Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Magallanez
Hi Vanessa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started as a student and single mom at Texas State University. This is where I was first introduced into the field of behavior analysis. Once I enrolled at the University of Texas at San Antonio, this is where my passion for helping others really grew. I began my career working with young children but as my own family grew, I slowly transitioned to serving the adult population. I’m now a mother of 4 with children ranging from 14 to 3 and recently discovered I’m neurodivergent myself! Serving adults requesting a range of support has been eye-opening. So much so, I chose to dedicate my career (and partly my life, haha) to serving adults with special needs/challenges. I may never had transitioned to serving adults had it not been for the opportunity give to me by my previous employer, Jawanda Newsome, had given me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The beginning was rough and painfully slow. I worked for 2 other companies at the same time I began to develop my own. In addition to that, I began as a partnership. However, that came to a sudden end when my partner was offered a job opportunity within another state. I went solo from there. Obtained mentorship, networked, and continued to grow my clinical knowledge all while balancing duties across the professional and my personal world.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Shaping Solutions LLC?
My organization provides behavior support services to adults with a variety of diagnosis. There’s at least a 15 year wait list for anyone with special needs who is attempting to receive additional support from the state. I serve those who are waiting and those who have already obtained support through the state. Additionally, I serve adolescents who may need support related to self-regulation. The adolescents I work with have a history of trauma, low SES, and have either been detained or have had police involvement due to the severity of behavior.
I believe one thing that sets us apart from others is the fact that we specifically serve the adult community. Interventions, techniques, and strategies implemented are applied with the belief that the person has the right to decide their future. This includes what they want to learn about, who they want to be around, how they want to be with others, and how to learn.
Another thing that’s included with our service is coaching. Coaching and/or parent training can be provided to the caregivers. Caregivers might experience a sense of loneliness and loss of identify while caregiving. By providing a compassionate and solution-based approach, we assist to alleviate the emotional/mental weight. We partner with the caregiver.
Building connections and strong relationships with the individual’s we serve is at the top of our list. Without the connection, interventions only serve a means to an end. I do this with my whole heart to help others establish what they want and who they want to be from the moment we meet.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding mentors through facebook has been my go-to and has really worked for me! I continue to stay in touch with my previous employer, others in the behavior analysis community, other professionals, and previous mentors.
Pricing:
- $85 Caregiver training when private pay
- $65 Coaching sessions related to the caregiver’s emotional and mental well-being
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shapingsolutionsllc.com
