Thrive Autism Collaborative was founded by a group of private practice providers who consult together to create a multi-disciplinary team with a wide breadth of expertise, including behavior analysts, teachers, a speech language pathologist, and an occupational therapist. Each of us has worked in the field of developmental disabilities and special education for 10-30+ years. Collectively, we value the benefits of building social relationships, increasing functional communication, and developing the foundations of learning through play, naturally occurring routines, and age-appropriate activities. We emphasize teaching adolescents and adults through relevant social, learning, and work environments. We work collaboratively and incorporate the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), and knowledge of human development from infancy to adulthood, to teach skills in all areas of development and in numerous environments.
Our approach to intervention is to provide carefully thought out, evidence-based strategies that encourage hands-on playand develop routines for family life. We enjoy painting with our fingers, playing dress-up, creating spaceships out of boxes, going on community outings, and co-constructing learning activities within typical environments. We believe that all individuals with autism have the capacity to learn and to create authentic relationships. We value deeply the opportunity to continually learn through our work.
The Team
Directors
Diane Osaki
Director, Occupational Therapist
Helen Nychka
Director, Speech-Language Pathologist (M.S., CCC-SLP)
Helen is a speech-language pathologist, who has specialized in the treatment of autism, for over 35 years. Helen focuses on analyzing learning and communication patterns so that families may be an integral part of developing communication, relationship and meaningful interactions with their child. Her approach to the treatment of autism incorporates information and techniques developed by TEACCH, the science of Applied Behavior Analysis, the DIR Floortime approach (Greenspan), Relationship Development Intervention (Gutstein), the SCERTS model (Prizant, et al), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM, Rogers, et al). Helen has completed graduate coursework in Behavior Analysis, is an advanced Hanen Programs certified instructor, and is a certified ESDM therapist. She has had the pleasure of presenting workshops, training school personnel, and consulting with families across the U.S., and in Denmark, Sweden, and Nigeria. She has provided consultation and training in many school districts in Colorado and Wyoming.
While Helen loves her work deeply, she also loves to play. When she is not focused on autism, Helen can be found hiking the trails of South Boulder, Nordic and Alpine skiing, DIY renovating houses to no end, cooking (eating!) and trying to get things to grow in Colorado. Helen has 3, young-adult children and has been married for 40 (count’em!) years to her husband, Douglas, a Professsor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Colorado School of Mines.
Theresa MacFarland
Director, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (M.Ed., BCBA)
Theresa is a board certified behavior analyst and holds a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education. Over the last 18 years, she has specialized in working with young children with autism and their families in homes, center-based environments, schools, and the community. Theresa’s interests lie in designing and implementing naturalistic and play-based interventions for young children with autism. Her focus of intervention is incorporating evidence-based treatments thoughtfully to promote social and functional language, reciprocal relationships, generalization of skills, and parent training within typical routines and environments. Theresa is a certified trainer and direct delivery provider in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM, Rogers, et al.) and has taught naturalistic language development as a therapist and parent-trainer in Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) at Vanderbilt University.
In addition to working with children with autism, Theresa can be found cooking in her kitchen, digging in her garden, fixing up the family vintage camper, or enjoying a good book. She is a printmaker, illustrator, and avid crafter who enjoys making things with her hands…and is also the hand behind Thrive’s logo! She is thankful to be sharing the pleasures in life with her husband, Andrew, their three children, and their loving husky lab dog Zoe.
Carrie Scott
Director, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (M.Ed., BCBA)
Carrie is a board certified behavior analyst who holds a masters degree in special education with specialization in applied behavior analysis. Carrie has served children and adolescents with autism and their families for over 15 years. She has worked in both home and center-based settings, using evidence-based intervention and a developmental approach to provide meaningful, effective treatment. Carrie values intervention that is engaging, naturalistic, incorporates the strengths and interests of the individual and promotes generalization. She is pursing certification in Early Start Denver Model to provide direct delivery (ESDM, Rogers, et al.). Carrie has served learners across a variety of ages and skill levels, including those with severe challenging behavior and multiple diagnoses. Carrie has also worked extensively in the areas of program development and professional development, training, and supervision for staff and those pursing certification as behavior analysts (or associate behavior analysts).
Outside of her work in the autism community, Carrie enjoys the outdoors, particularly, hiking, snowboarding, cooking, and spending time with her baby boy, husband, and energetic pup!
Assistant Directors
Anne Andrews
Assistant Director, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (M.Ed., BCBA)
Anne is a board certified behavior analyst and a former licensed special education teacher (grades K-12). For over fifteen years Anne has been working with preschool and elementary aged children with special needs in a variety of settings, including public schools, non-profit centers, orphanages (while serving in the Peace Corps in Bulgaria), the community and in-home. Anne’s professional focus includes utilizing individualized assessment to create and implement effective naturalistic and play-based therapy for young children with autism. In addition to focusing instruction on developing meaningful social relationships, developing effective methods of communication and increasing personal independence Anne also truly enjoys teaching cognitive skills. She is also proficient in American Sign Language. Anne is certified in the direct delivery of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM, Rogers, et al.).
In addition to working with children who have autism, Anne enjoys spending time with her husband and four children doing Colorado activities as a family. She loves to snowboard, do yoga and is working on camping in each of Colorado’s state parks with her family.
Krysten Howerton
Assistant Director, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (M.A., BCBA)
Krysten is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience in the fields of behavior analysis and education across a variety of settings, including center-based, school, home, day programs, and various establishments in the community. She has her master’s degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Human Development. Krysten values a collaborative approach and partnership with parents, caregivers, and other service providers in the assessment of socially significant behavior and the implementation of evidence-based practices. Her current role as Assistant Clinical Director furthers her passion for promoting quality training and supervision of the next generation of behavior analysts.
In her spare time, Krysten goes outdoors as much as possible whether it be snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, camping, or anything in the water. She also values traveling and spending time with friends and family!
Clinicians
Katie Boyle
Senior Interventionist (M.A., BCBA)
Katie has been working with children with autism since 2013. She has worked with a variety of age groups and levels of need. Shortly after moving to Denver from Chicago in 2019, Katie received her BCBA certification and joined the team at Thrive in 2020.
In her spare time she enjoys travel, skiing, hiking and paddle boarding.
Kristen Busch
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (M.A., BCBA)
Kristen is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with a master’s degree in educational psychology. She has served individuals with autism and related developmental disabilities for over 10 years, across various settings including home, school, extracurricular activities, day camps, and clinic-based settings. Kristen values the relationships she has with clients and their families as well as a collaborative approach across disciplines. Kristen is PEAK Certified- Level 2: Experiential and utilizes the assessment and curriculum and applies this knowledge with the individuals she serves.
In her free time Kristen enjoys spending time with her family, friends and dogs. She loves spending time in the mountains snowboarding and backpacking. Kristen also enjoys seeing live music, sewing, and reading.
Brian Cohn
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (M.A., BCBA)
Brian Cohn is a passionate Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who aims to help his child, adolescent and adult clients live a rewarding and meaningful life, full of rich experiences. He utilizes applied behavioral analysis and other evidenced based practices (ACT, PRT) to help clients increase prosocial behaviors that move them closer to their values and goals.
Brian Cohn received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas with a Minor in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2009. In 2014, Brian received his Masters in Education with an emphasis in Autism from the University of Massachusetts. Brian has been a licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2014. Brian is currently pursuing certification in the Early Start Denver Model.
When he is not working you can find him exploring the wonders of Colorado with his wife, two children, and two pups. Brian also loves to play and listen to music.
Stephanie Engels
Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (M.Ed., BCBA)
Stephanie Engels is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a Master of Education specializing in autism. For 17 years, Stephanie has worked with individuals with autism ranging from toddler to adults in a variety of settings including home, community, school, and group and individual clinical. She draws on her extensive clinical experience to develop, implement, and modify evidenced-based program curriculum and behavioral supports to serve the ongoing and evolving needs of clients and families. Stephanie maintains strong connections within the autism community ensuring interventions are based on current research and best practices.
Stephanie is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of REVEL, a nonprofit that bridges the gap to adulthood for teens and adults with autism. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and their playful cats and traveling.
Daniel Jones
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Chelsea Peason
Senior Interventionist (M.A., BCBA)
Chelsea joined the Thrive team in 2018. Before becoming a BCBA, Chelsea worked as a preschool teacher for nearly 10 years in Boulder while going to school and eventually directing the preschool center before switching paths to direct therapy. She is a believer of naturalistic-based therapy and learning through play and laughter. For her formal education, she has a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Denver and earned a Master’s Degree in ABA from the University of Northern Colorado.
When not working, she enjoy hiking, off-roading during the summer, and skiing during the winter. She also loves her tool collection for completing all types of building projects.
Sarah Randow
Speech-Language Pathologist (M.A., CCC-SLP)
Sarah is an ESDM and PROMPT-trained speech and language pathologist who maintains a certificate of clinical competence through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Her approach to speech and language therapy focuses on building effective, functional communication skills that enable children and adolescents to independently express themselves and efficiently understand others. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lewis & Clark College, she worked in research at the University of Washington Autism Center. Sarah then earned her master’s degree in speech and language pathology from the University of Colorado – Boulder. She has worked in school, home, and clinic settings to assess and treat disorders of social communication, articulation, language, and stuttering in children and adolescents.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, spending time with her family, cooking, and traveling.
Dr. William Sobesky
Consulting Psychologist
Bill Sobesky is licensed clinical psychologist who earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Denver. He has taught graduate students at the University of Denver, the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Colorado Medical School and has also worked as a staff and search psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Bill specializes in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with a variety of mental health and educational issues as well as with children with developmental challenges such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Fragile X Syndrome.Bill enjoys cycling and golf as well as cooking. He has two adult children who are in the mental health and education fields.
Molly Walter
Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (M.Ed., BCBA)
Molly is a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) since 2016. Over the last 17 years, she has specialized in working with young children to school-age children in their homes, schools, and center-based environments. Her approach incorporates providing evidence-based interventions that are thoughtfully developed by using a collaborative approach with parents and families. She is an Early Start Denver Model Certified Therapist (ESDM, Rogers, et al). She has also obtained her Master’s in Special Education (K-12). Molly’s interests focus on applied behavior analysis, naturalistic teaching, social and emotional regulation, play and independence skills, and functional communication. She is passionate about parent involvement and training and highly values coordination of services with teachers and other services providers.
In addition to working with children with autism, Molly enjoys spending time with her 3 sons and husband. They love to travel to see family and be outdoors whenever they get a chance. In addition, she loves to paint, sew, and watch her children enjoy art as much as she does!
Elizabeth Hickey
Senior Interventionist, M.A, BCBA
Elizabeth has been a member of the Thrive team since March 2021. After Elizabeth graduated with bachelor and master degrees in psychology, she was interested in finding work that combined passions for working with children and working in a clinical setting. Shortly after entering her first role as a behavior technician, she knew immediately she had found her career path. Since entering the field in 2018, Elizabeth has earned her RBT credential, and completed a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from CU Denver. Elizabeth is now on the journey of earning her BCBA credential and has enjoyed growing as a behavior analyst from every client interaction she gets to be a part of. She loves building strong relationships with clients and helping them feel empowered and heard.
Growing up in beautiful Colorado, Elizabeth enjoys spending time outside and enjoying the sun for over 300 days of the year! She also enjoys watching and playing sports, spending time with her family and boyfriend, traveling, and playing with her Great Pyrenees puppy, June!
Grace Krause
Senior Interventionist (M.Ed., BCBA)
Grace is a registered behavior technician as well as a Special Education Teacher. She grew up in Kansas City, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and Psychology from the University of Kansas. After graduating, she moved to Denver to pursue a career in teaching and went on to earn her Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Colorado Denver. She is currently pursuing her board certification in behavior analysis and is passionate about providing meaningful interventions and advocating for children with disabilities.
Outside of work, Grace loves to spend time outside, running, biking, and climbing with friends and family.
Brianna Larson
Senior Interventionist, B.A., BCaBA
Brianna (Bri) is a Registered Behavior Technician and early childhood special and general education teacher. Bri grew up in Wisconsin and received a dual bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She is currently seeking her board certification as an assistant behavior analyst and taking courses through the Florida Institute of Technology. Bri started working with children with special needs as a middle schooler babysitting for a family with a daughter with down syndrome. It was clear this was her calling and passion and she’s been working with kids of all abilities ever since. After graduating, she spent 4 years teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools as both a 3rd grade classroom teacher and a 1st-3rd grade special education teacher. Bri made the move to Colorado in the summer of 2018 and has been working with Thrive since.
When Bri is not working with kids with special needs, or planning her upcoming wedding (June 2021!), you can find her hiking, backpacking, playing tennis or walking her dog, Bourbon. Her favorite pastime is road tripping and exploring the west with her fiancé, Nick, and Bourbon.
Lucy Nyugen
Registered Behavior Technician (M.Ed., RBT)
Lucy has her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education, she spent nine years in the public education setting first as a general education teacher then as a special education teacher and she is currently pursuing her credential in Behavior Analysis. Professionally, Lucy is an avid learner who loves to learn from families and professionals alike and to grow her skill set. Her practical focus is on using behavior analytic principals within the context of naturalistic teaching to grow skills and promote generalization across environments and on developing social emotional skills.
In addition to working with young children, Lucy’s interests include cooking and enjoying good food, yoga, long walks and playing with my daughter Mabel and my husband Tony.
Autumn Sutton
Registered Behavior Technician (B.A., RBT)
Autumn is a Registered Behavior Technician with a degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Child Development. Autumn is originally from Iowa but has lived in Sarasota, Florida and San Francisco, California before landing in Denver. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children as a nanny, teacher, and director until joining the Thrive team in January 2020.
Outside of work, Autumn enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and enjoying the outdoors.
Administrative Team
Bre Potter
Administrator
Bre is an administrative professional with over a decade of business management experience in non-profit, small business, and corporate arenas. She has four years’ experience in the medical field and is a certified Compliance Officer.
Outside of the office she spends most of her time travelling, hiking, reading, and dabbling in different crafts.