Relationship-Centered Behavioral
Support

About Ashley

​Hi, I’m Ashley—a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the founder of Mindful Behavior Connections. Before earning my credentials, I spent years in classrooms and homes as both a preschool teacher and a behavior therapist. I found so much purpose in supporting children’s growth and development, but I also saw how quickly that progress could stall when expectations felt too heavy or when adults focused more on compliance than connection.

​

Over the past decade, I’ve supported children and families across homes, schools, clinics, and community spaces. Along the way, I began noticing that some challenges extended beyond traditional three-term contingency used in behavioral approaches. Behaviors weren’t simply about antecedents and consequences—they were often linked to a child’s sense of safety, regulation, and lived experiences. I met children whose responses reflected nervous system overwhelm or anxiety, not opposition, and parents who felt unseen or exhausted by systems that reduced their child’s story to data points.

​

Those early experiences led me to ask deeper questions about what children truly need to thrive—and how families could be supported in ways that feel affirming and sustainable. I came to understand that learning and behavior are deeply tied to relationships, safety, and the nervous system. That realization continues to shape my work today: supporting children through curiosity, connection, and compassion while using evidence-based strategies that honor both science and humanity.

​

Integrating neuroscience and trauma-informed principles into my practice allowed me to enhance evidence-based ABA strategies with a more compassionate, individualized lens. This approach deepened my understanding of how the brain, body, and environment interact—and affirmed that connection, co-regulation, and trust are not extras, but prerequisites for learning. That philosophy continues to guide my work, where assent, safety, and relationship form the foundation for meaningful growth.

​

I use art, play, and nature as pathways for communication, creativity, social connection, and self-regulation. By embedding learning in natural environments, children develop authentic, sustainable skills that generalize beyond the therapy setting.​

​

Education, Professional Interests & Training​

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida International University (FIU)

• Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida (USF)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) 

• Completed Level 1 PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) Training with PDA North America 

• Natural Environment Teaching (NET) 

• Assent-based and child-led practices that prioritize autonomy, intrinsic motivation, and psychological safety

• Neuroscience and trauma informed care​