Quality and Grace in ABA with Jesica Peterson

Thank you for listening!You can access .5 Learning CEUs with the link below.CEU Links: https://forms.clickup.com/14171965/f/dgftx-72637/G9OX191GE40IEG4RBB?Type%20of%20CEU%27s=.5%20BACB%20Ethics%20CEUs&Instructor=Jesica%20Peterson,%20BCBAHow do you deliver high-quality ABA without burning out—and without losing the heart? In this conversation, Jesica Peterson, BCBA and founder of Graceful Behavior Solutions, shares how “quality” and “grace” guide her practice with families, RBTs, and kids.Discussion Points:The “click” moment: from tough first cases to first words and real progressDefining and protecting quality: staffing, training, CE, and ethical practiceGrace in practice: meeting parents where they are, flexibility over rigidityParent training that lands: roles, language, pacing, and checking capacityContinuous learning: revisiting core trainings and avoiding stagnationFamily-centered care and the goal of “working yourself out of a job”Jesica traces her journey from RBT to BCBA and the early case that taught her perseverance and the power of meaningful progress. She unpacks her two core values—quality and grace—and shows how they shape everything from RBT training and clinic standards to flexible, human parent training that meets families where they are. We hear practical ways to avoid burnout by focusing on staff development, revisiting foundational trainings, reading body language, and pacing sessions to a parent’s capacity. Jesica explains why family-centered care improves outcomes and why the true success metric is helping families no longer need intensive support.About The Guest:Jesica Peterson, BCBA, has worked across home, clinic, and adult crisis settings since 2018. A prior military family member with experience in diverse communities, she founded Graceful Behavior Solutions, a practice grounded in the values of quality and grace.Time Stamps:00:00 Jesica’s path into ABA02:34 The challenging early client and the breakthrough moment04:41 Values that guide practice: quality and grace07:04 What “quality” looks like: staffing, training, CE, ethics09:56 Keeping learning alive; revisiting foundational trainings13:10 Practicing “grace” with families and teams17:22 What doesn’t work in parent training20:24 How Jessica opens the first parent training and defines roles23:34 Addressing fears and misconceptions about ABA26:0 Remembering parents are “in the trenches”29:07 Reading body language and pacing sessions32:08 Family-centered care and real-life outcomes35:46 Parting advice: anchor to your valuesReady to bring more quality and grace into your ABA work?Tune in to the full episode for practical, compassionate strategies you can use today.