpants enthusiast, and podcast host. She provides values-based behavior analytic services in several counties in western Georgia, and is passionate about the dissemination of ACT and compassionate care in behavioral service delivery.

Follow Rachel on Instagram @calibama_bxanalyst

Check out her podcast, Behavior & Bullsh!t

—

Chat with me on Instagram @rosie.eats.bx

Check out my CEUs and everything else on my website https://rosiebx.com

Who really has their sh!t together? Today we discuss not having all the answers, but not being afraid to stand up, be yourself, and ask the hard questions. This episode's guest will have you questioning how to better incorporate clients and families into programming.

Alyssa Barrera Lansford is a Texas based BCBA and PhD student who is passionate about culturally responsive therapy and supervision, intersectionality, storytelling– qualitative research, and providing a voice to marginalized populations within and outside the ABA field.

Alyssa is a mom of 2, late diagnosed ADHDer, a detribalized indigenous tejana/latina, and overall someone you should be watching as she helps disseminate more than the typical ABA perspective!

Follow Alyssa on Instagram @diary_of_Alyssa_BCBA

You can find me on Instagram @rosie.eats.bx or my website https://rosiebx.com

Welcome to the first episode of Behavior Bites! In today’s show, I talk to Meg Solomon, MS Ed, BCBA about failure and owning up to mistakes. When something doesn’t work, you have to adapt instead of being too proud and trying to push through. To be a better BCBA is to realize that when you make a mistake, learn from it, grow, and do better.

Meg Solomon is the owner and Clinical Director of ABA Across Environments in Colorado Springs. She works to provide flexible and person-centered care to her clients that are meaningful. Meg recognizes that we are all human and attempts to help other Behavior Analysts recognize the same so that we may move our field into a more compassionate direction by sharing CEU content and providing mentorship opportunities.

Follow Meg on Instagram @acrossenvironments.

Check out her website https://abaacrossenvironments.com and take a CEU through her website https://abaacrossenvironments.podia.com

You can find me on Instagram @rosie.eats.bx or my website https://rosiebx.com