(00:00)
Timothy A. Zercher: Thank you so much for joining us, Kristen. We're really excited to hear your thoughts and experience, especially with your background in the ABA space.
First question: The quote on your LinkedIn mentions "building for the 51%." What inspired that mission, and how does it shape your work at Upskill?
(00:20)
Kristen Byra: Sure. I'll date myself a little—I'll be certified 18 years this August. When I graduated, there were 3,500 BCBAs. Now we're past 77,000, and over 51% have been certified five years or less. It's not throwing shade—it's about spotlighting the need for more support. The pool of experienced mentors is small, and new BCBAs need guidance.
(01:10)
Timothy A. Zercher: That makes sense. Experience is critical in ABA or any people-facing role. If we can offer tools to speed that learning curve, even better.
Next question: You often talk about trial counts. Why is that metric so critical in ABA therapy?
(01:39)
Kristen Byra: It’s not just about the data points going into Central Reach or Motivity—it's learning opportunities. Maintenance trials, generalization—how often are we truly engaging our learners? If a child masters new concepts quickly, they shouldn't need 40 hours a week of services. But often, there are long gaps between trials, and that limits progress. We can't expect rapid skill acquisition with minimal practice—especially for individuals with disabilities.
(03:20)
Timothy A. Zercher: That makes complete sense.
Tell me about the role mentorship plays in shaping effective behavioral analysts. And what inspired you to offer mentorship programs?
(03:35)
Kristen Byra: Mentorship is vital—no matter how long you've been in the field. I’ve been lucky to have peers to lean on as a "second brain." But many new BCBAs miss that network, especially with so much coursework happening online now. It’s why I raffled off free mentorship—support shouldn't be limited by cost.
(04:37)
Timothy A. Zercher: That makes perfect sense.
How do you balance clinical rigor with practical support, without overwhelming practitioners?
(04:56)
Kristen Byra: That’s where Clinical Decision Support Systems shine. They guide informed decisions instead of saying, "Go fix that." We provide curated literature, job aids, checklists, videos—giving clinicians quick access to vetted tools. Instead of spending hours doing your own lit search, you get what you need in minutes—saving time, improving quality, reducing overwhelm.
(06:12)
Timothy A. Zercher: That makes sense—efficient access helps them implement consistently.
Final question: What's one myth or outdated idea in ABA you'd love to see people move on from?
(06:35)
Kristen Byra: The idea that all BCBAs are interchangeable. Experience matters. If I did practicum with kids under six, I’ll struggle with adolescents, and vice versa. You can't just plug a BCBA into any role and expect the same outcome.
(07:23)
Timothy A. Zercher: Absolutely. People aren’t identical just because they share a certification. That disconnect shows, especially in large ABA groups.
(07:49)
Kristen Byra: Exactly—and both sides suffer. The BCBA struggles, the client suffers, burnout increases. We need better clinician-client matching and meaningful mentorship to bridge those gaps.
(08:25)
Timothy A. Zercher: Totally agree. Investing in your team shows you care—and prevents burnout.
(08:39)
Kristen Byra: Right. And even if there's a skill gap, mentorship bridges it. That builds confidence, expands competence, and better serves everyone. It’s not just about "certification and a pulse"—we must invest in our clinicians.
(09:30)
Timothy A. Zercher: Makes sense. Thanks so much, Kristen. We appreciate your insights—you clearly know your stuff.
(09:40)
Kristen Byra: Thanks for having me. I appreciate the opportunity.
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