Welcome to ABA Compass: Guiding You Through the World of ABA

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Hi! I’m Emma Joy Willden, BCaBA, and I’m thrilled to welcome you to ABA Compass. I started this blog to create a space where learning, exploring, and applying Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is approachable, practical, and meaningful for everyone.

I’ve been in the field of ABA since October 2018, when I started as a Behavior Technician (BT). I earned my RBT credential in May 2019, and completed my BCaBA in January 2025. I began my BCBA internship in May 2024, and I’m now about one year away from sitting for the BCBA exam.

I want to be clear: I am no expert in this field, and I am learning and growing every day. I learn best when I am talking and teaching others about what I am learning. Because of this, I started a TikTok page in June 2025 to teach, create, and have fun while working on my master’s degree, completing my BCBA internship, and working as a BCaBA.

Since starting that page, things have grown and evolved. After attending the UTABA 2025 conference and hearing incredible speakers such as Dr. Johnathan Tarbox, learning about the MOTAS assessment, and discovering many other amazing things, I realized I wanted to not only share what I was learning in school, but also what I was researching on my own.

Research is key in this field, as is understanding the history of ABA and the direction we are currently moving in. I also recognize that understanding ethics and how they apply to us on social platforms is crucial. Sharing knowledge publicly comes with responsibility, and it’s important to consider professional guidelines even while creating engaging content online.

I wanted a better format than TikTok to share these insights. While TikTok is amazing for short videos under a minute, content with depth often doesn’t work well there unless you already have a huge following.

This blog is designed to compile my research and information in one place, where anyone interested can read it all in one go. I’ll also be recording some of this content for YouTube, and then using those videos—along with clips and highlights—on TikTok to guide people to both the blog and YouTube.

At ABA Compass, my goal is to break down ABA in ways that are easy to understand and apply.

Why It Matters

ABA Compass is for anyone interested in understanding behavior and behavior change. It’s for those who want to improve skills, deepen knowledge, or just explore the science behind why we do what we do. My hope is to create a community of learners and thinkers, where questions are welcome, and exploration is encouraged.

Join the Conversation

I’d love for you to get involved! Share your thoughts, questions, or topics you’d like to see covered in the comments, or connect with me on social media.

If you have thoughts, ideas, or questions you’d like to share directly, please email me. I’m always open to discussions, feedback, and collaboration.

Let’s explore ABA together—practically, thoughtfully, and with curiosity.

Welcome to ABA Compass—your guide through the world of Applied Behavior Analysis.


© 2025 ABA Compass. All rights reserved.

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