Two years ago, almost to the day, I found out my position was being eliminated. I was gutted. As I started the dreaded job search, I wondered if I was even in the right field. My goal was to provide quality, ABA services to children and families, but the companies I worked for seemed to prioritize billable hours above all else. I told myself I would give ABA therapy one more chance with another company and if it didn’t work, I would look into a new career path.
I heard some buzz about Centria and its focus on the principles of SBT, but I wasn’t familiar with the company. By my third interview, I couldn’t wait to join the team and was eager to see ABA practiced the way I always envisioned it. Upon joining, I was immediately impressed by my colleagues’ willingness to help. I never felt a question was too small to ask. I was shocked by the level of support from the top down because it was unparalleled to any of my previous employers.
When I took over as Director of Clinical Services, I modeled this same level of support. I wanted to be the Director I never had when I was a Supervising Clinician. Not only has Centria allowed me to do this, but the company’s framework and culture actually expect this level of teamwork and collaboration. Centria cares about the skill set and professional development of clinicians. The generous CE budget allows clinicians to attend industry-leading conferences, and Centria actually encourages you to use it. I attended my first ABA conference in July 2024, all thanks to Centria.
A Commitment to Compassionate Care and Professional Growth
Centria champions compassionate care and clinical quality. It also requires clinicians to participate in a structured mentorship program to ensure the appropriate implementation of ABA services. I had the pleasure of being a mentee in this program and have since mentored six clinicians who have graduated from the program. The successful completion of this mentorship consistently leads to a decrease in maladaptive behaviors across clients on the clinicians’ caseloads. I was in awe as I saw this pattern repeatedly occur across clinicians with various levels of experience and clients of different ages and behavior topographies. The mentorship worked!
I was so excited about this that I reached out to leadership to make a professional poster on this topic to present at a conference. I was immediately met with excitement and encouragement to apply, as well as guidance throughout the entire process. A year after attending my first ABA conference, I presented my first poster.
Why I Stayed: A BCBA Career at Centria
It is difficult for me to imagine myself two years ago. I was so defeated and unsure of where my career was going. Now, I am confident in my decision to work in ABA. I am motivated to stay in the field to continue to grow my clinical skill set, as well as lead other Board Certified Behavior Analysts in their journey. When I started, there were three BCBAs in my market; we have since grown to nine.
I had no idea what it meant to be a member of a professional team until I joined Centria. Here, I am a part of the larger Centria team, but I also serve on at least five other teams that are equally as important. I have such admiration for my colleagues and teammates, and I feel grateful to work here every day. I found my work home and family at Centria.
I’m not sure what exactly I will be doing as a BCBA two years from now, but I know that whatever I am doing, it will be as a member of the Centria family.
About the Author:
Alana Rascoe serves as the Director of Clinical Services at Centria Autism for the Maryland in-home region. Alana guides clinicians to provide compassionate care that is rooted in client assent and ensures the focus of every session is socially significant outcomes for the client, technician, clinician, and family. Alana resides in Baltimore, MD, and enjoys crime documentaries, working out, and volunteering with Experience Camps.
