my "vb-mapp" journey

Many psychologists are allowed to complete Cognitive Assessments that assist clinicians in measuring a person's cognitive strengths and areas for improvement in areas such as verbal communication, visual-spatial, working memory, processing speed, and the list goes on.

Working as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, I can perform adaptive Behavior Assessments. These assessments measure individual skills in areas of daily life functions such as communication, social relationships, motor skills, and dangerous behaviors that may need to target for reduction.

One popular assessment is the VB-MAPP. The goal is to measure the presence of specific skills related to a person's verbal language. We first complete the initial assessment to determine a child's current skill set before starting therapy. Yet, once that is found, it's just a starting point. It would be the beginning of a journey filled with success, accomplishments, much-needed intervention adjustments from me, updates with parents, cheers, and tears.

Recently, while I looked at a past client's VB-MAPP grid filled with gorgeous colors that each represented a season, I couldn't help but smile. With each authorization and update, we were able to fill it in with more and more colors. Mastered programs, so many accomplished goals, and I immediately thought to myself… How would my own grid look?

When I received my Bachelor's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2013, I didn't know that Applied Behavior Analysis existed. Now, as I look back over my past five years, I am in awe of my own personal journey working with children with special needs, in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and outside of that, and I can say I am so proud of myself! 😂.. I went from being terrified of doing parent training to getting my work published, presenting at conferences, and getting grants funded. Sometimes you have to look back and clap for yourself. Every disappointment, every denial into a graduate program, admission into my current doctoral program… I wouldn't change a single thing. Every single experience, company, supervisor, and class taught me something (trust me— there's a lesson in EVERYTHING.) Even a few "sub-par" supervisors had led me to do the opposite when I became a BCBA, lol. I will also say, being a BCBA and a Ph.D. student are both more challenging positions than I thought.

Have grace for yourself.

My journey is far from over, but I hope to bring some peace to those still piecing their career puzzle together with this website. I hope to have you following along as I figure my journey out peace by piece.

and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

-romans 8:28