For a long time, I was scared to show my roots. I learned how to enter professional spaces without always feeling like I was allowed to take up space in them. My journey has been about changing that, not only for myself, but for the students and future clinicians coming after me.
My professional path started while I was exploring children's mental health and trauma, serving as a volunteer intern at Children's Institute. There, I was introduced to the neurodevelopmental effects of trauma and had the opportunity to work alongside professionals in clinical psychology and marriage and family therapy.
At the same time, I was working two part-time jobs at Target and Payless. Eventually, I took a chance on a position in behavioral therapy, and that decision completely changed the direction of my career.
My education took me from California State University, Long Beach, where I studied Psychology with a minor in Child Development, to California State University San Marcos for my BCaBA coursework, and eventually to the University of Washington, where I earned my Master of Education in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis.
My training has spanned school-based, clinical, and home-based settings, along with the University of Washington supervision practicum. Along the way, I developed strong interests in Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) and supporting Spanish-speaking families.
Today, I'm a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with special interests in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), NDBI, assent-based practice, culturally responsive care, trauma-informed approaches, and systems thinking.
My curiosity has also taken me beyond behavior analysis. I completed post-baccalaureate coursework in Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University and pursued training toward becoming a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA), which expanded the way I think about communication, language, and interdisciplinary care.
But my credentials are only part of my story.
I'm still that girl from Compton who once wondered whether she belonged in these rooms. Now, I know I do not have to leave my culture, language, community, or story at the door to be taken seriously as a clinician.
And I want the next generation of behavior analysts to know they do not have to either.
Start with the free guide, and be first in line when fieldwork supervision opens in December 2026.
