Meet Our Team:
We provide home and community-based
ABA therapy to adults with
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities on the Florida Medwaiver Program, across the
Tampa Bay Area.
​
Lisa Abdalla, MA, BCBA, RMHCI
Owner and Director
Lisa is a dedicated and compassionate Behavior Analyst with a strong commitment in helping her clients to achieve positive changes. For over 20 years, she has used the Positive Behavior Support approach with her clients. The Positive Behavior Support approach is a holistic approach that considers all of the factors that impacts a person’s behavior and how they deal with their challenges. She believes that, by building a positive relationship with her clients, their families, care takers, and their supports and including them in the ABA treatment planning, lasting changes can occur for her clients. Lisa uses neurodiverse affirming practices in her approach.​​​ Lisa holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Master's Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, and a Master's Degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, all from the University of South Florida. She is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI) with the state of Florida and offers mental health counseling. Lisa also consults with Mental Health Counselors to create awareness of Autism-specific approaches and support in mental health treatment and counseling. She became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), in 2003, and has been Owner and Director of ABA Therapy Associates, Inc. since 2005.
Jessica Valladares, MA, BCBA
Senior Behavior Analyst
Hillsborough County
Jessica’s approach to behavior analysis combines her experience of having worked with young children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as middle aged and older clients, to assist them and the people supporting them, in accessing the goals that they have for themselves. She values building a positive rapport with her clients and their support teams, in order to be able to hone in on what is really important to them at their current stage in life, and to identify ways to help them access their wants and needs in safe and comfortable ways. She emphasizes utilizing teaching and reinforcement techniques that are personalized to the type of strategies that help her clients learn best, while focusing on maintaining their dignity and a high quality of life. She loves to see her clients succeed and live their best life.​ Jessica became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), in 2004. She has been a part of the ABA Therapy Associates' team since 2006 and works the Hillsborough County Area. In the past, Jessica served as a committee member of the Local Review Committee (LRC) for Hillsborough County, for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Kyla Walker, MS, BCBA
Senior Behavior Analyst
Sarasota and Manatee Counties
Kyla's approach with her clients is compassionate, giving time and grace to the individual, as well as to others involved in each case. She provides individualized treatment, consistent service, and support to each person
involved, including her client, as well as other team members within their circle of supports. Kyla became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), in 2003. She has been a part of the ABA Therapy Associates' team, since 2006 and works the Manatee and Sarasota County Areas. In 2017, she established a local Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA) chapter, the Suncoast Association for Behavior Analysis (SCABA), of which she still serves as President. In the past, Kyla served as a committee member of the Local Review Committee (LRC) for Sarasota and Manatee Counties, for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Tate McGhee, MS, BCBA
Senior Behavior Analyst
Pinellas County
Tate's approach to behavior analysis is authentic, interactive, and empathetic. He believes in building, emphasizing, and maintaining rapport with his clients throughout the behavior analysis therapy process. Tate specifically utilizes a three-term sequence in his assessment process and then uses functional-based treatments that are assessment-driven. Some of the behavior analytic techniques that Tate uses are staying close, providing positive consequences, and functional communication training, to assist his clients with making positive behavior changes in their lives. ​Tate became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), in 2004. He became a part of the ABA Therapy Associates' team in 2012 and works the Pinellas County Area. Tate has extensive experience working with adults who live in Behavior Focus Group Homes. In the past, Tate served as a committee member of the Local Review Committee (LRC) for Pinellas and Pasco Counties, for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Danah Collier, MA, BCBA
Senior Behavior Analyst
Pinellas County
Danah's approach to behavior analysis incorporates full consideration of the client's background, life experience, and future goals. She strives to serve her clients through an empathic lens, encouraging them and their supports to keep the client's wants, needs and safety in the forefront of services. Danah believes that communication is key in promoting the client's well-being and overall quality of life. She enjoys being a part of the strong teams of support for each individual she serves.​ Danah became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), in 2012, then became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), in 2014. She joined the ABA Therapy Associates' team in 2014 and works the Pinellas County Area. She has extensive experience working with adults who live in Behavior Focus and Intensive Behavior Group homes. Danah currently serves on the Pinellas and Pasco County Local Review Committee (LRC), for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
​
Satori Kearney, MA, BCBA
Senior Behavior Analyst
Pinellas County
Satori’s approach to behavior analysis draws from her experience of working with adults and children, focusing on the individuality of each client. She believes in building a positive rapport with her clients and their support team, in order to foster progress towards their behavior goals. Satori is passionate about creating individualized treatment for her clients that helps them succeed in their environments. Satori became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), in 2012, then became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), in 2017. She joined the ABA Therapy Associates' team in 2014 and works the Pinellas County Area. Satori has extensive experience working with adults who live in Behavior Focus and Intensive Behavior Group Homes, as well as providing Behavior Focus Group Home Oversight.
​
Lindsey Golonka, MA, LMHC, BCBA
Behavior Analyst
Sarasota and Manatee Counties
Lindsey believes in utilizing the principles and strategies of ABA to help her clients meet their individualized goals. She enjoys working with her clients’ support teams to provide the best support in helping them make progress towards meaningful, socially significant goals. Lindsey is passionate about helping others and believes that her background in mental health counseling combined with her training and certification in ABA have developed her holistic approach in working with her clients and their families and support teams. She enjoys working with her clients on making individualized choices on what is meaningful to them and then working with those in their environments on how to best meet those outcomes. Lindsey is also dedicated to a life long goal of learning and continuing to stay up to date on best practices within the field of ABA. Lindsey became a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (in Indiana), in 2013, then she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), in 2016. She joined the ABA Therapy Associates' team in 2019 and works the Manatee and Sarasota County Areas.
​
Morgan McKeown, MA, BCBA
Behavior Analyst
Pasco County
Morgan's approach to behavior analysis places an emphasis on reinforcement strategies and creating positive environments where people can flourish. She tailors her services to the whole individual and builds relationships within each case that allow her client and their circle of supports to feel safe, heard, and in control of their life and their decisions. Interventions are designed to help her clients grow into their desired possibilities, with an emphasis on expressing authenticity and making meaningful choices. Morgan is passionate about disseminating education and guiding change agents toward positive, evidence-based strategies. Morgan became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), in 2020. She joined the ABA Therapy Associates' team in 2022 and works the Pasco County Area. Morgan also has experience working with adult clients who live in Behavior Focus Group Homes. In addition, she is a certified PCM Instructor and currently serves as a committee member of the Local Review Committee (LRC) for Hillsborough County, for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
​
Karis Owens, BA, BCaBA
Behavior Analyst
Pinellas and Manatee Counties
Karis' approach to behavior analysis is about connecting with her clients, developing positive relationships with them and helping them brainstorm, to make their own choices that are meaningful to them. She believes in creating behavior goals that align with her clients' personal preferences and then assisting them to voice their choices to others. Karis finds her true value in her behavior analysis approach, when her clients' behavior goals can truly be achieved. What Karis values the most about the work she does in ABA is the advocacy that naturally occurs, while working with individuals. Karis became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), in 2012. She joined the ABA Therapy Associates' team in 2013 and works the Pinellas County and Manatee County Areas.
​