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Episode #238: From SLP to SLP/BCBA: A Chat with Jennifer Houston

Jennifer Houston joins me to share her journey from speech‑language pathologist (SLP) to dual‑credentialed SLP/Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)—a rare “unicorn” duo found in fewer than 500 professionals worldwide. After more than two decades of diverse SLP roles, Jennifer found herself increasingly drawn to addressing challenging behaviors across her caseload. Motivated by this evolving passion and a push from her boss, she pursued BCBA certification, blending her communication expertise with applied behavior analysis to better support her clients.

In our conversation, Jennifer tackles common misconceptions about both fields and describes her thoughtful approach to professional introductions. She emphasizes the importance of gently educating colleagues about the shared foundations of speech‑language pathology and behavior analysis, fostering collaboration rather than competition.

Jennifer is also an active member of ABA Speech Connection, our community that provides science‑backed resources on the latest developments in ABA. She explains how this network helps her stay current and deliver evidence‑based interventions. Highlighting that education doesn’t end at graduation, Jennifer contrasts what she loves about our live courses—robust chat interactions—with the flexibility of ABA Speech’s comprehensive course library, underscoring her belief in lifelong learning.

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Jennifer Houston is a BCBA and an SLP in Indiana. She is a clinical faculty member at Purdue Fort Wayne where she teaches graduate and undergraduate Courses, supervises student clinicians, and coordinates medical externships. Jennifer earned her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Miami University in 1997 and her Master’s in ABA from Ball State University in 2018. She has been a clinical faculty member for five years, and prior to that she worked in an ABA clinic as both an SLP and a BCBA. Her clinical interests are early childhood, autism, and Down Syndrome with a focus on functional communication. She promotes mindfulness and self-care when teaching and supervising undergraduate and graduate students. Jennifer currently serves as the secretary on the Indiana Speech-Language Hearing Association board. Outside of her professional life, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and their two dogs. She loves knitting, tending to her indoor plant collection, playing bass guitar, kayaking, and engaging in various outdoor activities.

What’s Inside:

  • Becoming dually certified: SLP to SLP/BCBA.
  • Common misconceptions cross the fields of Speech Pathology and ABA.
  • Finding common ground across professions.
  • Utilizing ABA Speech Connection to bolster learning across the career.

Mentioned In This Episode

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