JUL 23, 2020

Employee Spotlight: Kanhchana Dom

In each issue of the newsletter, we’ll be turning the spotlight on members of the Intercare community. This month, we’re highlighting Clinical Supervisor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Kanhchana Dom. Get to know Kanhchana, who says she was drawn to a career as a BCBA because of her desire to work with children, below.

Why did you become a BCBA? I wanted to continue to work with children and adolescents with Autism and other developmental disabilities. Also, I was curious what ABA was all about.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? A judge for Top Chef All Stars!

What is your hidden talent? Portrait and Food Photography

What’s your favorite quote? “If it’s not gonna matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes upset by it.” – unknown

How do you define success? I define success as being able to hold strong to your values and going to bed every night feeling like you’re a good person (or did something great)!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? Nora Lum — also known as Awkwafina

What’s your Myers-Briggs personality type? Adventurer Personality ISFP-A/ISFP-T : An Adventurer (ISFP) is a person with the Introverted, Observant, Feeling, and Prospecting personality traits. They tend to have open minds, approaching life, new experiences, and people with grounded warmth. Their ability to stay in the moment helps them uncover exciting potentials.

What does a typical day look like for you when you see clients? It’s hard to answer this question with the word “typical” since every day is always a little different. There’s definitely some preparation that I will do before seeing all clients, such as checking in with staff, data analysis, and gathering any materials that are needed. There are some unplanned tasks such as phone calls, emails in between clients. However, the clients are the fun part and during sessions with clients, I will check in with the entire team for any questions and/or concerns, continue with any training and adjustments for programs, and interact with the clients.

What advice do you have for prospective BCBAs? I would say to try it out! It will make you more appreciative of what we take for granted when you work with families, colleagues, paraprofessionals who are constantly working towards the same goals or outcomes for people who need ABA to continue to learn and grow. You’ll personally will learn to be more flexible, patient, and overall it’s rewarding!

What are 3 words to describe Intercare Therapy? Sweet, chill, and fun!

What do you like most about Intercare? The people and diversity at Intercare!

What have you gained from working at Intercare? I’ve gained a better understanding that a work-life balance is extremely important. During my tenure at Intercare, I’ve been to France, Sweden, Thailand, and Vietnam! With that said, I have gained many great mentors who also love to travel (they’re amazing role models!).

What are three career lessons you’ve learned thus far? 1.) Communication is really the key! If I ever feel unsure about anything, I will ask questions for clarification. In other words, never be afraid to ask “why?”

2.) There is always room to grow! I can learn from my mentors, mentees, clients, families, and paraprofessionals!

3.) If I have a hard day, I always think about why I am a BCBA. Usually, that will direct me back to why I love what I do!

What do you think sets Intercare apart from other therapy providers? That they really encourage a work life balance, are open-minded about any feedback or suggestions, and it’s evident that they are always trying to make progress overall (e.g., quality of services, the staff’s satisfaction, etc.).