Our Therapists

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Sarena is the founder and clinical director of Elevate Behavior Services.  Sarena is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst originally from Gainesville, Florida. She received her Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Florida. After starting her career in the classroom, she was introduced to ABA and immediately began to pursue certification. Sarena completed her Applied Behavior Analysis coursework through Florida Institute of Technology. Since obtaining her certification, she has gained experience working with children with autism and related disabilities in home, clinic, and school settings, as well, as job coaching through Vocational Rehabilitation.

Cory is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the Assistant Clinical Director at Elevate. He is from a small town in west Tennessee and moved to Chattanooga in 2009 to attend UTC. After earning his Bachelor's in Secondary English Education, he taught for the Hamilton County Department of Education for 5 years. While teaching, he obtained his Master’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from the University of Cincinnati in 2017. He obtained his Board Certification and licensure in 2019. Cory has recently decided to continue his education and is currently working on his Doctor of Behavioral Health degree from Cummings Graduate Institute.

Kyra relocated to Chattanooga to pursue a career in ABA. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Behavioral Health, as well as a Master's degree in Education from Tusculum University. Kyra continued her education at the Florida Institute of Technology to earn her certification as a BCBA. She has worked with children in various professional settings, but has developed a passion for ABA therapy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, visiting the beach, and going to concerts.

Emily worked as a BCaBA and RBT in Tampa before moving to Chattanooga in 2019 and joining the Elevate team. She’s been working in the field of applied behavior analysis for 8 years now. She completed her masters degree in Exceptional Student Education with a focus in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of West Florida, and passed her BCBA exam in 2022! In her off time she enjoys hiking, gardening, and going to festivals and markets with her husband.

Nathalie has over 10 years of experience working with children in various settings. She grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Child and Family Studies from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Nathalie graduated with a Masters in Special Education and passed her Behavior Analysis Board Exam in 2022. When she is not working or in school, Nathalie likes to read, play with her animals, and travel to new places.

Lauren received a Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis at Jacksonville State University. She moved from her hometown of Alexandria, AL to explore a new city and to grow in the field of ABA. She worked in the field as a Registered Behavior Technician for 2 years before passing her BCBA exam in 2022. Lauren has worked in clinic, school, and home setting. Lauren has special interests in social skills and verbal behaviors. In her free time, you’ll find her doing a puzzle, hanging out with her family, or binge watching Netflix. 

Tori has been an Elevate employee since May of 2019. After receiving her bachelor's in Psychology from UTC and  years of providing ABA therapy and developing an intense appreciation for the field, she quickly realized her true passion was in Behavioral Analysis. She recently completed a master's degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis at The Florida Institute of Technology and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In her free time, she enjoys trips to Walt Disney World, brunch with her husband and friends, and long drives listening to her favorite playlists.

Kayley is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst who moved to Chattanooga from Louisiana and started working at Elevate Behavior in July 2023.  She has been working in the field of ABA for 3 1/2 years.  She earned a bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Science with and is currently working on completing a Master’s in Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.  Kayley has a special interest in teaching children how to communicate using different modalities like PECS and AAC.  She also enjoys teaching social skills and daily living skills.  In her free time she likes to go on hikes, cook, watch movies and take care of her plant children.

Micha'el grew up in a small town in Georgia and moved to Chattanooga in 2006 after falling in love with the area. Micha'el comes to Elevate with numerous years of experience managing medical practices in both billing and practice management. Micha'el has 4 adult children and 8 grandchildren! Spending time with them is one of her favorite things to do. When not with the family, Micha'el loves to explore downtown Chattanooga and the surrounding areas, drive the backroads in her convertible, read, garden and travel. 

Jennifer grew up in a small town in Colorado, moved out to California and eventually made her way to Chattanooga in 2021. Jen has been in the field of ABA for 5 years and started as an RBT. She has a passion for helping kids and their families. This eventually led her to administration roles and she found her passion for helping clients and their families get started with ABA services. Outside of her passion for working with kids, Jen loves spending any time that she can with her friends and family. She also loves to craft, play pickleball, hike, be outdoors, and fish.

Riana was born in Nebraska, but moved to Chattanooga at a young age, so she considers Chattanooga home. She graduated from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S in psychology and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Social Work.  After completing an internship for school at a local behavior clinic, she learned how important ABA is and decided to begin RBT training. In her free time Riana enjoys exploring new places around town, spending time with family, and going to watch the sunset with friends.

Katti is from Michigan and attended Western Michigan University where she was first introduced to ABA therapy. She knew right away she had a passion for the ABA field. Katti moved to TN to finish her undergraduate degree in psychology at UTC. She loves working with children and making a positive impact in their lives. In her free time, you'll find her playing with her chinchilla, exploring new places in Chattanooga, and spending time with her friends. 

Destiny is from a small town in Georgia and moved to Chattanooga in 2019 after falling in love with the area and all its beauty! She is a Senior at Dalton State College and is studying Psychology, with plans to get my masters at UTC starting next fall. In her free time Destiny loves to be outdoors, playing with her dog, going to festivals and traveling! She started her journey in ABA when doing research on what career path she want to pursue with Psychology. Destiny is excited to be a part of this team and continue to learn everyday! 

Larissa is from a small town outside of Knoxville and moved to Chattanooga to pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is currently a senior with the hopes of continuing her education in occupational therapy. Larissa has always enjoyed working with children and helping them reach new goals. When she is not busy, Larissa enjoys going to the gym, hiking with her dog, and spending time with her family and friends. 

Ashlynn was born and raised in Cookeville, Tennessee. She moved to Chattanooga to attend UTC and pursue her bachelors degree in psychology. Her first interest in psychology was mainly based around clinical mental health, but she is so happy to have learned more about ABA. She is currently a senior, with plans to attend a graduate program. She has loved working with children of many different backgrounds, and has always found behavior fascinating. When Ashlynn is not working, you can find her spending time with friends and family. 

McKinley is originally from Athens, Georgia. She moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee to attend UTC where she obtained her Undergraduate Degree in Psychology. After graduating, she knew she was passionate about working with people with disabilities, but she was unsure where to begin. After being introduced to ABA Therapy, she knew this job would be a great fit. She also plans to get her Masters Degree in the near future. In her free time, she enjoys serving her church, spending time with friends, and playing volleyball and pickle ball. 

 Fran was born and raised in Chattanooga with her younger brother. After graduating from a local creative arts high school in 2018, Fran began her undergrad studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She worked as a nanny and a server at Pizzeria Cortile throughout college and high school. Fran received her degree in Child and Family studies as of December 2022, and is looking to further pursue a career in ABA!

Sarah is from a small town in northeast Alabama, not far from Chattanooga. She is currently a senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in psychology at SNHU, and is planning to work towards her Master’s with a concentration in ABA.Sarah did not plan to pursue ABA until she learned more about it, but she absolutely loves the field now! Sarah has always loved working with children and helping them learn. When she is not at work, she is spending time with her son or at the gym.

Chloe grew up in Chattanooga. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in psychology from UTC. After graduation she plans to continue her education and get her Masters degree in mental health counseling. She has a passion for the field of psychology and discovering fun new ways to enrich others' lives. She loves working with children and has experience in a variety of different settings. She found out about ABA through her own research and immediately took steps to pursue her goal of becoming an RBT. In her free time Chloe loves going to the gym, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Delaney is originally from Hendersonville, TN and she moved to Chattanooga to pursue a bachelor's degree in Psychology from UTC. Delaney is currently a senior graduating in May, and she plans on obtaining my Master's degree in the near future. She has always had a passion for being able to help people, and working to reach new goals. Delaney loves being able to make a positive impact on others lives, and constantly learning about how the brain works. When she is not busy, she loves being on the lake, reading, and going on hikes with her friends!

Alyson is originally from Rainsville, Alabama but moved to Dalton, Georgia in late 2022 after getting engaged. She is in the process of transferring schools so she can further her degree in social work with a concentration on child and youth service opportunities. Alyson began her journey with Elevate after researching careers in the area that would best align with her studies and learned about ABA therapy. Alyson is the oldest of seven girls, so she has always had a passion for children and knew it would be something she wanted to pursue a career in. In her free time you can find her hanging out with her sisters, on a new adventure with her fiance, or spending time with friends and family!

Lily obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bryan College in December 2022. She was born and raised in Cleveland, TN. She never saw herself to work with kids but as she was completing her bachelors degree she grew to love studying children’s behaviors and wanting to work with them. She is planning on getting her masters in marriage and family therapy from Richmont graduate university. Her goal is to help people find a light in their life. In her pass time she enjoys watching baseball, going on adventures with friends, and attending church and Bible studies!

Anna has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lee University, and has been working with kids her whole life. She has plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Licensed Clinical Counseling and School Counseling in the near future. Anna knew she wanted to choose a career that helps others, so when she found ABA therapy and Elevate it seemed like a perfect fit! When Anna is not at Elevate you can find her skateboarding, going to the gym, watching movies with friends, at a local coffee shop, or serving at her church. She is excited to be a part of the team at Elevate and to learn and grow!  

Julianna is currently pursuing her Bachelors degree at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga studying Psychology. She was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee and plans to continue her education to receive a Masters and Doctoral degree. Julianna has always had a passion for mental health advocation. Since starting her RBT job and immediately falling in love with working with children, she plans to grow in the field of ABA and become a BCBA. When she is not working, she enjoys watching true crime documentaries, reading books, drinking coffee, and playing with her cat, Ophelia. 

Kaitlyn was born and raised in Chattanooga and graduated high school from Ivy Academy in 2017. She has always had a love for kids and she very much enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew. She decided to channel her passion with working with children in a rewarding career in ABA therapy. She enjoys each day at Elevate immensely and finds it very rewarding. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys experiencing new things and going on adventures with her boyfriend and spending time with her two rambunctious dogs, Daisy and Lily.

Annie was born and raised in Chattanooga. She discovered ABA after deciding to go back to school in 2020, and immediately thought it was the perfect fit! She is planning on finishing her degree in psychology while working as an RBT with hopes of eventually getting her masters and becoming a BCBA. Annie loves working with and being around children, and is passionate about helping others grow and thrive. When she isn't here at Elevate, Annie loves to do fun but relaxing activities like hula-hooping, gardening, hiking and paddleboarding with her husband and dog.

Amy recently moved to Chattanooga and is finishing up her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science. She has worked with kids of all ages in lots of areas and continues to love it. Amy found ABA to be a great stepping stone in learning more about the combination of child development and behavior. Her plan is to get her Masters’ in Child Psychology. When she’s not at work she can be found reading, traveling, headed to the beach, or hanging with her cats.

Bree was born and raised in Mount Juliet TN, and moved to Chattanooga to attend UTC in 2019. In 2023 she graduated from UTC with a B.S. in Psychology. She loves being with her niece and nephews, which sparked her interest in working ABA services. Through working she has found great joy in helping those in need for behavioral therapy. She has also found the research within the ABA field to be very interesting. Outside of work she spends her time with her family and friends, hiking, and watching documentaries.

Lauren grew up in Murfreesboro, TN and moved to Chattanooga in 2019 to attend UTC. She recently obtained her B.S in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology in hopes to pursue Occupational Therapy. After graduating, she began looking into careers surrounding therapy and discovered ABA. She felt like this aligned perfect with her passion for creativity and playing a direct role in helping others improve! When Lauren isn’t at Elevate you can find her traveling, outdoors, getting coffee, or spending time with friends and family.

Ravin was born in Chattanooga, but raised in Atlanta, Ga. She moved back to Chattanooga to attend Chattanooga State Community College and UTC where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from UTC in August 2023! Ravin worked with elementary and middle-school children in an afterschool program, and knew from that early experience she would work with children. She continued her journey at Parkridge Valley Child and Adolescent as a mental health technician in an inpatient setting, working with children ages 5-12. She looks forward to her next pursuit of becoming a licensed counselor, specializing in children and adolescents. Ravin has completely fallen in love with ABA therapy, and can't wait to see what her future holds in this field. When she is not working, Ravin enjoys watching her favorite TV shows, cuddling with her dogs Zeus & Nala, traveling, and going out with friends.

Kayla was born and raised in Memphis, TN. She moved to Chattanooga in 2017 to attend UTC, where she obtained her Bachelor's in Psychology in 2021. After graduating, she started working at Parkridge Valley Child and Adolescent, working with children ages 5-12 in an inpatient psychiatric setting. Currently, Kayla is in her Masters's program at Richmont Graduate University for Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is working to become a licensed professional counselor with a specialization in trauma work and children and adolescents. Helping others find their voice and grow as individuals are two things she is very passionate about. After starting at Elevate, Kayla has fallen in love with ABA and helping others even more! When not working, you can find her cuddling with her two dogs, rewatching the tv show Friends, playing tennis with her boyfriend, or going out with friends!

Sarah was born and raised in Chattanooga and graduated from a local high school in 2020, and has always had a passion for helping people however she can. Growing up, she’s always helped with her younger siblings, therefore has always enjoyed working with kids in any capacity. When being introduced to ABA Therapy, she loved the idea of working in this field and is planning to pursue it! In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, gardening, thrift shopping, and walking her dog.