A dedicated professional born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. My academic journey led me to pursue an undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University in Speech-Language Pathology/Communication Disorders with a minor in psychology, laying the foundation for my passion in understanding human behavior and communication.
Driven by a desire to make a difference in the lives of others, I delved deeper into the realm of behavioral analysis. As a Registered Behavior Technician, I gained invaluable experience working directly with children and adolescents facing challenging and severe behaviors. Through my hands-on approach, I not only honed my skills in applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy but also developed a profound understanding of how to reinforce positive behaviors effectively.
Eager to broaden my impact in mental health, I transitioned into children's psychiatry settings, where I advocated for treatment days for children battling various mental health disorders. Driven by a desire to expand my knowledge, I pursued a degree in school psychology. The last two years, I have expanded my expertise to include monolingual and bilingual comprehensive psychoeducational assessments with an emphasize on question/referral driven assessments, meaning the assessment is tailored to provide answers to specific referral questions and/or concerns raised by parents or teachers.
I also place emphasize on readability. Making sure reports are clear and easy to understand is crucial. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides clear guidelines regarding parents’ rights to participate in the evaluation process. It’s essential to make reports understandable for legal, ethical, and practical purposes.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can collaborate and work together to contribute to the success of your students and school community.
Warmly,
Vanessa Castillo, LSSP, NCSP - School Psychologist & Owner