For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved working with kids. I began babysitting when I was 10 years old, and knew that I wanted to pursue a career working with children. I stumbled upon Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in college when a BCBA visited a behavioral psychology class for a guest presentation. I was excited by the teaching methodology and science of learning, and began an internship with the company within weeks.

The rest is history; Instant love for the children and the field. It was incredible to me that a child could walk into session on their first day of ABA without any way to communicate, and learn their first words within days. Whether speaking, signing, or using pictures, my clients were able to advocate for their wants and needs. Skills built upon each other like an architectural masterpiece - words turned to sentences, and sentences turned to conversations. The kids’ challenging behaviors seemed to melt away as they became more and more empowered.

Since beginning my journey in ABA, I have been so fortunate to work amongst leaders in the field. My bar for what quality services looks like has been set very high. While the field of ABA has evolved over the years, my passion for helping children is unwavering. No two clients are the same, and every day presents new opportunities to learn and grow with my families and our team.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to love what I’m doing every single day. Teaching children is not work for me - it’s a privilege. Every family feels like my own, and I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to make a positive impact in each of their lives. I will never take for granted the amazing community of families and therapists that work by my side.

Ellen Karalis