A Practitioner-Scholar Case

Abstract

As a practitioner-scholar I will be a practitioner in Therapy and Scholar in Applied Behavioral Analysis. I envision myself as a BCBA Therapist specifically working with children diagnosed with ASD. I would like to open my own practice where I could not only provide therapy for the child but also educate the parents to help them make both them and their childs life a little easier. By becoming a practitioner-scholar in my field I will be seen as an expert and always make sure I am staying up to date.

Your Vision as a Practitioner-Scholar

Introduction

At a certain point in your life you have to stop and take a look at where you are and if you’re happy. For me when I did so I realized that I indeed was going down the wrong career path. For years I thought I wanted to be a salesman, but every day I came home I continued to have this empty feeling. If you ask anyone who knows me when you mention my name the words that would come out of their mouth are, caring, patient, considerate, nice and passionate. None of these words would be used to describe your stereotypical salesman. I have always had a special place in my heart for people that need that additional help. It wasn’t until recently I left my job moved back to my home state and decided to embark on a career path to become an ABA Therapist. For the first time all of those words that describe me will be put to good use and I couldn’t be more excited.

Vision

After obtaining my Master in Psychology with a specialization in ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) and also my Board Certification I would like to work specifically with children diagnosed with ASD. I would prefer to practice both in the office and home environments. I feel by doing this I can best assess the child’s behavioral patterns. Since I will be a BCBA I would love the chance to operate my own practice that way I can control my day to day activities. One thing that deeply disturbed me was reading that there are still some states that don’t have a mandate for Autism Therapy. I would love the opportunity to one day be successful enough that I could travel and offer my services to those children that are unfortunately living in one of those states and/or their parents don’t have the proper funds to pay for their child’s services. During the 2010 Healthcare