"Through this job, I get to check the boxes that are important to me: being able to advocate for the kiddos, being their support directly or indirectly, being able to work closely with an ‘at need’ community and impact their lives. I want people to see a person for who they are, not the label bestowed on them."
What attracted you to this role? Tell us about your career journey.
At the vocational tech high school I attended I was assigned to the nursing track. As I went through the classes, I began to see that helping others and speaking up for them was really where my heart was—it’s what I liked and wanted to pursue. I wanted to make an impact and be part of that change in someone’s life.
Around that same time I had an experience that started me on this track and confirmed my direction: I saw first-hand how a co-worker with disabilities was treated and it really bothered me. I worked at a movie theater during the COVID-19 pandemic timeframe and we were having a hard time getting employees for the jobs we had open at the theater. We had an employee who had some disabilities, and she was at higher risk, so she had left her position at the theater for the duration of COVID as everyone was allowed to do. When she was ready to start working again, she was told there were no jobs, nothing for her to do at the theater. I saw it and heard it, I expressed my opinions to management but I didn’t have the power to advocate for her and change that outcome. That’s when I realized I had the passion for serving and impacting others.
Once I graduated high school and went on to college, I was originally looking at getting a nursing degree, and then I saw there were other health careers that could be a good fit. I came across Occupational Therapy and liked the flexibility of the schedule, the potential to work with the community I was interested in supporting, and being able to advocate for the individuals I served, and so on. After I completed undergrad, I knew that before I went on to get my Master’s degree in OT and complete supervision I’d need some time and experience. So I thought for the time being I’d get a job in the health care field that was more along the career path I had in mind. I came across this company, and gave the role of Behavioral Health Tech a try.
How did you realize this role is right for you?I got off to a rough start because my first client was very intense and I didn’t know if the role was going to be ‘for me’. But I stuck with it, had a great supervisor, and started seeing progress a little bit at a time. It also gave me the chance to see what OTs did day-to-day, and what that career looked like. I realized that I wanted more 1:1 time with the kiddos, get to know them and their story, be able to help them and understand who they are as people. So my role as a BHT helped me see that OT isn’t what I wanted to do.
Over the past two years I’ve seen both sides of the role. How much fun it is to work with this population of kids at this age, and the energy that comes with connecting and collaborating with my co-workers and supervisors. But also how difficult and emotional things can get when you get attached, and create a relationship with the kids, and they move on for one reason or another. There’s no getting around that it’s an emotional job. At the end of the day, I learn as much from my co-workers as from the young people I serve.
What’s most rewarding about your role as a Behavioral Health Tech? Through this job, I get to check the boxes that are important to me: being able to advocate for the kiddos, being their support directly or indirectly, being able to work closely with an ‘at need’ community and impact their lives. I want people to see a person for who they are, not the label bestowed on them.
In this role I work closely with these kids and within these communities, and I’m able to be an advocate and say, ‘This behavior or diagnosis is not who they are’ and ‘Please address them by their name, they’re also human just like you.’ That’s what keeps me coming, keeps me with it, that I get to be that person, that advocate.’
At the vocational tech high school I attended I was assigned to the nursing track. As I went through the classes, I began to see that helping others and speaking up for them was really where my heart was—it’s what I liked and wanted to pursue. I wanted to make an impact and be part of that change in someone’s life.
Around that same time I had an experience that started me on this track and confirmed my direction: I saw first-hand how a co-worker with disabilities was treated and it really bothered me. I worked at a movie theater during the COVID-19 pandemic timeframe and we were having a hard time getting employees for the jobs we had open at the theater. We had an employee who had some disabilities, and she was at higher risk, so she had left her position at the theater for the duration of COVID as everyone was allowed to do. When she was ready to start working again, she was told there were no jobs, nothing for her to do at the theater. I saw it and heard it, I expressed my opinions to management but I didn’t have the power to advocate for her and change that outcome. That’s when I realized I had the passion for serving and impacting others.
Once I graduated high school and went on to college, I was originally looking at getting a nursing degree, and then I saw there were other health careers that could be a good fit. I came across Occupational Therapy and liked the flexibility of the schedule, the potential to work with the community I was interested in supporting, and being able to advocate for the individuals I served, and so on. After I completed undergrad, I knew that before I went on to get my Master’s degree in OT and complete supervision I’d need some time and experience. So I thought for the time being I’d get a job in the health care field that was more along the career path I had in mind. I came across this company, and gave the role of Behavioral Health Tech a try.
How did you realize this role is right for you?I got off to a rough start because my first client was very intense and I didn’t know if the role was going to be ‘for me’. But I stuck with it, had a great supervisor, and started seeing progress a little bit at a time. It also gave me the chance to see what OTs did day-to-day, and what that career looked like. I realized that I wanted more 1:1 time with the kiddos, get to know them and their story, be able to help them and understand who they are as people. So my role as a BHT helped me see that OT isn’t what I wanted to do.
Over the past two years I’ve seen both sides of the role. How much fun it is to work with this population of kids at this age, and the energy that comes with connecting and collaborating with my co-workers and supervisors. But also how difficult and emotional things can get when you get attached, and create a relationship with the kids, and they move on for one reason or another. There’s no getting around that it’s an emotional job. At the end of the day, I learn as much from my co-workers as from the young people I serve.
What’s most rewarding about your role as a Behavioral Health Tech? Through this job, I get to check the boxes that are important to me: being able to advocate for the kiddos, being their support directly or indirectly, being able to work closely with an ‘at need’ community and impact their lives. I want people to see a person for who they are, not the label bestowed on them.
In this role I work closely with these kids and within these communities, and I’m able to be an advocate and say, ‘This behavior or diagnosis is not who they are’ and ‘Please address them by their name, they’re also human just like you.’ That’s what keeps me coming, keeps me with it, that I get to be that person, that advocate.’
"Understanding the impact that I was able to have on him, and my clients today, really confirmed for me ‘this is why I’m here’. I know that I’m supposed to be here and I’m really enjoying my role."
Did you have an ‘aha’ moment that confirmed you were in the right place, the right role?
With my second case, I observed some treatment by a principal and teachers in my kiddo’s school setting that were really upsetting.
At the end of the day, if I hadn’t been there to speak up for him he wouldn’t have gotten what he needed. To me, that was a big aha…this is what I want to be doing. Because as much as I’m here teaching them skills, I’m also here speaking up for them and what they need. Otherwise their voices aren’t heard. Understanding the impact that I was able to have on him, and my clients today, really confirmed for me ‘this is why I’m here’. I know that I’m supposed to be here and I’m really enjoying my role.
Who has inspired your career journey? It started with my first nursing teacher in high school. She was very inspirational, and had a big impact on my career journey by encouraging me and seeing my potential and passion.
She encouraged us to explore the variety of jobs in the health care field, to go beyond nursing and really think about what we wanted from a career. I got to explore and do research, and remembering what I had experienced at the theater while I was still in high school, I realized that I wanted to serve this autistic community, how they’re treated, and the services and support they need.
She even predicted that I would be working with kids, but I was pretty skeptical. My passion and focus on serving the autistic community grew naturally over time. I was drawn to it, and inspired by the individuals I met and the impact I could have, and that’s where my heart has led me.
What’s the next chapter in your career journey? I’m currently a Behavioral Technician and I’m doing my Master’s in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). I used to work with younger kids and now I’m really enjoying working with kids that are moving into their teens. I find myself being drawn to coaching and teaching them how to manage those emotions, how to cope with situations they’re experiencing as a ‘tween’. I plan to continue on and become a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst).
Once I have my Masters degree, my end goal is to do mobile therapy (emotional recognition and regulation). I know now that just as much as we need to help them with the behaviors, we have to understand and help them cope with their emotions that are leading to those behaviors. That field of emotional regulation and recognition is where I’ve found that I excel.
Fun Fact:Before I was born, my family and doctors included (even after multiple sonograms and another the day before my birth), thought I was going to be a girl. As my parent prepared a pink room with lots of girl clothes and such, my name was going to be Samantha (my sister's name), but then out I came and was initially named Samuel (which, thankfully, was changed by my dad who gave me his name)! Surprise!