ABOUT
Potterhouse
ABOUT ME
Petra Allen, MS, BCBA
Founder
Petra is a dynamic and passionate Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over six years of experience in the fields of Clinical Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis. She double-majored and recevied two BS degrees in Psychology and Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida and then pursued her MS in Psychology at Purdue University.
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Petra was introduced to the field of ABA in 2018, during a time when she was aimlessly searching her city for a job in psychology. She came across a building with a sign that involved the word 'behavior' which caught her interest. Inside, she met an administrator who introduced her to ABA and explained what the field entails. Since then, Petra has worked first as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and later as a BCBA, passionately helping clients promote socially significant behaviors and reach their maximum potential.
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Petra has a wealth of experience, providing technical assistance and coaching to parents and caregivers of individuals with and without disabilities, and providing staff and client training. She delights in hypothesizing about behavior, analyzing data and graphs, and writing programs to make meaningful changes in her client's lives. She describes herself as a compassionate person who enjoys all things related to behavior analysis, exercising, music, education, family, and soccer (go Arsenal!).
ABOUT POTTERHOUSE
Teach. Train. Transform.
Behavior analysis is the science of behavior, with a history extending back to the early 20th century. Developed by B.F. Skinner, the guiding philosophy of behavior analysis is behaviorism which is based on the premise that attempts to improve the human condition through behavior change (e.g., education). This school of thought believes behavior change will be most effective if behavior itself is the primary focus (Skinner, 1963).
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Behavior analysts have used this information to develop numerous techniques and treatment approaches for analyzing and changing behavior, and ultimately, to improve lives. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is largely based on behavior and its consequences using techniques that generally involve teaching individuals more effective ways of behaving through positive reinforcement and working to change the social consequences of existing behavior. Treatment approaches based on ABA have been empirically shown to be effective in a wide variety of areas, including developmental disabilities, health, substance use, education, sports psychology, and environmental sustainability (BACB, 2024).
Parent training has been shown to lower parent stress, improve family interactions, and enhance caregiver treatment outcomes (Matson et al., 2009). Several sources of funding, including significant insurance coverage providers, make parent training a mandatory part of an ABA treatment plan. Further, parent training may be the only option for getting ‘services’ for some families due to a lack of providers in the area or living in more desolate regions. As such, quality parent training that can be delivered remotely, when it is not feasible to provide in-person direct services, is critical.
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Potterhouse provides quality ABA training to offer parents, caregivers, and educators guidance and support. From trained behavior analysts, recipients will partake in creating individualized intervention plans that result in meaningful change for students and children. During the sessions, instructors will be able to pose questions and concerns and check in with the behavior analyst if there is significant or not enough progress. Recipients will learn effective teaching strategies that will help their loved ones gain more independence, enhance their social and communication skills, and develop a healthier environment for all persons in the individual's life.
