Newark, TX ABA Therapy for Autism

Andrea holds her Board Certified Behavior Analyst certificate through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Andrea received her Master of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis through Capella, and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology through Dallas Baptist University. As a Clinical Director at Pine Cone Therapies, Andrea provides services to young clients as well as mentorship to practitioners in the field of ABA. Andrea oversees behavior technicians (BTs), registered behavior technicians (RBTs) and individuals in graduate school preparing for the BCBA exam. Andrea has worked with children and had a passion for those with special needs for over 10 years in many different capacities, both through the education system or a clinical setting. Like her mom, Andrea has always wanted to work with children. For her, the most rewarding part of the job is watching students and clients make meaningful changes that enhance their lives. When not working, Andrea can be found going on adventures with her husband and two sons.

Originally from Pakistan, Azmeena moved to Dallas nearly six years ago, where a passion for teaching was sparked through community service and volunteer work. With a background in Biomedical Engineering and an MBA, Azmeena was awarded a scholarship to pursue a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Teaching (MTeach) from the University of London's Institute of Education. During classroom teaching experiences, Azmeena recognized the critical need for specialized support for children, leading to an interest in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. After working as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) for nearly three years, Azmeena was inspired by supervisors to further a career in ABA and went on to complete a post-master’s in the field. Now a part of Pine Cone Pediatric Therapies, Azmeena is eager to continue growing, learning, and making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their families. Outside of work, Azmeena enjoys cooking and spending quality time with friends and family.

Christa Stapleton is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked in the special needs community since 2012. As a military spouse, she has had the opportunity to assist families across the United States in the school, home, and clinic environment. She earned her Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University, where she explored providing services to all ages and has found early intervention to be the most rewarding. As Clinical Director, Christa works closely with her team to ensure compassionate care, trauma-informed care, and assent-based treatment strategies are integrated into each client's program. She and her team individualize each client’s treatment program to ensure their unique needs are being targeted for development. Through parent support meetings and frequent analysis of her clients' progress, she ensures the best quality of care is delivered to her clients, maximizing their ability to live to their fullest potential. She can often be heard saying to her team, “we have the BEST job!” and she truly believes it!

Courtney Carlson received her Bachelors of Psychology and Masters in Education from the University of Washington in 2019. As a BCBA at Pinecone Therapies, Courtney oversees Behavior Technicians in their work with clients. She began her career working with military families in Washington. Courtney provides guidance on supporting clients through client-lead naturalistic teaching and assent-based practices. For Courtney, the most rewarding part of the job is supporting the families through parent training and hearing about the whole family's progress. Courtney is also a sibling of an autistic brother, so she is passionate about supporting the siblings of clients. When Courtney isn't at work, she stays busy by hiking with her dog, reading, and doing yoga.

Ellie is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and Registered Behavior Technician at Pine Cone Therapies, where she specializes in helping children navigate big feelings, build emotional resilience, and discover their own strengths. Her approach blends art therapy, play therapy, and talk therapy—meeting each child exactly where they are and creating a safe, engaging space for them to explore thoughts and emotions. Ellie believes that every child’s voice matters, whether it’s expressed in words, colors, stories, or imaginative play. Ellie works toward supporting children who may be experiencing anxiety, life transitions, social challenges, or simply need an outlet for self-expression. Her sessions are always individualized, playful, and grounded in clinical expertise, with the goal of helping kids feel understood, empowered, and confident in themselves. Ellie is supervised by Heidi Tournoux-Hanshaw, MA, LPCAT-S, ATCS - TX license #62358.

Emily Stilley received her Bachelor's in Child Development from Texas Woman's University in May 2024. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology with the goal of eventually becoming a BCBA. As one of the Assistant Clinical Coordinators at Pinecone Therapies, Emily supports the clinic by writing programs, assisting with administrative tasks, and performing behavioral interventions on the floor. For Emily, serving others, especially children, is the most rewarding part of the job. She loves supporting children with autism in developing socially and educationally to equip them with skills enabling their success. Emily's passion for behavior therapy can be traced back to her undergraduate studies at TWU where she observed a concerning gap between autism diagnoses and the availability of behavior therapists. Upon graduation and her return to her hometown, she decided to pursue a career in applied behavior analysis. Ask her about her mechanical keyboards, typing fast is her secret talent! When Emily is off the clock from the clinic, you can find her collecting strikes at the local bowling alley.

Erin Kast received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Fresno, CA, and a Master of Arts in Special Education- Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University, IN. As a BCBA at Pinecone Therapies, Erin provides treatment planning, supervision and family guidance for her clients, as well as guidance and supervision of Registered Behavior Technicians working directly with her clients. For Erin, seeing her clients learn skills that open up their world so they can truly thrive in all their environments is the most rewarding part of her job. She loves helping kiddos and families connect in new ways with ABA techniques that are rooted in finding joy through life's ups and downs together. Erin's passion for ABA can be traced back to her own elementary school days, when she worked with her peers in the Special Education class. Having the opportunity to help them learn and play each day is one of her fondest childhood memories, leading to her continued passion turned career. When she is not keeping busy at work, you can find her spending time with her pets at home or finding new spots to eat around DFW with friends and family.

Jasmine received her master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in Autism Spectrum Disorders. She has been in the ABA field since 2012 and has served a diverse range of clients across the lifespan, as well as across multiple settings i.e. clinics, in-home, dayhab, and preschools. Her specialty is in early intervention with toddlers as well as program development for preschool-aged children. Jasmine strongly believes that this is her calling in life and absolutely loves working with children!

Jessica is a certified Speech Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) with over 15 years of experience. She has dedicated her career to working with children who have developmental delays and communication disorders, offering a wealth of expertise and compassion in her practice. Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State University, followed by a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Texas Woman's University. For nine years, Jessica worked in public schools, serving a diverse pediatric population. Her specialties include Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing, Articulation, Receptive/Expressive Language, Fluency, Early Childhood, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Jessica is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their communication goals. She is committed to professional excellence and continuous learning in the field of speech-language pathology.

Joey received his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Thomas Edison State University and his Master's Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Pepperdine University (West LA campus). He is currently an MBA student at Johns Hopkins University focusing on data analytics and business strategy. As a Clinical Director at Pine Cone Therapies, Joey oversees the clinical direction and coaching of Board Certified Behavior Analysts and the operational direction of the clinic. For Joey, coaching teammates at all levels to be insightful and effective clinicians as well as confident leaders is the most rewarding part of the job. He thoroughly enjoys teaching caregivers how to provide support within the home environment through individualized learning plans that leverage a plethora of resources. Joey's passion for helping others can be traced back to his time in the United States Army, where he served a myriad of roles that often included coaching his direct reports and providing solutions grounded in physical and mental health maintenance. When Joey is not keeping busy with clinical duties or school, you can find him at the local Life Time Fitness forgetting which locker he put his belongings.

Maiya received her Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and Rehabilitation Studies from the University of North Texas. As a Registered Behavior Technician and Assistant Clinical Coordinator at PineCone Therapies, Maiya provides direct 1:1 ABA services with clientele, as well as training staff and assisting supervisors with assessments and reports. For Maiya, building connections is the most rewarding part of the job and she enjoys building a community with her staff and gaining the trust of clients and families. When Maiya is not keeping busy, you can find her gaming, collecting Hello Kitty items, and relaxing with her cat.

Melissa Mundo is a board-certified Occupational Therapist through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. She earned her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Florida International University in Miami in 2010 and Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences Florida International University in Miami in 2009. Prior to finding her love for occupational therapy she began her educational journey as a nursing student for 2 ½ years at the University of Missouri in St. Louis before realizing that she wanted to be more hands on with patient care. She began the transition and along the way began working with kids with special needs in a variety of settings including summer camps, after school camps, and within the clinical outpatient settings. Melissa has worked with the pediatric population in a variety of settings gaining multiple experiences and knowledge from School settings, PPEC, Outpatient and Home Health. She has experience working with clients with a variety of diagnoses including Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Cancer, Down Syndrome, Global Developmental Delays, Spina Bifida, TBI, Cardio-Pulmonary Hypertension, Sensory Processing Disorders among many others. When not busy working, Melissa is enjoying the country living with her husband raising 3 beautiful kids, taking care of animals, gardening, and reading.

Sandy Reeson has more than 7 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and helping their parents to learn skills for use in the home and community. Sandy earned her Master of Education degree from Texas A&M University and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst after years of hands-on experience and continuing education. Sandy develops therapeutic programs for children and their parents, supervises and trains Registered Behavior Technicians, and evaluates therapist effectiveness and client progress with the singular focus of enhancing the quality of life for challenged children and their families. She loves working with children and finds every day rewarding!