Alexandra Kellas, Spotlighted By Influential Women, Creates Possibilities For Kids Through Applied Behavior Analysis

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, UNITED STATES, September 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — From an Unexpected Introduction to ABA to Founding Changing Tides Behavioral Therapy, Alexandra Kellas is Expanding Access, Supporting Families, and Building a Culture of Compassion and Collaboration

Newport News, Virginia – Alexandra Kellas, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the founder of Changing Tides Behavioral Therapy in Yorktown, Virginia. Her career in applied behavior analysis began unexpectedly while she was studying speech-language pathology at Old Dominion University. During an internship at an ABA clinic, Alexandra discovered a field that brought together several of her strongest interests: working with children, understanding human behavior, and exploring the factors that influence decision-making.

The experience introduced Alexandra to the science behind behavior and the meaningful changes that can take place when that science is applied thoughtfully. She became fascinated by the possibilities of ABA and the ways it could support children and families. That initial experience ultimately changed the direction of her career. Alexandra became a Registered Behavior Technician before pursuing her Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis at George Mason University. She completed her graduate education while working full-time and completing her supervised fieldwork, eventually earning her BCBA certification in 2020.

Alexandra’s education and professional experiences gave her a strong foundation in both clinical practice and the operational side of behavioral services. After earning her certification, she gained experience in different aspects of the field before taking the next major step in her career. In 2022, Alexandra launched her own in-home ABA services with little more than determination, educational materials, and a clear commitment to helping families.

From those beginnings, Alexandra gradually developed a team of dedicated professionals and expanded services throughout the region. In March 2024, she opened the Changing Tides Behavioral Therapy clinic in Yorktown. The clinic quickly outgrew its original space, reflecting the demand for the services and the growing community it was designed to support.

Today, Alexandra oversees many of the business’s day-to-day operations, including insurance and billing processes, scheduling, and team development. At the same time, she continues to collaborate on clinical programming and family support initiatives. One of the aspects of her work that she takes particular pride in is mentoring staff and creating a workplace culture centered on teamwork, transparency, and professional growth.

For Alexandra, the success of Changing Tides Behavioral Therapy is inseparable from the people who make up the team. She attributes much of what the business has accomplished to hard work and initiative, but most importantly, to surrounding herself with people who genuinely act as a team. She recognizes that everyone has good days and bad days, as well as days when they can give 100 percent and days when they cannot. Having a team that recognizes those differences and steps in to help when needed has been essential.

The business would not be where it is today without that support. Alexandra and her team have experienced numerous success stories and witnessed positive changes in the children and families they serve. For Alexandra, those outcomes are a reflection of collective effort rather than the work of one individual.

Her support system extends beyond the workplace as well. Outside of work, Alexandra’s village has come together to make it possible for her to continue pursuing her professional responsibilities while caring for her children. Her husband helps keep her grounded when she feels overwhelmed and supports her even when work demands require her to jump into something at an inopportune time. Alexandra is also grateful to have involved grandparents who help care for the children.

That balance between professional responsibility and family life is something Alexandra understands firsthand. Work-life balance is one of the biggest challenges she sees in the field, particularly for people who spend their working days caring for children and then return home to their own families. The work itself can also be demanding. A particularly difficult day with a child experiencing aggressive behavior, for example, can leave a provider mentally and physically exhausted.

Because of this, Alexandra and her team work intentionally to manage caseloads and prevent days from becoming unnecessarily long. They generally finish the workday around 4:15, allowing team members to go home and decompress. Alexandra also believes in finding ways to make the workplace enjoyable, including team-building activities outside of work and opportunities to vary the routine.

She sees a growing number of companies taking similar approaches as a positive development. Being a working mom is tough, and being a mom in general is no small responsibility. Alexandra believes employers have an opportunity to make coming to work feel fun and supportive rather than daunting or difficult every day.

At the same time, Alexandra sees significant opportunities for the field of ABA to expand. She believes applied behavior analysis can go far beyond the traditional model of working with children on the autism spectrum through insurance. The science has applications in sports, summer camps, social clubs, enrichment programs, and numerous other environments. BCBAs can also work with adults and in settings such as criminal justice, prisons, psychiatric units, business management, human resources, and substance abuse treatment.

For Alexandra, the possibilities are essentially endless. She is particularly passionate about developing more inclusive opportunities for children and families, including sports programs, social clubs, summer camps, and enrichment activities where children of all abilities can learn, play, and develop meaningful connections together.

Her approach to the profession is also shaped by a willingness to keep learning. The best career advice Alexandra has received is to look at every child and understand that the child has just as much to teach the professional as the professional has to teach the child, if not more. There is always something to learn from the people she works with, and Alexandra believes it is important to remain open to those opportunities.

Rather than viewing the relationship as a one-way street where she is simply teaching children, Alexandra believes professionals should recognize the valuable lessons children can provide in return. That mindset encourages curiosity, flexibility, and humility, all of which are important qualities in a field where every child and situation can be different.

Alexandra would offer similar encouragement to young women considering a career in the industry. Her message is simple: do it. Anyone interested in special education who enjoys making a difference and is compassionate, empathetic, thoughtful, and comfortable thinking on their feet should consider exploring the field.

Problem-solving is particularly important. There are moments when a child is exhibiting a behavior, and Alexandra or a member of her team has to essentially pull tricks out of a hat to determine what can be done differently in the future or how the behavior can be redirected. For people who enjoy solving problems and thinking creatively, Alexandra believes ABA can be an ideal career.

She also encourages young women to carefully explore potential employers and vet the companies where they are considering working to make sure the environment is a good fit. And for those who like the idea of becoming a BCBA but are uncertain about working directly with children, Alexandra emphasizes that there are many other avenues. The field can lead into criminal justice, prisons, psychiatric units, business management, HR, substance abuse treatment, sports, and other areas.

At the heart of Alexandra’s approach are loyalty and honesty. She believes neither can be separated from a strong team. Initiative is equally important, including the ability to think outside the box, take action, and accept feedback. These qualities are connected to the ethics of ABA while also serving as practical principles for creating a healthy professional environment.

Empathy and compassion are just as important. Alexandra believes those qualities should extend not only to the children and families being served, but also to the other providers working within the organization. Everyone has things happening outside of work, and remembering that can change the way people respond to frustration and difficult situations.

Alexandra encourages her team to take a step back when things are not going their way and consider the larger work environment with the same empathy they bring to the children they serve. That philosophy reflects the kind of culture she wants at Changing Tides Behavioral Therapy: one where people support one another, communicate openly, recognize individual challenges, and work together toward a shared purpose.

With a background that includes a Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Old Dominion University, a Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis from George Mason University, and BCBA certification, Alexandra continues to combine education, clinical experience, leadership, and entrepreneurship in her work. She is also a member of Virginia Applied Behavior Analysis (VABA) and APBA.

As a devoted mother of two, Alexandra values the time she spends with her family and enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring the outdoors when she is away from work. Guided by loyalty, honesty, initiative, empathy, compassion, and a commitment to lifelong learning, she remains focused on helping children and families thrive.

Through Changing Tides Behavioral Therapy, Alexandra is not only providing behavioral services but also exploring what ABA can become when its applications extend into broader community experiences. Her vision for inclusive sports, clubs, camps, and enrichment opportunities reflects her belief that children of all abilities deserve opportunities to learn, participate, and connect. As her work continues to evolve, Alexandra remains committed to her team, her families, and the children who have taught her that meaningful professional success is ultimately a shared journey.

Learn More about Alexandra Kellas:

Through her Influential Women profile, https://influentialwomen.com/connect/alexandra-kellas or through her website, https://www.changingtidesbt.org/

Influential Women

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