If you have a child with special needs such as autism, you may quickly start hearing about Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Verbal Behavior (VB) as therapies that are helpful to children. 

Today I talk with Dr. Denise Eckman president and executive director of Creative Behavior Interventions. We discuss an overview of what ABA is and which types of children, and even adults, benefit from this type of intervention. We go a little deep and by the end of this show, you will have a functional understanding of behaviors, their antecedents and a breakdown of different types of communication we find in language.  In fact, if you listen carefully, you may be able to discuss Mands, Tacts, Intraverbal and Echoic communication! 

Interesting Fact: Forbes lists ABA therapists as one of the most rewarding jobs. Hat tip to Dr. Eckman for pointing that out. 

Bio

Dr. Denise Eckman, PsyD, BCBA-D is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the founder and President of Creative Behavior Interventions, Inc. (CBI). She has provided Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and supervision for nearly two decades to families throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, Colorado, and other countries outside of the U.S. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California-Irvine in 1997 and her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University in 1999.

In 2005, Dr. Eckman earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver, where she specialized in Behavior Analysis and Assessments. While completing her doctorate, Dr. Eckman gained extensive training and experience in supervising and developing programs for children with Autism – utilizing the principles and methodologies of ABA, in particular, “Verbal Behavior”.

As part of her doctoral training, Dr. Eckman focused on psychological services, including assessment for children and families with chronic mental disorders of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Dr. Eckman is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral Level (BCBA-D), and oversees program development and implementation to all clients at CBI.

In addition to serving as the Executive Director for CBI, Dr. Eckman performs functional behavior assessments (FBA) across the country and conducts presentations on in-services and workshops for various organizations throughout southern California. Throughout her graduate education and beyond, Dr. Eckman continues to develop her passion and commitment to providing quality, innovative and creative individualized services for children diagnosed with Autism or related disorders. 

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