TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence

Trauma leaves a lasting mark — on the mind, the body, and behavior. In this heartfelt episode, host Michelle Zeman welcomes Matt Tapia, BCBA and LMFT, for a powerful discussion on recognizing and addressing trauma in ABA settings. With over 15 years of experience supporting neurodiverse children and families, Matt brings a rare combination of clinical expertise and lived experience as an autistic professional and parent of an autistic daughter currently receiving ABA services. At Hopebridge, he leads a multidisciplinary team, mentors aspiring behavior analysts, and designs individualized interventions grounded in ethical, evidence-based practices that prioritize dignity, autonomy, and meaningful outcomes. Drawing from his background in behavior analysis, marriage and family therapy, practical functional assessment, skill-based treatment, and acceptance and commitment therapy, Matt shares how trust, rapport, and family collaboration are key to lasting transformation. Listeners will gain insight into trauma-informed strategies, the importance of honoring client consent, and the value of integrating science with compassion to create inclusive, life-changing support. Be sure to listen for the 2 code words and earn 1.5 General CEUs!

What does it look like to advocate for your own learning while honoring your current role and the supervision structure around you? How do you take on new responsibilities without overstepping boundaries?

In this thoughtful and informative episode, student analyst Abby Schierer joins host Michelle Zeman to explore these questions and more. As a full-time team member at To The Moon ABA Therapy and a master’s student pursuing her BCBA, Abby shares her journey from Philosophy and Ethics coursework to meaningful, hands-on clinical experiences. From navigating restricted vs. unrestricted hours to contributing to risk analysis, programming, peer review, and mock plans, Abby reflects on what it takes to build competence and confidence during fieldwork.

She also dives into the importance of thoughtful feedback, strong supervisory relationships, and learning to balance initiative with professional boundaries. Whether you’re just starting out or mentoring others, this episode offers real-world insight and valuable perspective on growing within the field of ABA.

Listen out for two code words provided throughout the episode to earn 1.0 Supervision CEU.

What does effective, ethical supervision look like when working with adults in crisis — not kids? In this episode, Dr. Ashley Fiorilli, PhD, BCBA, Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist, and Founder of Be Still Be Connected, LLC, joins us to unpack the unique challenges and opportunities of supervising RBTs in adult residential and crisis care settings.

Together, we explore why the traditional ABA playbook — rooted in discrete trial training, compliance, and early intervention models — often fails to serve adults with complex trauma histories, psychiatric diagnoses, and co-occurring medical needs. Dr. Fiorilli shares how she integrates ACT, trauma-informed care, and relational frameworks to help RBTs build flexibility, read the room, and respond compassionately in high-stakes environments where safety and dignity must come first.

We discuss the real-world gaps in RBT training when applied to adults, including navigating medical and psychiatric systems, medication management, and how to identify essential vs. non-essential demands in the moment. From recognizing a client’s “window of willingness” to letting go of power struggles in favor of trust-building, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies to help supervisors and technicians alike rethink their role through a more compassionate, human-centered lens.

Whether you work in residential care, forensic settings, or anywhere adults with complex needs are served, this episode will challenge you to rethink your approach to behavior change, progress, and supervision.

Listen out for the two code words to earn your free 1.0 Ethics CEU.