Meet Mariana Villegas, BCBA

Clinician Spotlight - Meet Mariana Villegas BCBA

By Dr. Amanda Pileski, PHD

Q. What brought you to Rabun County? What has it been like acclimating to the area?

A. Family is one of the most important things in life and being closer to my family is what brought me to Rabun County. I am enjoying being in close contact with nature and driving through the mountains is a great adventure, especially after living in Florida where there is a flat landscape. The transition was difficult because of the pandemic, but it’s been a joy to be able to work one-on-one with the children. The individualization of teaching and therapy has allowed the children to show much success in a short amount of time. This has been a life fulfilling goal.

Q. Tell me about your background/training/ specialty areas of treatment. A. I received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Behavior Analysis from Simmons University. I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). My calling has always been to teach and my specialty area of treatment is with children and young adults with behavioral challenges or Autism. I am skilled at working with nonverbal children, children that will not collaborate with daily life skills, and children who need assistance in navigating the social world. I learned that if you are creative enough to motivate students, they will engage in the work that is needed to modify their behaviors. I especially enjoy increasing their motivation towards learning. During a session, while teaching the student I observe and discern what would be the appropriate skills to develop in order for them to find an acceptable way of interacting with others and getting rid of an inappropriate behavior.

Q. What is ABA and what population is it most commonly used with?

A. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science that explains how a person’s environment affects their behavior. It also gives therapists a way to teach students the skills that they need to grow. It is an effective therapy for children who have been diagnosed with Autism, and has many other uses like reducing anger outbursts. Many times ABA therapy helps students to develop the skills of tolerating “no” as a response, completing difficult tasks, and developing patience.

Q. What interested you most in this form of treatment - ABA?

A. I like that ABA therapy allows me to individualize the treatment of every student that I help. I get to design programs and lessons that are based on the students interests. I also get to design behavior interventions that work for both the family and the individual. I enjoy teaching students skills that make them able to succeed in social and classroom settings.

Q. What do you like most about your chosen career path?

A. I most enjoy seeing the joy that a student feels when they are able to engage with others in a more productive and meaningful way, breaking through the walls of silence that have gripped them, sometimes for years, and seeing that there is a way to reach them. The joy that I see in the faces of my students when they finally are able to engage with others is among the most exciting moments of my life.

Q. What are your ambitions for the future?

A. I hope to be able to help as many children as possible. That is why I plan on continuing my education to get a doctoral degree. I want to create a program that celebrates the wonderful qualities of children with Autism, allowing them to share their strengths and talents. I believe that they have many contributions that we can all learn from.

Q. What were the major influences in your life that made you want to become a helping professional/behavior analyst/therapist?

A. Before entering this field I was a teacher, it was during this time that I found myself researching how to help the students in my classrooms that had behavioral challenges. It was these students who inspired me to seek an education in behavior analysis. I believed that students with specialized needs require an individualized education and I wanted to be the therapist who provides it. I will always be thankful to the kids who led me down this path.

Q. What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t working?

A. I studied art and I enjoy painting, and woodworking. I play piano and love music. I love reading and learning about the different methods of teaching. I enjoy sharing this knowledge with others, so I have created art and science enrichment clubs for kids and now I am doing it when I don’t work. I am passionate about bringing the joy of learning to others. Rabun,