Mary Beth Norris
ABS Kids
Westborough,MA
36
years of professional experience
Dynamic Behavioral Therapist with ABS Kids, skilled in applied behavior analysis and collaborative problem-solving. Achieved significant reductions in challenging behaviors through tailored interventions and effective social skills training. Committed to fostering client independence and emotional regulation, while enhancing therapeutic outcomes through data-driven strategies and strong rapport with clients and families.
Work History
Behavioral Therapist
1 Year 7 Months- Assessed client behavior and developed individualized treatment plans to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to implement effective behavioral interventions.
- Monitored client progress, adjusting strategies based on observed behaviors and feedback.
- Educated families on behavioral techniques to support skill development at home.
- Documented client interactions and progress in compliance with regulatory standards.
- Provided training and mentorship to new staff on best practices in behavior therapy.
- Maintained detailed documentation of client progress, communicating updates regularly to supervisory staff and relevant stakeholders.
- Reduced challenging behaviors by conducting functional behavior assessments and developing appropriate interventions.
- Developed rapport with clients by utilizing empathy and active listening skills, creating a supportive therapeutic environment conducive to learning.
- Responded effectively to crisis situations and aggressive behaviors, skillfully mitigating conflicts with proven strategies.
- Implemented crisis prevention measures when necessary to maintain safety within therapy sessions.
- Implemented behavioral intervention plans created by clinical supervisors.
- Helped teach important social, play and basic life skills such as personal hygiene management.
- Collected and analyzed data on client performance, adjusting treatment plans accordingly to maximize progress towards goals.
- Promoted social skill development in group settings using targeted activities and role-playing exercises.
- Maintained professional boundaries with parents and caregivers while building strong support networks to support treatment goals.
- Increased client independence by teaching essential self-help skills such as toileting, dressing, and feeding.
- Collected session data to aid in treatment planning and assessment.
- Enabled successful transitions between activities by implementing visual schedules, timers, and clear verbal cues tailored to each client''s needs.
- Customized therapeutic materials and visual aids to cater to individual client preferences and learning styles, ensuring optimal engagement during sessions.
- Visited clients at home, school and other settings to leverage expertise and positively impact individuals' lives with skilled interventions.
- Modified behavioral disorders caused by delayed or hindered development to help patients better integrate with peer groups and succeed in social and educational environments.
Teacher
32 Years 6 Months- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans aligned with state standards.
- Facilitated classroom discussions to promote critical thinking and collaboration among students.
- Adapted teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles and needs of students.
- Evaluated student progress through assessments, providing constructive feedback for improvement.
- Collaborated with colleagues to integrate cross-disciplinary lessons, enriching students' educational experience.
- Organized and led educational field trips that complemented classroom learning, broadening students' real-world understanding.
- Designed curriculum materials for special education students, facilitating inclusive learning.
- Created and developed lesson plans to meet students' academic needs.
- Helped students explore concepts with engaging, learning-focused activities.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Developed and implemented classroom routines to address varying student needs.
- Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
- Modified lessons and curriculum to accommodate diverse learners by using strategies such as peer-assisted learning and group work.
- Met with students, parents and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues.
- Shifted between formal and informal methods of teaching to keep students engaged.
- Fostered student curiosity and interest through creative hands-on activities.
- Prepared quizzes, tests and examinations to gauge how well students were learning.
- Scheduled conferences with parents to discuss students' progress and classroom behavior.
- Completed student progress reports mid-term to notify students and parents of strengths and areas of improvement.
- Designed detailed learning plans for struggling students based on test, homework and assignment records.
- Increased educational expertise and knowledge by participating in instructor-oriented workshops.
- Implemented reading and writing workshops to increase student literacy and support school reading programs.
- Boosted cultural awareness by incorporating children's literature from world cultures.
Education
Teaching Gifted Education - CLAD
Masters of Elementary Education/Science - Environmental Education
Skills
Behavioral intervention
Collaborative Problem-solving
Positive reinforcement
Applied behavior analysis
Observation
Therapy team planning
Behavioral plan management
Social skill development
Autism expertise
Emotional regulation
Autism spectrum disorder
Social skills training
Behavior support plans
Timeline
Behavioral Therapist
ABS Kids
10.2023 - 05.2025Read More
Teacher
San Bernardino City Unified School District
01.1989 - 07.2021Read More
University of California Riverside
Teaching Gifted Education from CLAD
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California State University, San Bernardino
Masters of Elementary Education/Science from Environmental Education
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