Athena is an ABA-Educational and Social Skills Therapist who has a wealth of experience working with children with Autism and special needs since 2016. Her passion for empowering these children led her to complete a Master's in Special Education and a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Studies and Psychology.​
 

Throughout her journey, Athena has worked with diverse children, particularly  those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as a behavioral therapist, school shadow teacher, and social skills trainer. She collaborates closely with parents and caregivers to ensure long-term benefits for both the child's development and family outcomes (e.g., stress management, financial burden etc.). Athena believes in empowering parents and caregivers, recognizing that they are with the child most of the time. By equipping them with the skills to implement interventions themselves, families can adjust the frequency of support as needed, reducing reliance on outside services and alleviating financial strain—allowing the primary cost to be their time, not additional expenses.

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Additionally, Athena has experience leading and mentoring aspiring therapists, designing curriculums for small group social skills classes using methodologies like Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking for children aged 3 to 12.She has received glowing feedback from the families, parents, and teachers she has worked with, noting significant improvements in the children under her care.

 

Lastly, Athena emphasizes addressing the root causes of challenging behaviors rather than applying temporary fixes. She builds strong rapport with each child and believes in the power of intrinsic motivation to foster lasting behavioral change. Athena celebrates every child’s uniqueness, carefully understanding the "why" before creating tailored solutions. Through collaboration with families and professionals, she aims to help each child achieve their fullest potential for independence and autonomy.​​​

Certifications: 
- Master of Education (Special Education) 

- Bachelor of Science - Psychology, Behavior Studies 

- Fundamental Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis

- Professional Certificate in Shadow Support 

- ABLLS-R Assessment of Basic Language

- Social Thinking: Implementing Social Thinking Concepts and Vocabulary: A Day to Develop Team Creativity 

- Social Thinking: Emotions - More Than We Think and All That We Feel

- Social Thinking: Assessing Social Competencies, Dynamic Assessment for Different Developmental Ages