About

Founder, Jackalynne Burns, M.A., BCBA

A common question asked in childhood is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. I remember being asked this many times, and I pondered the question. I visualized myself as a Doctor, Lawyer, even a Teacher. I knew that I needed to choose a career that I enjoyed (contacted automatic reinforcement) and would make an impact on the community.

I had no particular liking for basic subjects taught in school. In high school, I took an Introduction to Psychology course. I was intrigued by the many facets of mental health, and I knew immediately that mental health was the field for me.

I graduated high school, entered college, and once I was a junior in college, I took my first Behavior Modification course. I discovered the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in this course and learned the basics. I entered into the first group of students to enter the minor course sequence for ABA, and graduated from the University of South Florida with my Bachelor’s of Psychology degree. I became a behavior assistant, ecstatically entered the work force, and attended graduate school where I later acquired my Master’s of Arts degree in ABA.

My work experience occurred with a variety of companies (as employee and contractor), in a variety of settings (school, home, clinic, community), and with a variety of diagnoses (Autism, Down Syndrome, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Selective Mutism, Seizure Disorder, a variety of rare genetic disorders, etc.). I aspired to open a unique Applied Behavior Analysis company as the demand for ABA therapy was high and continually increasing.

In June of 2016, I made the decision to open an ABA therapy company, American Behavioral Consulting LLC, servicing the eastern Hernando and Eastern Pasco areas where we strive to provide ABA therapy services with top notch quality based on three critical values: integrity, efficacy, and individualization.