An Interview With A Maryland BCBA

This month, Connec-to-Talk sat down with Shelby, one of our Maryland BCBAs. Shelby is a shining example of the career growth that is possible at Connec-to-Talk. Shelby has held several roles with Connec-to-Talk – Intern, ABA Therapist, Case Manager, Clinical Coordinator, and now BCBA for our Pikesville, Maryland Clinic. Shelby shared with us her thoughts on professional development in the field of ABA and the future of the field in general. Please read on for some highlights of our discussion below.

What initially made you want to intern with Connec-to-Talk?

“When I was in high school I learned about being an RBT from a close family friend who is a BCBA. I had already decided to major in Psychology and knew I wanted to work with children so I decided to learn more about ABA! One of my professors connected me with Connec-to-Talk for an internship position where I got to shadow sessions, assist with data collection, and learn about various aspects of ABA sessions.” 

What was it about your internship that convinced you to transition to a therapist role?

“Once I began my internship it was pretty clear to me that I wanted to join the CTT team. The staff were so friendly and taught me so much about ABA and were always willing to answer any questions I had. I also found a lot of joy in watching the progress the clients made within their sessions. Sadly, my internship was cut short due to COVID and sessions moving in home, but when sessions moved back into the clinic I reached out about joining the team as a staff member! I was so excited to finally have my own clients and officially begin my ABA career.” 

You’ve held so many positions at Connec-to-Talk – intern, therapist, Clinical Coordinator, BCBA! Do you have any advice for people looking to start their career in ABA?

“My biggest advice for people looking to join the field is to come into the field with an open mind ready to learn! Through my many roles I learned so much, and still feel like I am learning everyday. The field of ABA is relatively new and still growing and changing frequently. It is never too early in your career to keep up with research, and connect with other professionals in the field. If you are looking to grow, don’t be afraid to ask your clinic’s leadership team members questions! Chances are they love this field as much as you and would love to share what they know with you. 

Another thing I feel like I struggled with both as a new therapist and following passing my BCBA exam is imposter syndrome! It is very normal to feel doubt in yourself when starting in a new career or role, one of my favorite things about being a new BCBA with Connec-to-Talk is that I have an amazing support system to lean on whenever I want to talk through a challenge which helps me gain confidence in my role. Remember to lean on your support system whether that be your case BCBAs, clinic leaders, or fellow BTs!”

What would you love to see Connec-to-Talk do more of in the future?

“I would love to see more educational opportunities for BCBAs and RBTs within the company. While we have our lead site trainers and Quality Care Managers to train therapists and BCBAs, I feel like so many BCBAs across the company have amazing unique skill sets and could offer great support to others in the form of CEUs or workshops for both therapists and BCBAs to attend and learn from.”

Is there anything you wish more people knew about ABA?

“I wish more people knew about the ways they use ABA without even knowing everyday! ABA can feel daunting because of all of the jargon used by clinicians but oftentimes new therapists and parents find that they have been using ABA principles all along!”

Are there any changes in the field of ABA that you’d like to see?

“I would love to see the ABA world continue to embrace trauma informed practices and prioritizing connection and cooperation over compliance. I love learning about new ways to include choice and autonomy within therapy to help build independence and trust with my clients! This is something that has grown significantly within the field and I look forward to continuing to see more research in this area.” 

If you are interested in learning more about career opportunities at Connec-to-Talk, please e-mail Katherine Lewis at [email protected].We look forward to having you join our team! If you are looking for resources on Autism in Maryland, we encourage you to visit Autism Society of Maryland’s page!