Staff Spotlight: Laura Medina | Therapeutic Pathways

This month, we’re giving a shoutout to Laura Medina for her hard work and dedication in her role at Therapeutic Pathways.

After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, Laura was hired at Therapeutic Pathways as a Registered Behavior Technician, and was then promoted to Lead Behavior Technician. She excelled in that position too and was promoted to Program Assistant, her current role since November 2020.

As Program Assistant at the East Bay center, Laura works closely with Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) to deliver high-quality therapeutic services for children with autism. Every day, she’s busy gathering data, conducting fidelity checks, and helping select the best focus of therapy for each client.

Laura has certainly been busy earning degrees and certifications and gaining experience, but she says all the studying and effort has been well worth it. When asked what motivates her professionally, Laura says, “I enjoy coming to work because I want to help make a difference in clients’ lives, and I truly enjoy the staff I work with and the support they provide.”

Ample support is common among staff members at Therapeutic Pathways. No matter their role, team members stick together and work hard to support their colleagues. Laura gives substantial credit to her team at the East Bay center for making the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic easier to navigate.

If a team is only as strong as its individual members, Therapeutic Pathways is in luck. We greatly appreciate all of the hard work that our team members put into their jobs, and we’re grateful that we get to share their accomplishments online. We were able to sit down and ask Laura more questions about her role at Therapeutic Pathways.

How is the company culture at Therapeutic Pathways?

The company culture at Therapeutic Pathways is great; I enjoy everyone I work with and am happy to be able to learn from all of my colleagues.

How has your career grown since starting at Therapeutic Pathways?

I started as an RBT. Shortly after I was promoted to Lead RBT, and I recently was promoted to Program Assistant.

What is your favorite thing about working at Therapeutic Pathways?

My favorite thing about working at Therapeutic Pathways is being able to see clients reach their milestones that we all work together to accomplish.

Thank you, Laura

Without Program Assistants like Laura, our treatment programs wouldn’t function nearly as smoothly or as well as they do. Laura, thank you for all of your hard work, time, and dedication to Therapeutic Pathways. Your efforts have helped hundreds of children, and we thank you for helping us toward our goal of improving lives.

Join us in a few short weeks for the next Employee Spotlight!

Readiness

Your answers indicate that your child may be best treated in the Readiness program. This individualized, evidence-based program teaches young children skills they need to accelerate their learning and gain independence. Using imitation and naturalistic learning techniques, your child will develop useful skills in the areas of speech and language, cognition, and self-awareness. A program for children ages 0-3. *This is a suggestion based on the answers you submitted. Please contact Therapeutic Pathways at (209) 422-3280 to discuss which program would best suit your child.

Foundations

Your answers indicate that your child may be best treated in the Foundations program. This program gives preschool and school-age children the structure to achieve important social, emotional, and intellectual milestones, helping them test within their peers’ range. With 25+ hours of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy per week, your child will develop social skills and better self-awareness for school and home. A program for children ages 4-7. *This is a suggestion based on the answers you submitted. Please contact Therapeutic Pathways at (209) 422-3280 to discuss which program would best suit your child.

Breakthroughs

Your answers indicate that your child may be best treated in the Breakthroughs program. Specifically designed for children who have limited hours due to school schedules, this program removes life barriers by developing communication, social, and self-help skills. We teach your child to engage in appropriate behaviors, helping them interact with peers and develop relationships. A program for children ages 8-11.

Interactions

Your answers indicate that your child may be best treated in the Interactions program. Through guided social skills groups twice a week, this program helps improve social functioning in children ages 5 to 16. Parent or caregiver participation is crucial to this program; our certified staff provides training for successful participation.

Independence

Your answers indicate that your child may be best suited for the Independence program. Geared toward older children, this program includes more in-depth skills that will help your child function independently. Taught skills include functional communication, self-management, and financial literacy. A program for individuals ages 12-25. *This is a suggestion based on the answers you submitted. Please contact Therapeutic Pathways at (209) 422-3280 to discuss which program would best suit your child.

Your Child My Be Suited to Multiple Programs

Independence

Strategies

Your answers indicate that your child may be best suited for the Strategies program. The most age-encompassing of our programs, the goal of Strategies is to reduce challenging behaviors and issues with aggression. These behaviors interfere with independence and community participation, so we work to mitigate those challenges and encourage safe, appropriate behavior for individuals of any age. *This is a suggestion based on the answers you submitted. Please contact Therapeutic Pathways at (209) 422-3280 to discuss which program would best suit your child.

Strategies

Breakthroughs and/or Interactions

Your answers indicate that your child may be best suited to the Breakthroughs or Interactions programs. These programs treat similar symptoms, so Therapeutic Pathways will need to meet with you and your child before we can place them within the appropriate program.

Specifically designed for children who have limited hours due to school schedules, Breakthroughs removes life barriers by developing communication, social, and self-help skills. We teach your child to engage in appropriate behaviors, helping them interact with peers and develop relationships.

Through guided social skills groups twice a week, Interactions helps improve social functioning in children. Parent or caregiver participation is crucial to this program; our certified staff provides training for successful participation.

*This is a suggestion based on the answers you submitted. Please contact Therapeutic Pathways at (209) 422-3280 to discuss which program would best suit your child.

Your Child My Be Suited to Multiple Programs

Breakthroughs and/or Interactions

*This is a suggestion based on the answers you submitted. Please contact Therapeutic Pathways at (209) 422-3280 to discuss which program would best suit your child.