Acorn Health’s National Director of Clinical Training and Development, Claire Ellis, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Behavioral Health Business. This prestigious award highlights her exceptional leadership in autism therapy and her dedication to improving the behavioral health industry. The honor recognizes young professionals under 40 who demonstrate passion for behavioral health services, advocate for those in need and the professionals who support them, and have a proven ability to turn vision into action. Ellis’ career exemplifies these qualities, making her a standout leader in autism therapy and beyond.
Ellis, a certified behavior analyst, has been an integral part of Acorn Health since 2021, overseeing clinical training and development for the autism therapy provider. Acorn Health is known for specializing in applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment methods and operates in several states, including Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. Through her leadership in autism therapy, Ellis has helped the company expand its reach while maintaining the highest standards of care for individuals with autism and their families. During an interview with Behavioral Health Business, Ellis shared insights into her path in the behavioral health field, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and her vision for the future of the industry.
A Lifelong Commitment to Helping Others
Ellis’ journey into behavioral health started early. “I’ve always been a helper by nature,” she said, reflecting on her motivations to pursue this line of work. Beginning at 19, she started providing direct care behavior services, and as she gained experience, she became more committed to the transformative power of behavior analysis. Early on, she recognized that the work she was doing had a lasting, measurable impact on children and their families, which further solidified her commitment to the field.
“What really flipped for me was recognizing that we can cause meaningful change that maintains over time, and we have the data to prove it,” Ellis shared. She emphasized how applied behavior analysis (ABA) offers a data-driven approach to treatment, allowing clinicians to track progress and ensure that the changes they’re implementing are both effective and sustainable. This long-term approach to behavioral health treatment has been a key motivator in her career, as it enables professionals to see the positive effects not only in the children they serve but also in their families’ lives.
In the years since she began working in the industry, Ellis has witnessed firsthand how ABA can profoundly impact the lives of clients. “When you can see it in the child and see it in the data over a really long period of time, we can be really proud of the impact we made,” she said. For Ellis, the ability to tangibly measure and celebrate success is what continues to inspire her to push for better outcomes, not only for the clients she serves but also for the clinicians working alongside her.
The Importance of Individualized Care
Since her early days in the field, Ellis has learned many important lessons about what it takes to provide the highest quality care to clients. One of the most important lessons, she said, has been the critical importance of individualized care. “It’s so important to approach each person we have the privilege of working with in a holistic way that considers their unique needs and cultural backgrounds,” Ellis explained. She believes that personalized care—tailored to each client’s specific circumstances—is essential for achieving the best possible outcomes.
Ellis has also seen how vital it is to view each client’s needs within the broader context of their life, including their family, culture, and community. This holistic approach to care is what sets successful treatment plans apart from those that fall short, as it allows providers to address all the factors influencing a client’s well-being, not just the symptoms they may be presenting at the moment.
Advocating for Increased Access to Care
Looking ahead, Ellis hopes to see improvements in the accessibility of behavioral health services. “We have many families that are waiting in the wings for quality providers to help them navigate through their diagnosis and how it manifests in their life,” she said, expressing her concern for those who are unable to access the care they need. The waiting lists for services can be long, and Ellis emphasized how heartbreaking it is to know that many individuals and families don’t have immediate access to the treatment they deserve. Increasing access to high-quality behavioral health care is a top priority for Ellis, as she believes everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of ABA and other behavioral health services.
In addition to advocating for greater access, Ellis is excited about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the industry. Looking to 2025, she foresees AI playing a crucial role in helping clinicians become more effective and efficient in their work. By using AI tools, professionals could manage more cases, serve more families, and make better-informed decisions faster. This technology could also help reduce administrative burdens, allowing clinicians to focus more on their clients and less on paperwork. “I hope to see the leverage of AI and how it can help clinicians be more effective and efficient to serve more families,” she said.
A Hopeful Outlook for the Future
Despite the challenges that the behavioral health industry faces, Ellis remains optimistic about its future. “In a word, I would describe the future of behavioral health as hopeful,” she said. “There’s a huge push for compassionate approaches to engage with our client population and ensure that we are individually addressing each one of our clients.” She hopes that the continued focus on individualized care, combined with new technological advancements, will lead to better outcomes for both clients and providers.
Ellis believes that this optimism can be attributed to the growing emphasis on empathy in the industry. As she put it, “Empathy is essential because that’s how you take care of the people who are doing the work.” By fostering environments where people feel valued and supported, leaders can inspire their teams to bring their best work forward. She believes that this approach is crucial for ensuring that the behavioral health field attracts and retains the best talent, ultimately benefiting the people who rely on the care these professionals provide.
Leadership in Autism Therapy: Building Future Leaders
Ellis also shared her perspective on what qualities all future leaders in behavioral health should possess. “I think it has to be empathy,” she said. “If we can create more leaders that have the ability to build strong relationships, inspire trust, and create environments where people feel valued and motivated to contribute their best work, that will bring us to a place where we have more high-quality providers and more clients will receive the care they deserve.”
This emphasis on empathy is key to Ellis’ leadership philosophy. She believes that leaders must not only care about the people they serve but also the professionals they work alongside. By ensuring that staff feels supported and appreciated, leaders can cultivate a culture of excellence and ensure that every client receives the care they need to thrive. Leadership in autism therapy, in particular, requires not just clinical expertise but the ability to foster relationships and a sense of belonging within the team.
Advice for the Next Generation
Reflecting on her own career and what she’s learned along the way, Ellis offered some valuable advice for those just starting in the industry. “Be relentless in the pursuit of excellence,” she urged. “If there’s something you don’t know, find out who knows it and go learn from them.” She emphasized the importance of seeking knowledge and never being afraid to ask questions. “We weren’t meant to do it alone,” she added. Ellis encouraged new professionals to embrace the learning process and to be comfortable with the idea of growth, even if it means stepping outside of their comfort zones.
As a recognized Future Leader, Claire Ellis exemplifies the qualities of empathy, passion, and dedication that are crucial to advancing the field of behavioral health. Her work with Acorn Health and her vision for the future make her a true leader in the industry, one who will undoubtedly continue to inspire positive change for years to come. Leadership in autism therapy requires not only technical knowledge but the ability to guide and inspire the next generation of professionals to improve the lives of individuals with autism and their families.
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