We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Catalina Laverde. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Catalina below.

Catalina, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?

When I finished my bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders at UCF, I had no idea what to do next. I knew I loved working with kids, so I started exploring the SLP route. During my search, I applied to an ABA company. When they called me in for an interview, they told me they wouldn’t be able to hire me because I had no background in Behavior Analysis, but they could offer me an internship instead. I remember the interviewer saying, “This usually happens, we end up stealing SLP students because they like ABA so much.”

And that’s exactly what happened to me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who works with children on the Autism Spectrum and their families to help build meaningful communication, independence, and life skills. My journey into the field took an unexpected path. I originally studied Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida because I knew I loved working with children and wanted to pursue speech-language pathology. During that process, I applied to an ABA company and was offered an internship instead of a position. The interviewer joked that they often “steal SLP students because they fall in love with ABA.” That’s exactly what happened to me.

Since then, I’ve dedicated my career to working with children with developmental needs and supporting families through evidence-based behavioral strategies. What I love most about this field is seeing how small, consistent changes can create meaningful progress in a child’s life, whether that’s learning to communicate a need, building independence, or helping families feel more confident supporting their child.

Alongside my clinical work, I’m passionate about showing how the principles of behavior analysis can be applied beyond therapy sessions and into everyday life. As a BCBA, I naturally see how concepts like reinforcement, habit formation, and consistency influence our behaviors, and not just in children, but in our own routines as well.

Over time, I started incorporating these principles into my own lifestyle, including my fitness routines, nutrition habits, and daily structure. I’ve found that many of the same strategies we use in behavior analysis can be incredibly powerful when applied to personal goals and wellness.

Through my content and future projects, I hope to share how behavior science can support healthier habits, discipline, and long-term lifestyle changes. My goal is to make these concepts relatable and practical, while showing how small, consistent behaviors can create meaningful change over time.

What I’m most proud of is the impact this work can have, not just in helping children grow and develop, but also in demonstrating how behavioral principles can help people build more intentional, balanced lives.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

No, I wouldn’t. Even though I originally thought I would pursue speech-language pathology, discovering behavior analysis opened a path that aligned even more with my interests. It has allowed me to support children and families while also giving me tools to understand how behavior shapes everyday life, from learning and development to building routines and healthy habits.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Beyond training and technical knowledge, I think humility and openness to learning are essential. In many ways, the children and families I work with have been some of my greatest teachers. They constantly remind me that progress looks different for everyone, and that patience, creativity, and empathy are just as important as clinical skills.

Contact Info:

• Instagram:@ktaaaaaaa_

Image Credits

@c.laverdephotography