Meet our Team

Founders

  • My enthusiasm for helping children, particularly those who live in underserved communities and struggle to feel like they belong, was shaped by my own childhood experience as an immigrant in the United States. I grew up in a community where people from many different countries lived in the same neighborhood, and despite varied nationalities, different native languages, and family structure, families shared resources and looked out for one another. I believe that a united community is stronger than the sum of its parts.

    My career encompasses these values and my greatest fulfillment has come from seeing clients, their families, and the clinicians I’ve mentored establish meaningful connections, root into their communities, and contribute to the greater good in a meaningful way.

    Some of my interests outside of work include hiking, indoor & outdoor plant care, playing with my dog & cat, attending music shows, and traveling.

    Professional Experience & Credentials

    Anastasiya has over 12 years of experience providing behavioral support to children and young adults with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities.  She has designed and managed ABA programs for individuals ranging in ages from 1 to 25 years old, in the home, school, and community settings. 

    Her expertise is in resolving complex challenging behaviors and ensuring that each client develop the ability to independently communicate their needs, discomforts, and ultimately advocate for their safety and wishes for social-connection. 

    She has mentored numerous developing behavior analysts, paying special attention to instilling the value of effective collaboration with caregivers, school teams, and other service providers.

    Credentials & Education:

    • Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2009

    • Licensed Behavior Analyst (WA state)

    • Master's degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis from California State University, Los Angeles

  • I am naturally a highly empathic person and have always been motivated to help others, which ultimately led me to my career choice. I believe in the power of human connection and education as healing and empowering mediums for positive change. I have channeled those natural instincts through professional training and practice and feel fortunate for the opportunity to help children and adolescents meet their full potential.

    My diverse background and experiences as a school psychologist, trainer, and researcher have strengthened my belief and commitment that every person deserves high quality educational and social opportunities. I am passionate about the intersections of psychology and education and am committed to helping individuals, families, and systems evolve for the better.

    In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring state and national parks, and practicing yoga and meditation.

    Professional Experience & Credentials

    Anna has over 10 years of applied experience working in K-12 settings, including practicing school psychology and providing individual and group mental health counseling. ​

    ​She is an Assistant Professor in a Counseling and School Psychology Graduate Program, where she supervises and mentors graduate students, conducts research in educational equity, school-wide positive behavior support systems, social-emotional learning systems, and school-wide restorative practices.

    Credentials & Education:

    • Nationally Certified School Psychologist

    • Licensed Educational Psychologist (CA state)

    • Master's Degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University 

    • PhD in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara

Our Team

  • I first fell in love with ABA while working in a school with several knowledgeable and passionate teachers. While obtaining my Masters at the University of Washington, I worked as an Assistant Teacher in Project DATA at UW's Experimental Education Unit. My experience and background has shaped my desire to serve clients in inclusive environments such as community and school settings. I value collaborating and problem solving with families and all team members to ensure that programming is meaningful, individualized and can generalize to daily life. I feel fortunate to be able to help make an impact with the families I serve but also with mentoring new BCBAs and growing the field I feel so passionate about. Outside of work, my time is spent in nature, exploring new cities and neighborhoods, and finding different ways to be creative. 

  • I have a Bachelor's in Social Work and am currently pursuing a Master's in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis. I have worked with kids from birth through high school on developing social skills. I am particularly passionate about early intervention and parent education. I am a mom to two young daughters and have an Australian Shepherd. In my free time, I love spending the day beachcombing with my husband and daughters and paddleboarding in the Puget Sound.

  • Safety Care Trainer

    I joined the Acorn & Oak team in early 2022. I am passionate about providing compassionate care as a Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst. My role allows me to support our clients and their families, and helping them navigate their unique challenges.
    As the company’s Safety Care Trainer, I prioritize creating a safe and nurturing environment for both our clients and staff. I take pride in training our new Behavior Technicians and my colleagues, fostering a culture of support and continuous learning within our team.
    I feel strongly about protecting our youth and empowering them, by showing them the options and opportunities available to them. My approach is rooted in compassion and understanding, and I strive to ensure that every child feels valued and capable of reaching their full potential.

  • I have had a lifelong special interest in psychology and behavior since I was very small. I grew up with my brother who was diagnosed with autism when we were both very young. The impact of autism on my family has made an indelible impression on the way I see things. I have been an artist since I was a child as well, and I value all kinds of communication from writing to speaking to body language and acting. I believe that everyone can communicate, if only others are willing to open their minds to hear it. I am always wanting to learn more about how generational patterns affect us today with compassion and empathy. Learning new things related to my passions and self-improvement are what bring me joy. I like to draw, read, and play with my daughter and our pets in our free time.

  • Working with kids has been one of my longest passions, but a teacher didn’t seem to be the right fit. Instead working with children in a behavioral aspect was what drew me. I graduated with a bachelors in psychology and sought to take most of my classes centered around child development and clinical psychology. During my uni days, I had an opportunity to work with neurodivergent students aged K-12 which introduced me to the world of ABA. It’s been eye-opening to see how the materials I learned in class were applied to classrooms, and it has also been endearing to see the growth and successes of clients no matter how long it took. Everyday is a new day for each client, and I hope to be able to set them up for success with each new day. Outside of work, I mostly enjoy getting pedicures and eating out with my friends and family. 

  • Having majored in Criminal Justice, I learned that our criminal justice system disproportionately affects neurodiverse individuals. As a neurodiverse individual, I wanted to directly provide support, as I know first hand some of the struggles that our clients go through. Since joining Acorn and Oak, it has been a privilege to provide our clients with the support they deserve, and to witness their growth firsthand. I aim to further my education by pursuing a master's degree in psychology, and to establish my own private practice. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, going to the gym, and exploring the city with friends.

  • I’m currently finishing up my double degree in Linguistics and Psychology at University of Washington. I’ve been working with kids since high school and along the way I always loved the neurodivergent clients I’d have. I am intensely curious in how people think, especially when they think differently, but I realized most neurodivergent kids weren’t set up to succeed. A big shift for me happened interning in a special ed program at a middle school where I realized there were a lot of strategies and solutions from my linguistics, psychology, and teaching background that just wasn’t being implemented. Usually there were too many kids and not enough time even in small classrooms, but since joining the Acorn & Oak team in 2023 I’ve been happy to be able to be engaging 1-on-1 and work with clients to create a personalized path to achieve their goals and set them up for independence and success. I’m excited to keep learning better ways to work with clients and I’m planning to go on to graduate school to get a PhD either in clinical psychology, becoming a psychologist, or in cognitive psychology and get more involved in the research aspect of both psychology and education.

  • I was drawn to working at Acorn & Oak because I appreciated how the company’s mission emphasized the importance of equity and inclusion. I recently graduated from the University of Washington in June 2024, earning a B.A. in Psychology with honors, where I enriched my understanding of individual differences and shared needs. Acorn & Oak provided me with the opportunity to better understand how individualized support can help achieve shared goals. 

    Through my experience with a learning difference, I understand how difficult it can be to navigate social interactions and the learning environment without adequate guidance and support. Since joining the Acorn & Oak team in April 2024, my passion for creating a supportive environment for kids and adolescents has only grown as I have witnessed the progress that can occur when support is accessible and the ripple effect of a supportive environment. 

    I am excited to continue learning how to provide individualized support as I pursue an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in the coming years. 

    Outside of work, I enjoy reading, crafting, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

  • As the administrative manager of Acorn and Oak, I try my best to make sure that your onboarding process goes as smoothly as possible. I understand that getting the help that you need for your kid can be anxiety-inducing and difficult, and getting started or transferring between providers is never easy. After a few years of working with Acorn and Oak, I’ve learned that it’s important to maintain that high touch communication throughout the process of matching you with one of the valued behavior technicians of our team. You can rest-assured that this is a matching process that we do not take lightly, and we’ll keep you updated every step of the way. 

    In my spare time, I like to hang out with my friends, paint, and watch movies.

  • In working with Acorn & Oak, I am embarking on a new career in behavioral health! I babysat frequently while growing up, which resulted in a lasting passion for helping people foster the necessary tools and forms of support to function and thrive optimally. I am currently in my third year at Seattle University studying psychology and creative writing, where I can integrate my love for writing and my passion for mental health awareness, understanding how to navigate our psychologies to better care for ourselves and the world around us — while also being brave enough to share our stories. I am truly excited to take this step forward to support the growth of neurodivergent individuals, and learn more about applied behavioral analysis, ultimately witnessing the success that unfolds when compassion and careful consideration go into creating unique treatment plans. When I am not working, I enjoy writing new poems, reading, going on long walks, spending time with family and friends, or diving into a new TV series/movie/comedy group/or local indie band.