Supporting Future Generations of Behavior Analysts

How Hopebridge BCBA Mentors are Advancing Autism Therapy

It’s no secret that our team members often act as heroes to our children, but did you know they also slip into their capes to help and lift each other?

Collaboration and support at every level are crucial to the clinical excellence here at Hopebridge. There is one group whose hard work and dedication to their kids, coworkers and entire ABA community is remarkable: BCBA mentors.

In addition to serving their children each day, these special people take time out of their professional career to support others in the Hopebridge Fellowship Program who are on a path to get where they are one day. By lending their knowledge, experiences and listening ears, they are helping to advance the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) for future generations, while also growing their own skills.

Here is what some of them recently had to share with us about their roles as mentors:

Q: What is one thing that you have learned as a mentor?  

A: Practicing reciprocal feedback creates a relationship of mutual respect and has allowed me to learn something from each supervisee. This encourages and motivates me to continue to grow as a supervisor and provide the best care to my caseload. 

– Sarah Belva, BCBA, Louisville East, KY 

A: There is a good balance between providing support and allowing them to handle certain situations on their own once they have been provided with training. 

– Erin Jackson, BCBA, Little Rock, AR 

A: Impostor syndrome is definitely a struggle. It was great to have the support and resources of seasoned BCBAs and the fieldwork team to aid me during this time. 

– Leigh Chapman, BCBA, Bowling Green, KY 

 

Q: What is your favorite part of your role as a mentor?  

A: The best part about being a mentor is seeing them make the connections between what they are learning in class to our clients and families here in the center. I love teaching them things that they are not necessarily learning in school, such as advancements in our field towards compassionate, trauma-informed care, and instilling the idea that our decision-making should be ethical and value-based. 

– Leigh Chapman, BCBA, Bowling Green, KY 

A: Being someone’s first experience in ABA, showing them my passion, and teaching them all the cool skills we can teach others using ABA was a lot of fun for me as a peer mentor. 

– Nick Averill, Clinical Director, Murfreesboro West, TN 

A: The most rewarding thing is when you invest in a person and see their confidence and skills grow to make independent decisions. There is nothing better than having a fellow pass the exam and share that joy with them. 

– Sarah Belva, BCBA, Louisville East, KY 

 

Q: What makes you a great mentor?  

A: I am fortunate that I have had several amazing supervisors in the past who modeled the characteristics that I strive to have as a mentor. 

– Erin Jackson, BCBA, Little Rock, AR 

A: If I had to describe my mentorship style, I would say that it is a three-step approach: 1. Give them the tools to succeed 2. Help them develop their “why” and 3. Let them go. As important as it is for us to provide quality care to our patients, it is equally important for us to play a role in the future of our field by developing RBTs and BCBAs who are better than we were. 

– Nick Averill, Clinical Director, Murfreesboro West, TN 

A: I want to make sure the students who receive supervision from me are being poured into the way we all deserve. I am still learning and growing in many of these areas, and I feel fortunate to be surrounded by fellow BCBAs, fellowship students, and RBTs that are helping me grow every day. 

– Sarah Belva, BCBA, Louisville East, KY 

 

A Personal Thank-You from Case Manager Naima Rodriguez 

“After being in the trainer position for a while. I was offered a role as a fellow. I have absolutely loved it from the moment I stepped into the role. My BCBA supervisors have been amazing with not only teaching me about basic concepts in ABA and about how to implement interventions for effective behavior change, but also in presenting me with opportunities to apply what I am learning. 

I have grown so much, not only as a behavior analytic professional, but as a person having been in this role. My clinic, my kiddos, my RBTs and my supervisors have all poured into me and I could not be more grateful for the experience I’ve had.”

Become a Mentor to Prospective BCBAs

Our mentors embody the Hopebridge mission in their work with our fellows. By working with future BCBAs to ensure competency and well-rounded experiences in ABA, they will ultimately unlock the doors to a whole new world for so many children and families in generations to come. If you’d like to make an impact though your work with a role as a BCBA mentor, view our open positions in locations across the country. 

*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC.