Hello, I’m Kirsten MacAdam!

Hi, I’m Kirsten, a Behaviour Consultant and Category A - Registered Autism Service Provider, based in British Columbia and a proud member of the YBG team.

I recently relocated from Ontario and am passionate about supporting families as they navigate the early stages following a diagnosis.

I specialize in guiding parents through what can often feel like an overwhelming transition—helping them build their support team, understand their child’s unique needs, and set meaningful, achievable goals at a pace that works for their family. I’m here to make that process feel less daunting and more empowering.

Currently, I’m developing my skills in feeding support and working closely with the YBG team to launch in-person social groups for our clients and others in the community. These groups are designed to prioritize real-life interactions and social learning opportunities, helping to bridge the gap between structured sessions and everyday experiences.

Want to connect? I'm here!

How did I get started in this field?

After graduating from St. Francis Xavier University with an undergraduate degree in International Development, a friend encouraged me to spend the summer in beautiful British Columbia working at an Easter Seals Summer Camp for children and young adults with disabilities.

Following a magical summer of camp songs, s'mores, and water slides, I decided to change my focus and pursue a career where I could utilize creative problem solving to support individuals and families in gaining independence and improving their quality of life. After discovering the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, I never looked back and now get to combine my passion for cultivating safe, inclusive, and fun learning experiences with science!

After completing my post graduate certificate in Autism and Behavioural Science at George Brown College…

I went on to work as a behaviour technician, providing 1:1 and small group services to autistic children. In January of 2021, I began my Masters degree in Behavior Analysis Practice through the Florida Institute of Technology while accruing my 2000 fieldwork hours.

In February of 2023, I passed the board exam and was certified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Since then, I have continued my work supporting individuals and families by designing and overseeing specialized programming to be implemented in-centre, in-home, and in-school settings.

My Education

Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies

I completed my undergraduate degree in a small Nova Scotian town called Antigonish at St. Francis Xavier University. My undergrad introduced me to the power of community-led initiatives and collaborative learning. Through a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) study in Ada, Ghana, I helped support participatory action research exploring social movement learning and community radio. During this time, I contributed to a collaboratively written and published book, The Struggle of the Songor Salt People, and developed a deep appreciation for respectful, reciprocal relationships with the communities we worked with. I also supported local efforts through volunteering with a UNICEF project and working closely with the Ada Songor Salt Women’s Association, where I supported efforts to amplify their work through social media and community engagement.

George Brown College – Autism and Behavioural Science Graduate Certificate

Master of Arts in Behaviour Analysis Practice

I completed my master’s degree in Behaviour Analysis Practice through Florida Institute of Technology in 2022 while accruing supervised fieldwork toward my BCBA certification. This program helped deepen my understanding of the science behind behaviour change and evidence-based practices, while also allowing me to apply what I was learning in real time with children and families.

During this time, I had the pleasure of developing and overseeing a school readiness program for preschool-aged children. In this small-ratio, specialized classroom, I applied the principles of ABA in a way that supported each child’s unique learning style, emotional needs, and developmental goals. It was within this setting that I further honed my passion and developed a growing specialty in supporting school-aged children and their families.

This hands-on experience, paired with my academic training, solidified my values as a clinician: ethical, individualized, and neurodiversity-affirming care that prioritizes trust, connection, and meaningful progress.

This program laid the groundwork for my applied clinical work. Through placements at both Surrey Place Centre and Morse Street Junior Public School in Toronto, Ontario, I gained hands-on experience delivering one-on-one and group instruction to young autistic learners. It was during this experience that I practiced foundational teaching strategies and developed a deeper understanding of how to support autistic learners across home, school, and community settings — all while collaborating closely with interdisciplinary teams.

Further Educational Experience

Currently participating in Adventure bites training 6+ hours training with Valori Neiger, BCBA (2025)
40+ hours of continuing education for Behavior Analysts and ongoing
Completed 8 hour Supervisor Training through Do Better Collective

Some of the other hats I wear:

Dog Mom

I’m a proud dog mom to Obi-Wan Kenobi (Obi for short) — a sweet but anxious 3-year-old potcake rescue from St. Lucia — who I raise with my incredibly supportive fiancé. Raising a dog with high anxiety has been a crash course in patience, flexibility, and responsive support, and has definitely sharpened my problem-solving skills in ways I didn’t expect. Obi is a home-body and snuggle bug at heart and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
BC-ABA Board Member

I’m currently serving a two-year term as Member at Large – Communications with the British Columbia Association for Behavior Analysis (BC-ABA). I’m honoured to contribute to the growth of our field by supporting licensure, regulation, and greater inclusion and accessibility across the province. This experience is also deepening my network and allowing me to connect with incredible practitioners and leaders in the field from all over British Columbia.
Card Maker & Creative

In my off-hours, you’ll often find me with a paintbrush in hand, designing and creating watercolour greeting cards to celebrate all of life’s big and small moments. What started as a hobby has grown into a heartfelt side project that brings me so much joy and allows me to share some of that joy with others!