MASC Staff Spotlight: Trisha Braecklein, Director of Autism Services

Hello! My name is Trisha Braecklein, Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Director of Autism Services for the Mariposa Autism Service Center (MASC). I have been a part of the Aprendamos Family of Services team for the last five years. In my current role as MASC Director, I oversee the department and all clinical quality and operational needs while providing direct supervision to staff like our Lead BCBAs, Quality Assurance Coordinator, Apprentice Coordinator, and New Hire Trainer. 

There are many valuable benefits clients and families can expect when working with our MASC team. From evidence-based therapy, support, and encouragement, to specialized trainings for families, these services make a difference for our most vulnerable populations. The autism services and support MASC provides help meet needs of the entire family while they navigate learning how to support someone with autism. We hope to reinforce that everyone can be successful, regardless of their diagnosis, because success looks different for everyone.

During my time with Aprendamos, I have had several clients whose stories have inspired me, with the most impactful usually centering around the caregivers and their personal successes. One family I worked with was experiencing some interpersonal challenges, which was impacting their child’s behavior. Being able to work with this family and get the caregivers united in their approach and to trust in the therapeutic process made a tremendous impact on the client as well as the caregivers stress level.

For families just beginning their MASC journey, the experience can sometimes feel overwhelming. We encourage our new families to be open to sharing their thoughts, concerns, and questions with our team. ABA is intensive, and our goal is to help them and their family members. Open communication truly helps the entire process. At the end of the day, the families we serve are the most important part of our program. Families being trusting of our care means the world to us as we work with the most important people in their lives.