Rise Above Behavioral Group
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Rise Above Behavioral Group
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About Us

Jenny Acevedo Usuga MS, BCBA, LBA Founder/CEO


Motivation: Jenny's motivation is to provide the highest standard of care in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and to empower those with autism and developmental disabilities to not just succeed but to thrive, reaching their utmost potential.

Area of Expertise: Jenny specializes in creating a positive learning environment. She focuses on teaching self-advocacy and ensures that clients enjoy their therapy sessions. Her expertise includes teaching communication, social, and adaptive skills.

Education: Jenny holds a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Free Time: In her free time, Jenny enjoys spending time with her family, and exploring new places.


Gabrielle Testa MS, BCBA, LBA Clinical Director

Motivation: Gabi’s passion is providing the tools to help children succeed.

Area of Expertise: Gabi has a specialized focus in Early Intervention and Autism.

Education: Gabi earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Southern Connecticut State University and her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Connecticut State University, graduating in 2021.

Outside of Work: In her free time, Gabi enjoys canoeing, reading, gardening, and traveling with her family.

Christina Torres MS, BCBA,CT-LBA, BCBA Supervisor

Motivation:

Christina is driven by a passion for helping individuals reach their fullest potential through compassionate, evidence-based support. Working in Applied Behavior Analysis has allowed her to make meaningful, lasting impacts by empowering learners and families with the tools they need to communicate, grow, and thrive.

Area of Expertise:

Christina's areas of focus include verbal behavior, social-emotional development, and parent training.  Christina is committed to creating individualized treatment plans that promote independence, emotional regulation, and skill generalization across home, school, and community settings.

Education:

Christina holds a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Her background provides a strong foundation in understanding human behavior, motivation, and ethical practice, which she applies to every aspect of her work in the field.

Free Time:

Outside of work, Christina enjoys hosting community events, mentoring future professionals in ABA, and creating educational content through her platform, ABA Made EZ, which focuses on making behavioral concepts more relatable and accessible. She also loves spending quality time with her family, traveling, discovering new coffee spots, and exploring creative projects.


MARIA DUQUE-URQUIJO MS, BCBA, CT-LBA BCBA Supervisor

Motivation: Maria is driven by a passion for helping individuals reach their full potential through meaningful behavioral change. Working in ABA allows her to make a direct impact on clients’ daily lives by promoting independence, communication, and positive social interactions. Seeing the growth and progress of each client continues to inspire and motivate her work every day.

Area of Expertise : Maria’s areas of expertise include early intervention, skill acquisition, and behavior reduction strategies. She has a strong focus on developing individualized treatment plans that are data-driven and family-centered. She especially enjoys collaborating with caregivers and team members to ensure consistency and generalization across all environments.

Education: Maria holds a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Her academic and clinical training have provided her with a solid foundation in behavioral principles, assessment, and evidence-based intervention strategies.

Free Time: Outside of work, Maria enjoys spending time with family, exploring new restaurants, and hanging out with friends. She also loves traveling and discovering new places that inspire creativity and balance.


January Lynch MS, BCBA, CT-LBA BCBA Supervisor

Motivation: January's  motivation for working as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst is rooted in empowering individuals to reach their full potential and improve their quality of life. She is driven by the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to learn, communicate, and engage meaningfully with their world. Seeing the tangible, positive impact of evidence-based practices on both individuals and their families provides deep professional satisfaction.

Area of Expertise: January's primary area of expertise lies in early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for children with autism spectrum disorder. She specializes in developing comprehensive, individualized treatment plans focused on fostering communication, social skills, and adaptive behaviors within natural environments. January also has extensive experience in parent training and family support, ensuring consistent application of behavioral principles across various settings and equipping caregivers with the tools they need for long-term success. Her strengths include conducting thorough functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to create holistic support systems.

Education: January earned her Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Connecticut State University. Her foundational education includes a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology from The State University of New York at New Paltz. This academic background provided her with a strong theoretical understanding of behavior principles, which she has since translated into effective, compassionate clinical practice following the completion of her supervised fieldwork and successful attainment of her BCBA certification. 

Free Time: When January is not working, you can find her exploring local hiking trails with her family. She also loves to unwind by experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. 

Ava Williams, RBT Office Manager Behavioral Therapist

Motivation: Ava's passion is providing a safe space and comfortable environment to give our kids the tools they need to thrive. The greatest joy she finds in working in this field is being able to see our children grow and learn a little more each day.

Area of Expertise: Specialized focus in Early Intervention and Autism. Ava also coordinates and plans Special Event days at our Watertown Center.

Education: She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Sacred Heart University. 

Year of Graduation: 2026

Future Goal: Ava's future goal is to go right into a Master’s program after graduation and become a BCBA. 

Outside of Work: In her free time, Ava enjoys spending time with her family, baking, art, shopping, traveling and watching a good reality TV show. 

Natalie Pagan Lead Behavioral Therapist

Area of Expertise: Natalie's areas of expertise include helping children achieve their full potential by providing support and guidance tailored to their individual needs. She excels at building strong, trusting relationships with children. Her focus is on fostering growth, independence, and success in every child she works with.

Education: College coursework in Early Childhood Studies 

Future Goal: Natalie is passionate about supporting the growth and success of children. Her future goal is to further her education in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), expanding her knowledge and skills to create effective strategies that help children overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

Outside of Work: In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, baking and traveling. 

Damien Giordano Lead Behavioral Therapist

Motivation: Damien's passion is health and wellness.

Area of Expertise: Specialized focus in betterment of those he works with.

Education: Currently working on a Bachelors in Behavioral Science with a focus on childhood and adolescent disorders at Grand Canyon University. 

Future Goal: His future goal is to focus on promoting health, wellness, and functional movement in the children he works with.

Outside of Work: In his free time, he enjoys hiking, video games, lifting.

Chloe Venuk, BS, RBT Behavioral Therapist

    Motivation: Chloe's passion is helping children with disabilities reach their full potential.

Area of Expertise: Specialized focus in ABA with young children in clinic and school settings

Degree: Bachelors in Communication from UMASS, graduated in 2024

Future Goal: Chloe's future goal is to get her masters in social work/counseling. 

Outside of Work: In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and playing guitar!

Jennilee Quito, M.S, Behavioral Therapist

Motivation: Jennilee's passion is improving the quality of life for children with special needs and empowering them to believe in their capabilities. 

Area of Expertise: Jennilee specializes in enriching children- individual development, fostering functional communication and teaching appropriate coping skills to help clients process their emotions effectively.

Education: Central Connecticut State University, Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science and Master degree from Purdue Global University in Applied Behavioral Analysis.

Future Goal: Jennilee aspires to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the future, making a positive impact and changing the lives of clients and their families in ABA.

Once licensed, she would like to help BCBA candidates with supervision fieldwork hours to ensure they have a great mentorship experience when pursuing their career goal .

Outside of Work: In her free time,  she enjoys spending time with friends and family, going out to try different restaurants, shopping, traveling and watching movies.

Astrid Yirenkyi, B.S. Behavioral Therapist

Motivation: Astrid's passion is teaching children how to interact with others, resolve conflicts and work in groups while creating a safe space.

Area of Expertise: She has a specialized focus is in Child Psychology which is essentially understanding children’s mental and emotional processes to address challenges they may face.

Education: Astrid graduated from University of Connecticut in 2024 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Human Development and Family Science

Future Goal: Her future goal is to specialize in pediatrics, working closely with children to diagnose, and prevent illnesses, ensuring their overall health and well-being.

Outside of Work: In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, visiting different restaurants and trying new food.

Angela Almeida b.s., Behavioral Therapist

Motivation: Angela finds joy in inspiring children to uncover their unique strengths and grow through play. She is committed to fostering a warm, nurturing environment where every child feels safe to explore, learn, and thrive, and where families feel truly supported throughout the journey.

Area of Expertise: Angela has worked with children in both school and center-based programs, supporting their growth through individualized, play-based learning. She’s passionate about helping kids find joy in learning new skills, teaching communication, social interaction, and takes

pride in partnering with families to create consistency and success across all environments.

Education: Angela graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2020 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychological Sciences with a minor in Community Engagement.

Free time: In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking sourdough bread, and spending

time with her friends and family.

LESLIE MARTINEZ BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST

Motivation: Leslie is driven by a passion for empowering children, she dedicates her career to assisting them in using functional communication skills. Witnessing their improvements and the positive impact on their families fuels her commitment to this field. Leslie finds fulfillment in seeing children overcome challenges and achieve milestones, knowing that her work contributes to their growth and success.

Area of Expertise: With a strong foundation in Montessori education and extensive teaching experience, she specializes in integrating sensory play into therapy. Leslie’s expertise lies in creating engaging learning environments that cater to each child's unique needs. By utilizing a hands-on approach, she facilitates meaningful interactions that promote development and learning.

Education: Leslie holds a degree in Psychology, complemented by a Montessori Teaching Certification. This combination of formal education and specialized training equips her with the skills necessary to support children in their developmental journey.

Free Time: Outside of work, Leslie cherishes spending quality time with her family. She is an avid baker, particularly enjoying the art of making sourdough bread. Additionally, she loves to unwind with a good book, exploring diverse genres and expanding her horizons.

Devin morales BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST

Motivation: What drives Devin is seeing and understanding the vision of what ABA provides for children. He is motivated by the children’s growth and is committed to doing whatever he can to make each child’s path in life easier.

Area of Expertise: Devin specializes in assisting children in regulating their emotions. He finds purpose in helping children identify their feelings, understand why those feelings arise, and learn healthy coping strategies that can benefit them throughout their lives.

Education: Devin is currently in school to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and is in the process of completing the RBT certification.

Free Time: Outside of work, Devin enjoys spending time with family and watching football and coaching high school basketball.

Carmen Hemingway BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST

Motivation: Carmen is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children through ABA therapy. Her motivation comes from seeing the powerful impact that communication and behavioral support can have on a child’s confidence and independence. 

Area of Expertise: Carmen’s expertise is being trilingual which can help with teaching different ways to communicate. Carmen is fluent in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL).

Education: Although Carmen comes from a Culinary Arts degree, she is ASL 1,2 & 3 certified and currently working on her Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) certification. Carmen has 3 years of experience at American School for the Deaf with autistic and behavioral students. 

Fun Fact: Carmen is a sports mom of two who spends all her free time on the sidelines of baseball & football fields. 

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