Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Amanda Coffey.
Hi Dr. Coffey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
When I found out that I was going to be a mom, my world changed. I was terrified that I had not finished college and would not be able to provide for her. I had many jobs throughout the years and never stayed very long. I honestly had not found what I truly wanted to do. Then I was referred to a lady that provided ABA services for kids with autism. While the experience with the actual company was awful, learning about behavior analysis was fascinating to me. It was then that I decided I wanted to learn more and provide BETTER services to children with autism than what I had experienced. With the support of my family and AMAZING husband, I was fortunate enough to be able to finish my degree is Applied Behavior Analysis. I went on to finish my MS in Neuroscience and then a Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis, studying with some of the most incredible researchers in our field!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Heck NO! It hasn’t been smooth and probably the hardest thing that I have done in my life. It is a challenge to balance work and family. It is a challenge to hire and retain staff, especially in a pandemic. It is a challenge to own a business in general but more recently, in this climate. It is a lot of pressure as you are not only providing an essential service for our most vulnerable population but also providing a job that people rely on so that they can provide for their families. It can be overwhelming!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and own a large practice in McKinney, TX. We provide behavioral services (clinic and residential) to children and adults with autism and intellectual disabilities. We specialize in the treatment of severe challenging behaviors. I am most proud of the group of individuals that I work with day-to-day. Their compassion towards our clients and commitment to the science is exceptional. Our training and skill set has allowed us to expand services and are known for being the only group in North Texas that will accept some of the most complex cases into our program.
How do you define success?
In different ways. At home, being able to be present with my family. Running a business 24/7 doesn’t mean that you can clock in and go home. However, it is great feeling to know that we have people in positions to handle things that come up and I can be with my family when I am home. It took YEARS to get to this point and feels great! At work, it is meeting goals that I have set for the business like expanding current services, adding in new services, and partnerships. It is also seeing staff learn and grow within the company. Many start while they are in college, and grow into amazing licensed clinicians. And for my clients, it is seeing their progress. That is by far the BEST part!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.behaviornetwork.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehaviorNetwork
