MAR 03, 2020

BI Spotlight: Jordan Agbulos

In each issue of the newsletter, we’ll be turning the spotlight on members of the Intercare community. First up: Behavioral Interventionist Jordan Abgulos. Get to know Jordan, who says he was initially drawn to his job by the unique interactions with clients and the science-based principles of ABA, below.

Introduce yourself in one sentence: My name is Jordan and I am a scholar, family man, and a BI.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? This one might sound a little funny, but I would like to be the general manager for the Los Angeles Chargers. It has been heartbreaking as a fan over the past couple of seasons and I would like to make some changes to finally win.

What is on the top of your bucket list? Running a full marathon and doing a century (100 miles) long bike ride. I think doing those would be analogous to climbing Everest for me.

What’s your favorite quote? Steve Jobs said, “stay hungry, stay foolish” during his commencement speech for Stanford. It has always stuck with me through high school, college, and now even as my work as a BI. The grind never stops and I feel like we always have to be curious. Hard work and pushing the boundaries is what really facilitates any sort of positive change in my opinion.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? Tom Hanks. That man can succeed in any role.

What TV show do you recommend everyone binge? The Mandalorian. It has something for everyone of all ages.

What’s your Myers-Briggs personality type? I am a ISFJ. Wikipedia defines it as, “Devoted caretakers who enjoy being helpful to others,” which seems fitting as my role as a BI.

How has Intercare Therapy helped you in your career development? I knew nothing about ABA prior to joining Intercare. It really showed me the practicality and functionality of experimental design. As a social science, every decision the clinical team makes has a trickle down effect on the client and their family. So every move we make is vitally important to the success of our clients. As a result, I think it’s helped me become a better problem solver and triage what’s most important to treat. I feel like all my supervisors are great and they just want to help me succeed whether it be in this field of another.

What advice do you have for prospective BIs? First off, I would tell them to relax and to take a deep breath. I’ve noticed that when a lot of BIs initially start off and get their first kiddo, they are nervous and feel like they’re going to mess up. And yes, they will mess up, but that is part of the job. That’s how we learn. They have a whole clinical team behind them if they need any help. This is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. Just like all jobs, there will be bad days and there will be good days, but the good days will always outweigh the bad days in this field. We get to help clients gain independence, which is one of the most rewarding payoffs.

What are three words to describe Intercare Therapy? Rewarding, nurturing, and fun.

What do you find most challenging at Intercare? I think that one of the challenges that a lot of BIs will face is being out on the field alone for a majority of the time. However, the clinical team is always just one phone call or text away.

What do you like most about Intercare? The clinical team. I think the dynamic between the BI and the clinical supervisors and program managers are great. They always have great ideas and never make any task seem too big for us. They truly believe we are capable of anything and have a lot of faith in what we can do.

What have you gained from working at Intercare? I have found a sense of purpose working at Intercare. I love working with the clients and it really is addicting to see the little victories throughout the day working with the clients, whether it be a reduction in behaviors or acquisition of a certain skill. We are truly making a difference in these kids’ lives.