MONICA
FRANK

I am a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) with an extensive background in behavior analytic techniques, a deep understanding of child development, and strong appreciation for the importance of relationships within a child’s life. I provide a form of behavior therapy that brings about meaningful behavior change for children with neurodiversity through a combination of play-based child therapy sessions and close parent collaboration. 

I started my career in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2013, shortly after graduating with a B.S in Neuroscience from The University of California, Santa Cruz. I obtained my M.S in ABA with an emphasis in Autism from The Sage Colleges and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2016. Spending years working with neurodiverse children led me to form some core beliefs. 1.) child development is too complex to only take one approach, 2.) placing parents at the center of the treatment team leads to the most meaningful progress, and 3.) every child wants to explore their interests, have meaningful relationships, and be successful- some children simply require a unique approach to make this happen. My core beliefs drove me to continue to seek experience that would allow me to implement a form of therapy that was not only effective, but felt good to the child, the family, and me. I have been fortunate enough to collaborate closely with clinicians across disciplines such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, mental health, and neurology. In 2017, I began receiving mentorship in DIR Floortime, and have been working to integrate developmental and relationship-based therapeutic strategies from this model ever since. In January of 2021, I began pursuing a PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development at Fielding Graduate University. 

In my free time, I can be found spending time with my family, getting outdoors, playing board games, and watching in amazement as my son grows and develops in his own unique way.