Marina Azimova
Marina Azimova is our Executive Director of Clinical Services and Clinician (BCBA), who has spent the last 20 years working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavioral Health in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Taiwan. She has knowledge and experiences in the areas of behavioral assessment and intervention including functional assessment/analysis, antecedent intervention, reinforcement-based strategies, ACT methodology, and extensive variety of instructional procedures (e.g., DTT, precision teaching, verbal behavior, functional/living skills, task analysis, etc) for students with autism and related disabilities.
She has worked in various treatment settings to include intervention on both public and private school throughout Connecticut and Pennsylvania serving students with ASD. Ms. Azimova has also served at the Deveraux Foundation as a Clinical Consultant for the PA Residential Campus for Adults. She started some of the very first ABA classrooms in the public-school systems in Moscow, Russia and in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Previously she served as the Clinical Director at Milestones Achievement Center where she handled administrative and clinical demands. Ms. Azimova presented at many national and international professional conferences. In Connecticut she worked as Senior Behavior Analyst at the Center for Children with Special Needs for almost seven years.
Currently Ms. Azimova teaches several graduate level ABA courses at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT. She works as a consultant on several projects for the “Autism Speaks” Organization. She is a professional member of CTABA, BALC, BABAT, and ABAI.
Khrysta Mercado
Khrysta G. Mercado is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and our Director of Professional Development and CEU programming. She acquired her B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from The University of Connecticut, and earned her M.S., in Behavior Analysis from the highly respected behavior analysis program at Simmons University in Boston, MA. Khrysta specializes in providing socially valid treatment goals for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has a strong passion of having a positive impact on the lives of her clients and focuses on the individual rather than their diagnoses.
“I believe it is too often that individuals of all ages who carry diagnoses become part of a system not designed with their best interest in mind. I am someone with my clients’ best interest in mind, and am dedicated to improving their lives while helping them reach their greatest potential.”
Khrysta focuses on improving and maintaining socially significant behaviors, social interactions, and enabling her clients to learn new skills and more!
Kristine Brewer
Kristine M. Brewer holds position Clinician (BCBA) who gained her CT Intermediate Administrators certification, 092 (2015), B.A. Sociology in May of 2000 from Kings College, Wilkes-Barre PA. She earned her M.A. Special Education from Saint Joseph University, West Hartford CT in 2005. Her Certification in Applied Behavior Analysis is from UMASS Boston (2008). She also holds M.A. in Education (Researched Based Learning Interventions) and Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate; Saint Joseph University, West Hartford CT (2011) as well as an Intermediate Administrators Certification from Sacred Heart University (2015).
Helen Bonoff
Helen brings a multitude of valuable assets to Applied Behavior Analysis Services of CT. She joined the private ABA sector in 2012 after fourteen years as an ABA therapist and substitute teacher.
Since 2005 she has been skillfully servicing children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Helen was part of a district wide team recognized with the Award of Excellence by the state of Connecticut. Helen’s calm and consistent implementation of ABA principles and programs, keen observations and clear documentation affords effective measurement of learners’ progress and identification of programming priorities to foster increased independence.
Prior to her entry into the education field she worked for Aetna Life & Casualty where her acute business task analyses, organizational skills and attention to details rendered her as an invaluable divisional problem solving resource.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a second Major in Economics from Eastern Connecticut State University. She completed several graduate courses in Organizational Behavior at University of Hartford as well as the graduate Applied Behavior Analysis coursework from Fitchburg State College.
Corey Waters
Corey started his academic career in the field of elementary education. He eventually changed his major to History. However, BA in History did not indicate stopping of his desire to teach and stay within education as a discipline.
After college and successful employment at a daycare facility as a head teacher (school age program), Corey became passionate about moving forward with advancing his knowledge and carrier towards helping children of all abilities to learn and grow. It was here that he met the founders of ABASCT and began a career in the field of ABA. Since 2018 he has assisted numerous children with ASD and other challenges to lead more fulfilling, independent, and enjoyable lives. He went on to earn his RBT in 2020 and plans to earn his BCBA over the course of the next couple of years
ABA Services of CT 