From BCBA to Center Director with Emily Duncan

‘The things they don’t teach you in grad school’ is a familiar refrain among behavior analysts. While our master’s-level coursework in ABA prepares us for clinical practice, it often falls short in equipping us for the managerial and operational responsibilities required to successfully transition from BCBA to Clinical or Center Director. Through no fault of our clinical training, many analysts find themselves learning these skills on the job as they move toward director-level roles. This episode highlights common obstacles faced by behavior analysts pursuing leadership positions in ABA and explores potential solutions to better prepare future clinicians for the managerial roles and responsibilities that accompany direct practice.

Speaker Name

Emily Duncan, BCBA

From BCBA to Center Director with Emily Duncan

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

Listeners will identify managerial and operational skills that are required of behavior analysts in the field of ABA that are not adequately taught in our graduate coursework

Listeners will identify possible solution(s) or suggestions that could be implemented in future coursework or supervision requirements that would better equip analysts for the managerial and operational responsibilities required in the field of ABA, and how these changes could translate to a Clinical Director role

Emily Duncan, BCBA

Emily Duncan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), certified in February 2019, with experience as a former Center Director of Early Intervention ABA services and current Behavioral Health Consultant. Her interests in the field of behavior analysis include assessing social validity in treatment goals and outcomes, as well as the assessment and treatment of aberrant behavior in natural environment settings and without the use of extinction procedures. In her previous roles as Center Director and Floating Center Director, Emily oversaw and supported clinical teams across multiple clinics, bringing a strong leadership perspective to service delivery and supervision. In her current role as a Behavioral Health Consultant, Emily collaborates with ABA organizations nationwide on consultative and recruitment efforts and supports BCBAs as they navigate their next career move. She is passionate about thoughtful dialogue, collaboration, and supporting both clinicians and organizations in strengthening the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.