Thrive Collaborative

Happy Summer! School is out… and for many families, that means a lot of transition all at once. ☀️

Different routines.
Different expectations.
Travel. Camps. Visitors. Less structure. More unpredictability.

While summer can bring excitement and freedom, it can also feel overwhelming for many neurodivergent kids (and honestly, parents too). If things feel a little “off” right now, you are not doing anything wrong.

Sometimes the most supportive things we can offer are:
🌿 predictable rhythms
🌿 extra downtime
🌿 sensory regulation
🌿 preparation before transitions
🌿 lowered pressure
🌿 connection over perfection

This season does not have to look perfect to be meaningful. Some of the best summer moments happen in the quiet, simple, connected parts of the day. 💛

✨ NOW HIRING: Experienced BCBA ✨

Thrive Collaborative is growing, and we’re looking for a seasoned Board Certified Behavior Analyst to join our multidisciplinary team.

This role is best suited for a BCBA who:
• Has 3+ years of experience supporting neurodiverse children
• Is confident leading caseloads and supervising teams
• Values naturalistic, play-based, and relationship-centered care
• Enjoys meaningful collaboration with families and professionals

At Thrive, we intentionally keep caseloads small (5–7 clients) so you can focus on quality over quantity, clinical excellence, and authentic connection.
💼 Full-time
💰 $75K–$95K + bonuses, CEUs, and strong benefits
📍 Denver, Colorado

If you’re an experienced BCBA ready for a role where your expertise truly matters—we’d love to connect.

👉 Apply via link in bio or visit our website!
https://www.seeksowshare.com/join-our-team

Join us 1 week from today for ASL Storytime! 🤟📚❤️

We’re excited to partner with the Carbondale Branch Library for a playful, interactive storytime experience led by Anisa Lavender. Families will explore stories, songs, movement, and early literacy through American Sign Language (ASL) in a welcoming, inclusive space for all.

📅 Friday, May 22
⏰ 2:00 PM
📍 Carbondale Branch Library

This event is free and open to children and their caregivers—we’d love to see you there!

Insider Tip Tuesday 💡

Play is so much more than entertainment—it’s one of the most powerful ways young children learn communication, flexibility, connection, and problem-solving.

When adults join a child’s play instead of directing it, we create opportunities for meaningful back-and-forth interaction. Over time, these shared moments build trust, connection, and the foundation for learning.

What might this look like?
Your child is rolling cars across the floor. Instead of asking questions or teaching right away, try joining their idea:
“Oh no... my car is stuck! Can yours help?”

Now you’re not just playing—you’re building a shared theme, taking turns, solving problems together, and creating a game that both of you understand and enjoy.

Small moments of connection often lead to the biggest growth.

This National Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to take a moment to recognize the incredible educators we have the privilege of working alongside every day.

Whether we’re supporting in classrooms, collaborating on academic goals, or partnering behind the scenes, your dedication, creativity, and commitment to students make a lasting impact. We see firsthand the care and effort you pour into your work—and it does not go unnoticed.

Thank you for trusting us as partners and for everything you do to support your students and communities. We’re grateful to be part of your journey.

We had such a meaningful time at the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference this week!

A huge thank you to the conference organizers for inviting Thrive Collaborative to present. It was an honor to connect with educators, parents, and service providers who are all deeply committed to supporting children’s growth and development.

We loved sharing ideas from our sessions on:
• Intention in Play and Communication
• Motivation and Assent in Teaching Neurodiverse Learners

Across both sessions, the conversations, questions, and shared experiences reminded us just how powerful it is when we come together with a shared goal: supporting children in ways that are respectful, intentional, and relationship-centered.

We’re especially grateful for the opportunity to collaborate, reflect, and learn alongside such a thoughtful and engaged community.

Thank you again for having us — we’re already looking forward to next year!

Insider Tip Tuesday 💡

All behavior serves a function.

When a child engages in challenging behavior, it’s often to gain attention, avoid or escape a demand, access a desired item, or meet a sensory need. Rather than focusing only on reducing the behavior, it’s important to identify its function and explicitly teach a more appropriate, effective replacement skill.

When the new skill consistently meets the child’s need, it becomes a more efficient and sustainable way for them to communicate.

Have questions or want support applying this approach? We’re always here to help—feel free to reach out.

Meet Molly 👋

Molly is a Senior Consultant with a master’s degree in Special Education. She is trained as a direct delivery therapist in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and supports children from early childhood through school age. She blends the Early Start Denver Model and applied behavior analysis within a naturalistic, developmental, and assent-based approach. Her work focuses on school consultation and working closely with families, teachers, and providers to build individualized supports across settings. Her areas of focus include developing school-based strategies in collaboration with families and teams, and implementing naturalistic therapy within play and language, with an approach grounded in compassionate care, connection, flexibility, and supporting each child’s autonomy.

🌟 Session Spotlight

How do play, communication, and thinking grow together in young learners?

In our session “Intention in Play and Communication,” on Thursday April 16th, at the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference, we’ll explore how educators can better observe children’s intentions during play and recognize the learning happening beneath the surface.

Participants will learn to:
• Identify different types of play
• Recognize the goals and intentions within play
• Distinguish true play from behaviors that only appear playful
• Use child-led and guided play to support development

Grounded in research from Piaget and play-based learning frameworks, this session focuses on helping educators create purposeful, joyful learning experiences.

📍 Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference
Room: Evergreen A
Time: Thursday, April 16th 12:45-2:00PM

We hope to see you there!

Meet Paige 👋

Paige brings a strong background in Child and Adolescent Development along with over four years of hands-on experience in the ABA field as a Registered Behavior Technician. She is passionate about supporting neurodivergent individuals as they navigate everyday environments and experiences with confidence.

Currently pursuing her Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification, Paige is excited to expand her impact through play-based, naturalistic approaches. She loves helping children, teens, and adults overcome challenges, discover their strengths, and reach meaningful goals—so they can truly thrive.

We’re so lucky to have Paige on our team! 💛