CHILDREN . PARENTS . COLLABORATION
You know your child. I know behavior. Together, we build a plan for progress.
Thoughtful, individualized behavior therapy and practical parent consultation to help your child build skills, and to help you navigate everyday challenges with clarity and confidence.
South Tampa, FL · In-Person Services | Nationwide · Virtual Services
MEET YOUR BEHAVIOR ANALYST
I'm Justine Caputi, a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Special Education Teacher. Since 2010, I've worked directly with children and adolescents, while partnering with their families to navigate challenging behavior, build meaningful skills, and make everyday life a little easier.
Hi, I’m Justine.
MS Ed., BCBA, NYS-LBA
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I earned my undergraduate degree in Special Education and General Education (K–12) from Cabrini University, my master's degree in Special Education with a focus on Behavior Disorders, and an advanced graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Hunter College in New York City.
My experience spans home, school, and community settings. I began my career as a classroom head teacher in public and private schools, as well as at a charter school designed specifically for students with autism, where I later became a clinical supervisor.
I then worked with a large, multidisciplinary psychology and behavioral health practice serving the greater New York City area, first as a provider and then as a clinical training supervisor. In that role, I provided supervision and training to BCBAs and instructional staff across New York City’s boroughs, led virtual trainings on effective, meaningful, and socially valid Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) sessions, and provided parent training to help families use strategies in their everyday lives.
Since moving to Tampa, I’ve expanded the range of clients I work with, providing direct services in office, school, and home settings. I offer behavioral recommendations to school teams as needed, and I train parents and caregivers so the skills we work on in our sessions carry over into everyday life between visits.
Over the years, I've led nationwide continuing education webinars on topics including Individualized Behavior Support in Schools, Treating Picky Eaters, and Working with Parents and Family Members.
Areas of Expertise
My work focuses on individuals ages 2–21 with a range of needs, including autism, anxiety, social and communication challenges, and executive functioning difficulties, who benefit from support with skill development and challenging behavior. Areas of expertise include:
Language and Functional Communication skills (from early foundational learning to higher-level self-advocacy and conversations)
Replacement behaviors that reduce barriers to learning and interactions
Self-care and daily living skills
Tolerance of everyday demands, such as doctor and dental visits, haircuts, and other less preferred tasks
Feeding challenges and expanding food acceptance, including ARFID
Toilet training
Anxiety and related behavioral needs
Independent play skills
Self-management + organizational needs
Sibling play and interactions
Caregiver and parent training
Social skills, including social groups
Motivation systems that encourage learning
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This belief is at the heart of my work. Parents bring an understanding of their child's personality, strengths, needs, and everyday experiences that no professional can replicate. My role is to bring behavioral expertise, help us understand why challenges are occurring, and work with you to identify practical ways forward.
I take the time to understand the whole picture: what your child may be communicating through their behavior, which situations are difficult, what skills may be missing, and what supports could make a meaningful difference. Together, we develop an individualized approach that reflects your family's priorities and fits into your daily life.
I believe behavioral support should extend beyond a therapy session. It should help children participate more comfortably in everyday experiences, develop communication and independence, navigate challenging situations, and build skills that matter to them and their families.
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When you work with me, you work directly with me. I personally lead the services I provide, from understanding your child's needs and developing individualized strategies to working alongside you as we put those strategies into practice.
This continuity allows us to build a genuine working relationship, adjust our approach as your child grows, and focus on what is actually working in your family's day-to-day life. You won't be passed along to a behavior technician or another ABA provider. Instead, you'll have a consistent clinical partner who listens to your concerns, values your perspective, and celebrates progress with you.
I also believe collaboration extends beyond the family. When appropriate, I work alongside teachers, therapists, and other professionals to help create consistency and support meaningful progress across the environments where children learn and grow.
HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
Care that fits your family
Some families are looking for direct support for their child. Others need guidance for the moments that feel hardest at home. Together, we can identify the right starting point.
Behavior Therapy
Individualized work with your child to understand challenging behavior, strengthen communication, and build skills for everyday life. Goals are shaped around your child’s needs, strengths, and comfort.
I work with children and adolescents, providing personalized sessions tailored to each person and their family's needs. Services include office-based sessions in South Tampa, virtual parent consultations, school observations, and home visits as needed. The approach and frequency of services are individualized, and I personally provide direct services and parent training—ensuring a consistent, collaborative partnership focused on meaningful progress in everyday life.
Parent & Caregiver Consultation
Practical, personalized coaching to help you understand your child’s behavior and respond with confidence. We work through real situations and develop functional-based strategies that fit your home and daily routines.
Parent consultation is tailored to your family's needs and may take place at my South Tampa office, virtually, or in your home as needed. Together, we explore the function of your child's behavior and develop practical, evidence-based strategies that reflect your family's values and routines. You know your child best, and I bring the behavioral expertise. We collaborate to identify options that feel right for your family and can be used in everyday life, with support to adjust our approach as your needs evolve.
Everyday challenges.
Meaningful skills.
AREAS OF SUPPORT
Social Skills & Connection
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Frequent tantrums, intense reactions, or difficulty calming down.
Support includes exploring patterns and triggers, teaching ways to express feelings and ask for help, and guiding caregivers to respond consistently.
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Hitting, biting, kicking, head-banging, or other unsafe behaviors.
Assessment helps understand why unsafe behavior occurs. An individualized plan can focus on safer ways to communicate and cope, alongside appropriate safety planning.
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Difficulty expressing wants and needs.
Support focuses on building practical ways to ask for help, request something, or take a break, and may involve collaboration with other providers.
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Difficulty playing with peers, sharing, taking turns, or having conversations.
Play and connection skills are built around your child’s interests, helping them participate more comfortably with others.
Small social groups with peers matched by age and skill level are also available, based on availability.
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Difficulty waiting, accepting limits, or handling disappointment.
Small, supported practice opportunities help build flexibility and coping skills at a pace that works for your child.
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Frequent conflict between siblings, difficulty sharing, taking turns, or playing together.
Siblings and caregivers learn cooperative play, turn-taking, and problem-solving skills, helping siblings enjoy more time together with less conflict at home.Sibling sessions are an option based on need and schedule availability.
Routine & Independence
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Difficulty following instructions or completing tasks.
Support includes clarifying expectations, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and helping parents create opportunities for success.
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Challenging behavior when stopping an activity or moving to the next one.
Visual supports or other differentiated strategies help make changes more predictable.
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Challenges with dressing, hygiene, toileting, or self-care.
Routines are broken down into teachable steps and practiced at a comfortable pace, with support gradually reduced as independence grows.
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Highly selective eating or food refusal (e.g., ARFID)
When appropriate for the child and within the provider’s scope, support can focus on gradual, individualized steps toward more comfortable mealtimes, coordinated with medical or feeding specialists as needed.
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Difficulty with toilet training, recognizing body signals, or staying dry during the day or night.
Individualized toilet training plans are built around your child’s readiness and routines, so progress carries over from home to school and community settings. -
Challenges with getting started on tasks, staying organized, managing time, or shifting between activities.
Practical tools such as role play, visual schedules, checklists, and self-monitoring strategies help build skills step by step, so your child can manage daily routines and responsibilities with greater independence.
Learning & Family Support
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Challenges with early learning, play, or readiness for school.
Play-based practice and individualized instruction help develop meaningful skills, with progress used to guide the next steps.
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Skills practiced in therapy are not yet showing up at home or school.
Skills are practiced with different people and in different settings, and caregivers are involved so skills stay useful beyond sessions.
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Behavioral or learning challenges in the classroom.
With family permission, consultation may include collaboration with educators, classroom strategies, and support for relevant educational goals.
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Nail-biting, hair-pulling, skin-picking, or similar concerns.
Where appropriate and within the provider’s training, support may include awareness and alternative-response strategies. Referral or coordination with specialists may be needed, particularly for tic-related concerns.
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Feeling unsure how to respond to your child’s behavior.
Hands-on coaching and/or role-play helps you understand behavior, practice personalized strategies, and build a more consistent approach to everyday situations.
Understand first.
Build together.
THE APPROACH
Your family’s priorities guide our work. I listen, observe, develop a practical plan to try, and adjust based on what works best for your child.
Get to know your family
We talk about your concerns, your child’s strengths, and the daily moments you would like to feel easier.
Create a personalized plan
We build skills step by step, track progress, and adapt the plan so it remains useful in everyday life.
Practice, reflect, and adjust
We choose meaningful goals and strategies that fit your child’s needs and your family’s routines.
COMMON QUESTIONS
A little more clarity.
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Behavior therapy uses principles of learning and behavior to help individuals build meaningful skills and navigate everyday challenges. My approach is grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based approach that helps us understand why behavior occurs, teach useful skills, and develop practical strategies tailored to each individual.
I incorporate a form of ABA known as Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI), which combines behavioral principles with an understanding of child development. NDBI uses natural, play-based, and everyday learning opportunities to support growth in communication, social skills, play, academics, and daily living skills. Family involvement is central to this approach, ensuring that strategies reflect your family's priorities and can be incorporated into everyday life.
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No. A diagnosis is not required to begin services. Goals are based on your child’s individual needs, the skills they currently demonstrate, and the behaviors we observe. Together, we focus on what is meaningful for your child and family, so the goals we set make a real difference in everyday life.
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Services are available from early childhood through adolescence, including support for families of young children who have recently received a diagnosis. Support is tailored to each individual’s age and stage of development, whether that means helping parents get started after an early diagnosis, building communication and play skills with a young child, or developing independence, self-management, and executive functioning skills with a teen or young adult. If you have questions about whether services are a good match for your child’s age or needs, please reach out.
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The first step is an initial call to talk about your child’s needs, answer your questions, and explore together whether this is the right support for your family. From there, the next steps are tailored to your child and may include a combination of parent, caregiver, and teacher interviews, a skills assessment, and observation in the settings where support is needed or that will be most informative. That information is used to develop individualized goals and to recommend the frequency and duration of sessions that will best support your child.
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Yes. Your insight is an important part of the process from the start. The process begins with a parent and caregiver interview, because no one knows your child better than you do. From there, your level of involvement depends on your child’s goals and the approach that will best support learning new skills and using them in everyday life. For some families, parent consultation is the primary focus, giving you strategies to use at home. For others, a combination of direct sessions with your child and parent consultation works best. Together, we’ll find the structure that makes the most sense for your child and family.
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Home, office, school, or virtual consultation. Together, we decide on the setting that will have the greatest impact for your child and family.
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The frequency and duration of sessions are individualized and based on your child’s goals, assessment results, and what will best support learning and progress. Your family’s schedule and preferences are also considered. Some children benefit from regular direct sessions, while others make progress through less frequent sessions combined with parent consultation. Recommendations are reviewed regularly and adjusted as your child grows and goals are met, so support always matches your child and families’ current needs.
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At this time, Caputi Collaborative is a private pay practice and does not accept insurance. This allows services to be fully individualized to your child and family, without limits on session length, setting, or the types of support provided.
Let’s create a plan for progress together.
START A CONVERSATION
Share what your family is navigating and what you’re hoping to work toward. We can talk about your needs and whether my services are a good fit.
