We are constantly adapting to better serve our families and focus on continuous improvement as a business.
Our Mission
Empowering individuals with autism and their families through quality ABA services
Our Story
Empower Behavioral Health was founded in 2015 in San Antonio, Texas by a team of dedicated professionals who saw a need for comprehensive, quality services for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Since then, we have grown to serve and make an impact on families in San Antonio, Houston, Brazos Valley, Waco, El Paso, New Braunfels, Corpus Christi, and more.
At EBH, we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to lead a fulfilling and enriching life. By blending scientific expertise with compassion, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve, helping them thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
History of ABA Therapy
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a scientific approach that has been used for over 50 years as an effective treatment for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities by understanding behavior and teaching new skills. ABA therapy is based on the principles of behaviorism, which asserts that the most effective approach to improving the lives of the individual is through objective, behavioral approaches.
ABA is an effective treatment for any individual, and is most often utilized to teach individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. By understanding behavior and how it works within the environment, ABA is an effective treatment for individuals with autism. ABA therapy focuses on increasing desired behaviors (e.g., communication, social skills, academic performance) and reducing behaviors that might be considered harmful or dangerous (e.g., aggression toward others, self-injury).
Our ABA Program
At EBH, our goal is to help each individual we serve become the best, most independent version of themselves. Our ABA program offers an array of services, including early intervention, communication skills, social skills, behavior management, and more to those with autism and other developmental disabilities of all ages. Our services include:
If you are interested in getting started with ABA therapy for your child or loved one, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with us today. We would also love to answer any questions you may have about ABA therapy.
Leadership TEAM
Natesh Kumar, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Kumar is the Chief Executive Officer of Empower Behavioral Health. Natesh is passionate about making healthcare services accessible to everyone. He actively contributes to several Executive and Investment Boards, including his recent involvement with Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas and currently serves as a board member with The Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP).
Mr. Kumar is also very active in healthcare professional organizations and co-founded and hosts a podcast with CASP called PodCASP that brings to light topics in the ABA space. When he’s not at work, Mr. Kumar enjoys spending time with his wife, Reema, and their beautiful children. You might also find him watching sports, playing golf, or traveling worldwide. Mr. Kumar holds an MBA in Operations and Strategy from Southern Methodist University and an undergraduate in Business Administration in Management Information Systems from the University of Texas. He has held executive positions for 15 years and oversees several businesses in various industries. He specializes in financial analysis and valuation of business models, process optimization, and project management.
John Reedy
Chief Financial Officer
Born and raised in Texas, John earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Science in Accounting from Texas Tech University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was distinguished as the highest-ranking graduate. After starting his career at KPMG, John has spent over 10 years leading teams in healthcare finance, mergers, and acquisitions. He has successfully driven exponential growth at multiple healthcare organizations with an eye towards clinical quality and a superior patient experience. His passion lies in finding those who are providing the highest levels of care to those they serve, and helping them expand their reach, delivering quality care to more families!
Emily Treadway, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Chief Operating Officer
Emily is a native of Houma, Louisiana. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders in 2013 from Louisiana State University. Emily went on to complete her Master of Arts degree in Special Education, with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis, at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2015. Emily began working with individuals with developmental and communication delays during her undergraduate studies and transitioned into the field of ABA in 2012. She joined the EBH team in the Fall of 2013 as a technician and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2015. Emily has experience working with individuals with a variety of diagnoses in clinic-based and community-based settings.
Emily has interests in the areas of early intensive behavioral intervention and the treatment of behavioral feeding disorders. Emily also has a passion for assisting children and families in accessing high-quality ABA services and advocating on their behalf in navigating funding sources. On the weekends, Emily enjoys watching LSU and Saints football with her husband, cooking, and spending time with her family and dog, Daisy.
Anna Sciarillo, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Vice President of Intake & Marketing
Anna joined EBH in 2013 and currently serves as the VP of Intake and Marketing. Anna is dedicated to providing a high-level of customer service and support to our patients and families throughout the intake process. She received her bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in 2013 and went on to pursue her master’s from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she studied Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Anna is a proud native of Houston, TX and has worked in the field of ABA since 2010. She became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2015. She has experience with clinic-based, in-home, and community-based treatment.
Anna serves as the Secretary for the Texas Association for Applied Behavior Analysis Public Policy Group (TxABA PPG). She also serves as Chair of the TxABA PPG Medicaid Task Force. Anna has a passion for advocating for individuals with disabilities through legislation, such as Medicaid coverage of ABA services for families living in the state of Texas. Anna is a big sports fan and enjoys cheering on her favorite teams, especially her LSU Tigers. In her free time, you can find Anna working in her garden, watching Netflix, or playing outside with her two dogs.
Kylie Siders, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Vice President of Clinical Operations
Kylie is a Southern California native who has worked in the field since 2012. She attended the University of California Riverside where she earned her bachelor’s degree and then completed her Master’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Ball State University. She became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2015. Kylie joined the EBH team as a BCBA in 2019 and has since worked in a variety of departments including telehealth and curriculum development. Kylie has strong interests in transition planning and teaching executive functioning skills. She strongly believes in adapting and personalizing programming to meet each client’s needs. She also focuses her work on mentoring new BCBAs and building staff morale. Kylie enjoys exploring Texas, being active, and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Tori Murphy, MBA.HCA
Vice President of Compliance
Tori joined EBH in 2019 and currently serves as the Director of Compliance. She received her MBA in Healthcare Administration and has over 16 years in the health care industry, providing various services to a wide range of specialties. She is dedicated to overseeing and managing regulatory compliance within our organization.
Elissa Rivera, MBA
Vice President of Facilities & Procurement
Elissa is a Native Texan, born and raised. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, with an emphasis in Management from The University of the Incarnate Word at San Antonio in 2009. She went on to pursue her education at The University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio and completed her Master of Business Administration, with an emphasis in Management in 2011. Elissa has held leadership positions for over 15 years and specializes in organizational structure, operations, and growth.
Dawn Harvey, CPA, MBA
Controller
As the Controller, Dawn Harvey oversees the accounting and finance functions of Empower Behavioral Health and Circle of Care and is passionate about helping the organization best use its resources to have the greatest impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve.
Dawn joined our team in 2023 with over 20 years of progressive experience as an accounting professional with most of her roles being in the healthcare industry. Dawn is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s and the Utah Association of CPA’s. Dawn earned her Master of Business Administration and Graduate Certificate in Accounting from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT. She also received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Utah.
As a Utah native, Dawn has a deep love for spending time outdoors. Outside of work Dawn spends her time exploring Texas with her husband and daughter and traveling mainly to visit family and friends that live out of state.
Erica Drounette, MBA, SHRM-SCP
Vice President of People Operations
Erica is from South Louisiana and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, followed by her Master of Business Administration in 2018. She began her career at Empower Behavioral Health (EBH) as a Senior Recruiter in 2021 and has steadily advanced through various roles. Currently, Erica serves as the Director of People Operations and recently attained her SHRM-SCP certification in 2023.
Erica’s leadership in HR is defined by her commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture and implementing strategic initiatives that promote employee growth and organizational success. She is dedicated to supporting staff members by providing the resources needed to enhance their work experience. Erica’s passion for her role is driven by a desire to help businesses thrive through empowered and engaged teams.
Armando Botti, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Business Intelligence Analyst
Armando is a Texan native who has worked in the field since 2014. He attended the University of Texas at Brownsville for his undergraduate studies and later pursued a Master’s Degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Armando became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2017. He joined the EBH team in 2017 as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and has since held various roles, including BCBA, Clinical Director, Insurance and Appeals Specialist, and is currently the Director of Data and Operation Analytics. Armando has always had a strong interest in Operational Behavior Management and strives to apply ABA principles in the workplace to foster a positive and efficient work environment. Outside of work, Armando enjoys fishing, sports, and traveling with his wife.
Our Core Values
Empower Behavioral Health is built on a foundation of values that include compassion, excellence, teamwork, and respect. Our values guide everything we do and are the cornerstone of our success.
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People are the heart of our business. We believe in treating everyone with respect, compassion and empathy. We value the diversity of our staff, families, and individuals we serve and are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive environment. We see the individual first, not the disability.
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Integrity, quality services, and ethical behavior sets EBH apart. We are committed to excellence in everything we do. We strive to provide the highest quality services and to continually improve our skills and knowledge.
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We are all on one team, and we believe in the power of teamwork. We work closely with families, schools, and providers to ensure we are meeting the needs of the individuals we serve.
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We prioritize balance for our employees. In order to provide the highest quality of care to our patients and families, we know our team must also care for themselves.
Our Commitment To Diversity
Empower Behavioral Health is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion Empower Behavioral Health is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture but our reputation and company’s achievement as well. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. |
EBH’s diversity initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces:
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We’re Here To Help
Across The Whole
State Of Texas
Getting started is
as easy as 1 2 3
1
Fill out our fast and easy contact form by clicking “Get Started”
2
Speak with our expert staff and get all your questions answered as well as a tour of one of our clinics
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We will verify your insurance benefits, review these with you, and request an authorization for an ABA assessment