Aleah M’Poko
Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa
Program: MA with ABA Certificate
Book I would recommend: Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine
Favorite Quote:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
What would people be surprised to know about you?
People might be surprise to know that I love writing and photography. These are two areas of my life that allow me to express my creativity which, until recently, I believed was non-existent (although I have been doing both for years!). Strange, the lies we come to believe about ourselves.
Name a cause you are passionate about.
I am passionate about training the parents and siblings of children with autism, as well as children with challenging behaviors not necessarily attributed to autism. I believe it is imperative for families in this position to be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to manage such behaviors and skill deficits. This empowers them to apply relevant interventions for the child(ren) in personalized and functional ways.
Why did you choose MSP?
I chose to attend MSP as it offers the perfect combination of Clinical Psychology and ABA in a single course. I was further drawn in by my admiration for the vision and purpose of MSP. I don’t know that I could have found a school that better aligns with my core values and beliefs.
What do you plan to do with your degree?
I would like to use my certificate in ABA to construct programs for individuals with challenging behaviors, including but not limited to individuals on the autism spectrum. Additionally, I would like to give more attention to training and equipping the families of such individuals, using innovative and personalized approaches in providing this support. With my degree, I look forward to helping individuals living with mental illness, using and advocating for holistic and minimally invasive approaches. My ultimate desire is to play my role in helping people become the optimal versions of themselves.
What is your plan after graduation?
My plan is to take the knowledge and skills I have acquired back to South Africa in order to assist in meeting the ever-increasing need for quality, accessible mental healthcare in the country. I wish to liaise between the two countries in my particular field(s) of interest, for research, as well as treatment development and implementation purposes.
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