Built for BCBAs Who Know There's a Better Way
Real conversations about building an ABA practice that prioritizes autonomy, quality, and long-term impact.
Hosted by the team behind Headstart Health, this podcast is for clinicians ready to think bigger. From clinical decision-making to business ownership, we explore what it actually takes to build something of your own.
Ep 6 | Bridging the Gap: How Payers View Quality in ABA
In this episode, Dr. Sara Feldman interviews Rebecca Womack, BCBA and Director of ABA at Optum, to explore how quality is viewed from the payer perspective, the importance of treatment planning, and how BCBAs can align with systemic standards to improve care sustainability and outcomes. Payer perspective on ABA quality Treatment planning and assessment Standards of care and systemic alignment Data-driven quality measurement Provider and payer collaboration Site visits and organizational trust Impact of systemic standards on clinical practice Future of value-based care in ABA Rebecca Womack Director, Optum Health LinkedIn BACB - Behavior Analyst Certification Board Optum - Healthcare Service
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Ep 6 | Bridging the Gap: How Payers View Quality in ABA
In this episode, Dr. Sara Feldman interviews Rebecca Womack, BCBA and Director of ABA at Optum, to explore how quality is viewed from the payer perspective, the importance of treatment planning, and how BCBAs can align with systemic standards to improve care sustainability and outcomes. Payer perspective on ABA quality Treatment planning and assessment Standards of care and systemic alignment Data-driven quality measurement Provider and payer collaboration Site visits and organizational trust Impact of systemic standards on clinical practice Future of value-based care in ABA Rebecca Womack Director, Optum Health LinkedIn BACB - Behavior Analyst Certification Board Optum - Healthcare Service
Ep 5 | The Parent Experience with Kendra Little
In this episode, Dr. Sara Feldman speaks with Kendra Little about the emotional realities families face when navigating autism services, the importance of real-life skills, and how clinicians can build trust and connection with families. Family emotional weight and stress Importance of real-life skills for independence Building trust and connection with families Delivering data with hope and positivity Parent advocacy and empowerment Community-based life skills training Navigating IEPs and school systems Provider-family relationship dynamics Kendra Little, Founder of Hope & Faith Autism Life Skills 00:00 Introduction to the podcast and guest 00:27 Meet Kendra Little and her journey 01:25 Families' emotional weight and struggles 03:23 What families need from providers 05:22 Surprises in the autism journey 06:50 Hope during difficult times 08:12 Positive impacts of professionals 10:03 Being seen versus being just an appointment 11:06 Discovering the diagnosis and initial reactions 13:35 Receiving the autism diagnosis 15:40 The mindset of resilience and hope 18:36 Advice to newly diagnosed parents 19:17 Building trust with providers 23:06 Asking the right questions as a family 26:37 Language and communication with families 27:48 Avoiding title-heavy approaches 31:56 Delivering data with hope 33:34 Setting goals and hope for progress 35:23 Community outings and real-life skills 38:44 Parent workshops and advocacy 39:50 Empowering parents in IEP meetings 41:25 Finding your voice as a parent 48:12 Understanding family worries and fears 48:56 Permission to bring authenticity and whole self 51:35 The importance of bringing humanity into therapy 52:20 How families can connect with Kendra 53:41 Closing remarks and contact info Kendra Little Contact: Linkedin Instagram Autism Life Skills
Ep 4 | The Future of Ethical ABA Practice: Lessons from Media Reports
This episode tackles the critical issues facing the ABA industry, including recent media reports of unethical practices, profit-driven motives, and the importance of ethical standards. BCBAs share insights on maintaining integrity, navigating ethical dilemmas, and advocating for high-quality, ethical care. Media reports on unethical ABA practices Profit motives and industry accountability Ethical standards and oversight in ABA Strategies for ethical decision-making in practice Role of BCBAs in advocating for quality care 00:00 Addressing Concerns in Autism Services 05:33 The Impact of Growth on Service Quality 10:15 Profit Over Children: Ethical Dilemmas in ABA 14:47 Billing Practices and Their Consequences 19:12 Out of Network Strategies and Their Implications 23:53 The Role of BCBAs in Ethical Practices 27:25 Allegations of Abuse and Accountability 28:19 Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in ABA 33:08 Interviewing for Ethical Practices 37:49 Identifying Quality ABA Providers 43:39 Empowering Families and BCBAs 45:53 Ethics in Practice: Real-World Scenarios
Ep 3| The 3 Key Traits of Effective ABA Leaders
Dr. Sara Feldman shares her insights on leadership development, emotional intelligence, and creating a positive organizational culture in ABA. She discusses practical strategies from her entrepreneurial journey, book recommendations, and how to foster independent thinking within teams. Leadership starts with self-awareness and self-leadership. Ask more questions, tell less, to foster critical thinking. Create a psychologically safe environment for innovation. Use curiosity and questions to develop team members. Promote humility, hunger, and smartness in hiring. Chapters 00:00 The importance of leadership in ABA 01:18 Leadership as a mirror for personal development 03:00 High turnover and leadership responsibility 04:15 Creating humans, not just ABA providers 05:03 Books that shaped my leadership approach 05:51 The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stainer 06:43 Overcoming the advice monster 08:03 The importance of questions over answers 11:03 Asking the right questions to empower teams 13:13 Psychological safety and trust 14:30 Building leaders, not followers 15:37 Brene Brown's Dare to Lead 19:30 Emotional maturity and vulnerability 21:07 The concept of rumbling and honest conversations 23:14 Creating a culture of psychological safety 24:25 Encouraging respectful dissent 24:50 Patrick Lencione's Ideal Team Player 26:06 Self-awareness and team growth 31:05 Hiring, firing, and promoting with purpose 31:58 The importance of humility, hunger, and smartness 36:08 Final thoughts on leadership and self-awareness 36:24 Permission slip: Curiosity over answers 36:52 Closing remarks and resources
Ep 2 | How to Build a Culture of Excellence in ABA Practice
This episode features Dr. Kristen Byra (BCBA-D) discussing the importance of clinical quality in ABA, sharing her journey, insights on training, mentorship, and practical steps for BCBAs to improve their practice. 00:00 Introduction to ABA Entrepreneurship 01:08 Journey into ABA: Personal Stories 03:26 The Importance of Clinical Quality 12:39 Navigating the ABA Landscape 17:05 Defining Quality in ABA 22:32 Advice for New BCBAs 28:57 Building a Supportive ABA Business 31:13 Navigating Job Offers and Sign-On Bonuses 32:05 Empowering BCBAs in Interviews 34:24 Difficult Decisions for Quality Assurance 40:52 Taking Action for Quality Improvement 46:29 Building a Supportive Community for BCBAs 50:20 Rapid Fire Reflections and Insights Prioritize clinical quality over compliance for better outcomes. Seek mentorship and community support to grow professionally. Use self-assessment tools to identify and address gaps in practice. Treat your first two years post-certification as a pro-tum experience to build competence. Dr. Kristen Byra Upskill ABA Headstart Health Kristen Byra Linkedin
Ep 1 | From Clinician to Entrepreneur: Building Your ABA Practice with Headstart Health
This episode features Dr. Sara Feldman, Breanna Holm, and Janelle Wade discussing the journey of building independent ABA practices, the support systems available through Headstart Health, and the transformation of providers from clinicians to entrepreneurs. They share insights on starting, scaling, and sustaining successful ABA businesses, emphasizing community, systems, and provider empowerment. Hosts Dr. Sara Feldman, Breanna Holm, Janelle Wade Chapters 00:00 Introduction to BCBA's Who Build Podcast 06:00 Meet the Team Behind Headstart Health 11:57 The Journey to Building an ABA Company 15:09 The Movement Towards Independent BCBAs 20:32 Overcoming Barriers to Independence 25:55 The Role of Head Start Health in Supporting BCBAs 29:15 Training and Onboarding for New Providers 35:35 Navigating Insurance Complexities 39:06 The Importance of Delegation in Business 40:54 Delegating to Elevating: The RBT Recruitment Process 42:58 Client Acquisition and Support: Simplifying the Process 46:17 Transformations in Leadership: From Provider to Entrepreneur 46:17 Success Stories: Real Transformations in the ABA Community 53:05 Building a Legacy: The Impact of Leadership in ABA resources Headstart Health Website - https://headstarthealth.com Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) - https://www.bacb.com Guest Links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarafeldmanphd/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/holmbreanna/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenelle-wade-bcba-744aa1a4/ ABA, BCBA, independent practice, entrepreneurship, Head Start Health, provider support, business scaling, insurance management, clinician empowerment Pathways from clinician to business owner Support systems for independent BCBAs Scaling and managing an ABA practice Insurance and billing support for providers Community and mentorship in ABA entrepreneurship
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Why We Created This Podcast
Most BCBAs are trained to deliver care within existing systems, not to build their own. This podcast was created for clinicians who are starting to ask what more could look like. More autonomy. More intention. More ownership over the care they provide.
Each episode features conversations with industry leaders, practice owners, and BCBAs who are building a different path forward. The focus is practical, direct, and grounded in real experience.
“For clinicians ready to think bigger—from clinical decisions to business ownership.”
Meet Your Hosts
Dr. Sara Feldman Ph.D., BCBA
Director of Provider Engagement
Sara brings experience building and scaling ABA organizations and leads conversations on transitioning from clinician to owner.
Melanie Shank M.S., BCBA
Training & Engagement Lead
Melanie focuses on translating clinical excellence into operational systems that support sustainable growth.
Breanna Holm M.S., BCBA
Director of Operations
Breanna supports providers by removing operational barriers and enabling focus on care delivery.
Jenelle Wade M.S., BCBA
Director of Provider Success
Jenelle brings experience scaling multi-state operations and guiding providers through growth.
What You'll Learn
How to start and grow an ABA practice
Navigating the business side of care delivery
Ethical decision-making in practice ownership
Building operational systems that support clinicians
Real-world experiences from BCBAs who have made the transition
Practical insights grounded in real experience—not theory.
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We are looking for professionals who can contribute meaningful insights to the ABA community. If you have experience, perspectives, or lessons that would benefit other clinicians, we encourage you to apply.
You're Closer Than You Think
If you've been considering building something of your own, this is where the conversation begins.