Hi! I’m Jessica, the founder of The Behavior Collaborative. I discovered my life’s mission to serve individuals with disabilities in 2008. I was 3 years into earning my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Minnesota when I was placed in a special education kindergarten classroom for my first student teaching rotation. I had not thought about teaching special education classes, and needless to say, I was not happy about the opportunity to do so. Regardless, I showed up on day one, and by the end of it, I had fallen in love. This experience set me on a trajectory to complete my Master’s Degree in Special Education in 2009. For the next five years, I taught students with developmental disabilities.

Somewhere along my teaching journey, I found that I had not received adequate training to support my students’ communication and behavior needs. So, in 2014 I shifted my vision toward becoming trained as a behavior analyst. I became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2016 and since have practiced Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in homes, schools, and clinics throughout Minnesota, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida. In 2019, I started earning my Ph.D. in Psychology, specializing in Behavior Analysis. I plan to complete my dissertation and graduate from this program in March of 2024.

Throughout my years of service as a teacher and a BCBA, it has become evident that ABA is getting it wrong when it comes to considering an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and autonomy when applying intervention. I have made the same mistakes many of my peers are still making by failing to prioritize compassion and assent over protocol. So now, in 2022, I have launched The Behavior Collaborative to gather families and practitioners together so we can work as a team to make positive changes to the way that ABA is practiced.

When I am not working on my Ph.D. or The Behavior Collaborative, I practice self-care. This year was poignant for me in understanding the value of true self-care and listening to my body. Often times your body knows more than you do about your state of well-being. As practitioners and caregivers, we must ensure that we are well before we can take care of others. Self-care and self-compassion resources are provided here and considered more in-depth in the continuing education course room.

My self-care involves daily meditation, breathwork, positive self-affirmations, and I give myself a high-five in the mirror every morning! You can learn more about how the high-five habit works here. I also meet with a therapist weekly to ensure I am doing the best that I can to stay mentally well. I also spend time engaging in my hobbies by relaxing on the beach, playing my guitar, learning Spanish, and doing my own manicures/pedicures. I also like to walk/jog/run and weight lift at my local gym. A good Netflix binge is always a possibility as well!