Marissa the BCBA

04/06/2026

Safety-Care® for Families — Session 1 of 3: Understanding & Preventing Behavioral Crisis

Are you a parent, caregiver, or family member supporting a loved one whose behavior can sometimes feel overwhelming or unsafe? You are not alone — and there is help.

Join us for Session 1 of our three-part virtual training series based on the evidence-based Safety-Care® for Families program by QBS — trusted by 250,000 people across North America.

⭐ Graduates of all 3 sessions receive an official certificate recognizing them as a Specialist in the Essentials of Safety-Care® for Families — a meaningful credential to share with schools, IEP teams, service providers, and licensing professionals. In this first session (just 1.5 hours), we'll lay the foundation for safer, calmer days at home and in the community.

You'll learn:
✦ How to understand and make sense of challenging behavior
✦ The A-B-Cs of behavior (what triggers it, what follows it)
✦ How to prevent incidents before they escalate
✦ Simple de-escalation strategies you can start using right away
✦ Your legal rights and how to collaborate with your support team

This training is designed for parents, foster and adoptive families, and all caregivers — no prior experience needed.

📅 Date: SATURDAY, MAY 9TH 2026 (PART 1)
🕐 Time: 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM PST (approx. 1.5 hours)
💻 Platform: TEAMS
💵 Investment: $45 for all 3 sessions + certificate
🔗 Register on my website www.marissathebcba.com

⚠️ Space is strictly limited to 15 participants per cohort. This small group format ensures every family gets the attention they deserve — reserve your spot before it fills.

03/30/2026

01/08/2026

Optum is now accepted! 🌿
No waitlist — let’s get started 💕

12/12/2025

Collaboration matters.
Ethics matter.
Compassion matters.

I’m grateful to work alongside professionals who value thoughtful, client-centered care and meaningful outcomes. Thank you for these kind testimonials and for the work we do together 🤍

11/21/2025

Honored to begin offering BCBA services with Legacy Care ADHC/CBAS 🌿
My heart is in gentle, compassionate behavioral support—helping participants feel safe, understood, and empowered in their daily routines.
Looking forward to this new chapter. ✨

11/14/2025

WHO HURT YOU???? 😮

The ABA field is changing — but not everyone is ready for that conversation.

I recently had a fellow BCBA tell me that parent-led ABA “isn’t viable,” that “there isn’t enough research,” and that this type of model is “political.”

And it made me realize something important:

💬 Some BCBAs are so deeply rooted in the traditional, high-hour, RBT-heavy model that they can’t imagine anything outside of it.

But here’s the truth ⬇️

✨ Parent-led and hybrid ABA models are supported by research.
✨ They are clinically appropriate for many families.
✨ They do reduce burnout, increase generalization, and respect real-life family needs.
✨ And yes — they are absolutely viable when you understand how to implement them correctly.

What isn’t viable anymore is pretending every family can sustain 20–40 hours a week of direct services, especially when:

▪️ RBT turnover is high
▪️ Families are exhausted
▪️ Cultural needs are being ignored
▪️ Care becomes rigid instead of responsive
▪️ Generalization only happens in living rooms, not real life

Parent involvement isn’t political. It’s ethical.
It’s part of every modern treatment guideline — and it’s necessary for long-term success.

And let’s be very clear:

👉 I do refer families to direct-service companies when direct services are clinically needed.
👉 I’m not replacing traditional ABA — I’m filling the huge gap families fall into when direct services aren’t sustainable or appropriate.

The real issue isn’t viability.
It’s that our field has been built around one business model for so long that anything outside it feels “wrong” instead of innovative.

ABA does not have to look like a 40-hour-a-week program to be legitimate.

It just has to be:
💗 ethical
💗 effective
💗 individualized
💗 and responsive to the family in front of us

Parent-led ABA isn’t the future.
It’s the present — for the families who’ve been asking for something different all along.

And if we, as BCBAs, can’t see past the old model…
then we’re not practicing the flexibility and creativity our science is built on.

10/30/2025

✨🌙 Happy Halloween from Marissa the BCBA! 🌙✨
Wishing all my families, friends, and fellow BCBAs a safe, spooky, and joy-filled night! 💜
Remember — kindness (and candy) go a long way 🍬💫



🧡 Photo shared with permission

10/16/2025

✨ Now Accepting SDRC 0–3 Clients for January 2026! ✨

I’m so excited to open 2–3 new spots for Gentle, Parent-Led ABA — a collaborative and compassionate approach designed to fit naturally into your family’s routines 💕

🌿 Focus areas:
• Gentle ABA & Parent Coaching
• Natural Environment Teaching
• Early Start (0–3) transitions

📍 Serving families across San Diego, including Bonita, Chula Vista, La Mesa, and more!
📅 Flexible weekday and Saturday openings

If you’re an SDRC Service Coordinator or a parent seeking Early Start support, feel free to reach out — I’d love to connect and help your little one grow with kindness and confidence 💫

📧 marissa@marissathebcba.com
📞 (619) 320-5235
🌸 marissathebcba.com

09/22/2025

New banner unlocked 🥰

09/20/2025

✨🌸 First Booth Event! 🌸✨
I’m so excited to share that I’ll be at the 3rd Annual San Diego Regional Center Family & Vendor Resource Fair 🎉

📍 SD Convention Center, Downtown
📅 Saturday, October 4th, 2025
🧁 Come visit my “Café ABA” booth (G3!) to pick out a stuffed treat, grab some freebies, and learn more about gentle, parent-led ABA. 💖

💌 I can’t wait to connect with families, providers, and friends. Let’s make memories together (and maybe sing a little karaoke 😉).

👉 Event details & free registration here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sdrc-3rd-annual-family-vendor-resource-fair-tickets-1256900054899

09/20/2025

We live on pretty girl avenue! New graphic for my fridge magnet freebie ☺️