Tina Hanson, MS, BCBA is the owner of Sleep Play Calm and Access Behavior Trainings and has been in the behavioral health field for 20+ years. Tina started Sleep Play Calm in 2021 and contracts with agencies and community centered boards across the state. During her career as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, she’s worked with a variety of populations in a variety of settings.

 

However, she found her true love when she started working in the field of early intervention exclusively in 2019. Her expertise as a social emotional therapist in early intervention is providing sleep and behavior support to families. Tina is especially passionate about working with families in getting their little ones to sleep soundly through the night as sleep is a basic need that must be met before we can expect a child to learn, grow, and self-regulate. If a child isn’t sleeping well, then the family isn’t sleeping well and that is where intervention needs to start.

 

Tina conducts a thorough sleep assessment to determine variables that are contributing to the sleep challenges. If medical red flags are present, she encourages families to follow-up with their pediatricians and she’s glad to help during this process. She can guide families on the specific concerns to discuss with their pediatricians. After the comprehensive sleep assessment, Tina provides a specific sleep plan, in collaboration with the family, consisting of evidence-based strategies. Examples of sleep challenges that she treats include falling asleep independently, frequent nighttime awakenings, refusing to nap, sleep terrors, insomnia, and confusing days and nights.

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Tina prides herself on continuing her professional development on a variety of topics related to early intervention. She is currently pursuing her endorsement with Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health (CoAIMH). Other specialty areas include autism, ADHD, naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (e.g., the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), attachment and bonding, picky eating, trauma-informed care, and sensory processing.

 

When Tina isn’t sleeping or working, she enjoys spending time with her teenage twins and husband, walking her dog Ruby while listening to podcasts, hiking, skiing, and her new endeavor playing pickleball!

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To learn more about training opportunities, please visit Access Behavior Trainings. 

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Education and Experience

Master of Science in Behavior Analysis and Therapy, SIUC, 2001

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BCBA 2001-2017, 2020- Present

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One of the first BCBA's in Colorado!

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Worked with Adults with Brain Injuries and IDD since 1998.

 

Adjunct Professor, Metropolitan State College, taught “Introduction to Behavior Analysis”.

 

Professional presentations: Association for Behavior Analysis International, Colorado Society of School Psychologists, the Brain Injury Association of Colorado, and Triad Early Childhood Council.

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Founding treasurer of Four Corners Association for Behavior Analysis.

 

Previous member of the Human Rights Committee with Developmental Disability Resource Center (DDRC). 

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Clinical interests: Assessment and treatment of sleep disorders in the pediatric population, parent coaching, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, prevention of severe challenging behaviors through skill-based treatment, attachment, and infant mental health.

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Professional mentorships:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Dr. Chad Emerick

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Sleep Disorders: Assessment and Treatment, Dr. Brett Kuhn, Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute and director of behavioral sleep medicine at the Children's Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

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Work Settings:

St. Louis Special School District 

Developmental Disability Consultants 

Laradon Hall 

Developmental Disability Resource Center

Denver Behavior Consultants, Lead Social Emotional Therapist

Owner of Sleep Play Calm

Owner of Access Behavior Trainings

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Professional organizations:

Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, Association of Professional Behavior Analysis, International Pediatric Sleep Association, International Association of Child Sleep Consultants, and Zero to Three.