Mission
SOAR’s mission is to provide specialized services to neurodiverse people and their caregivers to increase our clients’ ability to advocate for themselves, connect with their peers, and manage their own lives.
Our Team
Clinical Staff
Madison Robitaille
Program Director & BCBA
MS, BCBA, SRE
Madison Robitaille is a BCBA and the program director of SOAR. Madison has worked with ABC since 2017 and has been a BCBA since 2019. Madison consults with supervisors, AST, SRE, group, and metal health therapy staff to assist with all cases and groups. Madison also works directly with clients, parents/caregivers, and providers to collaborate and come up with creative solutions to challenges. Madison enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and doing puzzles in her free time.
Alicia Clark
Mental Health Counselor
& Supervising MHT
MA, LMFT, BCBA
Alicia is a person centered therapist focused on relationship and processing. She enjoys working with children, teens, and adults in helping them find their voice, understanding their agency, and living their best life. Alicia loves working with other AMFTs and being involved with the new generation of therapists. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her husband, kids, and pets. She enjoys swimming, music, reading, going to tropical places, and good food.
Julia Ham
Mental Health Counselor
& Assessment Manager
MA, AMFT, APCC
Julia integrates somatic work through a trauma-informed and narrative lens to support clients in creating more bodily awareness, nervous system regulation, and a deeper connection to their stories. Over the past four years, she’s served this population, the last three of which were spent at SOAR across various roles. She hopes to create a space where clients feel safe, seen, and empowered to explore and reauthor their stories. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, exploring new places in San Francisco, relaxing with loved ones (including her two dogs), and being by the ocean.
Elena Ross
SRE Supervisor
& Lesson Planning Specialist
BA
Elena supports SRE staff with case management, session planning, and creating individualized lessons for each client. She leads her own sessions and works closely with families, clients, and team members to keep everyone connected and working toward shared goals. Outside of work, Elena loves spending time at the beach, listening to music, skateboarding with friends, and discovering new restaurants and coffee shops!
Chris Speed
AST Supervisor & Group Manager
MA
Chris assists ASTs with managing cases, planning sessions, and working on goals. Chris also collaborates with clients, parents, and SOAR staff to ensure consistency of services and help with problem solving. Chris enjoys playing soccer, running, walking, and listening to music.
Ryan Slack
AST Supervisor & Behavior Technician
BA
Ryan assists ASTs with managing cases, planning sessions, working on goals, and running in-person hangouts. Ryan also collaborates with clients, parents, and SOAR staff to ensure consistency of services and help with problem solving. Ryan enjoys traveling, playing music, playing basketball, and spending time with his friends and family.
Samantha Clarkson
Mental Health Counselor
MA, AMFT, APCC, MHRS
Sam provides individualized and person centered mental health and therapeutic services to client's individually in the community environment. Sam works directly with clients to focus on increasing self-advocacy, self-worth, empowerment, agency, awareness of self, and confidence in daily routines and daily life, as well as consulting with SOAR teams and parents/caregivers as it pertains to mental health needs of the client. In her spare time, Sam enjoys reading, collecting indoor plants, and hiking.
Keeli Kahmoson
AST Supervisor
MA
Keeli assists ASTs with managing cases, planning sessions, working on goals, and running in-person groups. Keeli also collaborates with clients, parents, and SOAR staff to ensure consistency of services and help with problem solving. Keeli loves hiking, cooking, reading, traveling, playing with her three dogs, and spending time with her 2 children. She has lived in Sonoma County for over 20 years and loves all of the natural beauty of the area.
Kahlia Bashi
AST Supervisor
MA
Kahlia assists ASTs with managing cases, planning sessions, and working on goals. Kahlia also collaborates with clients, parents, and SOAR staff to ensure consistency of services and help with problem solving.
History of ABC
The Association of Behavior Consultants, Inc. (ABC) is a California nonprofit agency that has been providing behavior modification services to California Regional Center clients since 1979. The founder, William Palyo, MS., received his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and earned a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Sonoma State University. He also achieved six special education teaching credentials. In addition to founding the company, William has served as Chief Financial Officer, Human Resources Coordinator, Clinical Program Director, and Controller for the agency since 1979. From that date, the organization has grown to 200 employees serving approximately 1000 active cases in the northern California area through a variety of programs. William Palyo passed away on December 10th, 2021. In a unanimous board decision, Devin Winter has taken over as President of the company. Devin Winter has been working as an administrator in all key departments since 2007 and became COO in 2017 and then CEO in 2021 after William’s passing. In addition to working over 15 years at ABC directly under William, Devin has a degree in Business Administration from Southern Oregon University.