Member Spotlight: Diane Berth, MA, LPA, BCBA

Name:  Diane Berth, MA, LPA, BCBA

License #: 4793

Bio: Diane Berth has over 35 years of experience with individuals with various types of developmental disabilities including autism. In 2015, she completed her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (MA) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis. Her studies culminated with an internship at the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center in Morganton, NC, licensure as a Psychological Associate (LPA), certification as a Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and the establishment of Berth Behavior Consultation, PLLC. She now provides community-based Behavior Consultative Services for adults with IDD who are at risk for placement in a more restrictive environment due to severe problem behavior or lack of adaptive life skills. Diane has partnered with Trillium Health Resources to provide Specialized Consultative Services for adults in community-based and home settings in the Wilmington area and is intentional about connecting with other providers in the community. Previous professions include bookkeeping, auditing, and management for a period of 10 years, then a career as a radiation therapist for 15 years. Diane brings a variety of skills, interests, and past experiences forward into all aspects of her practice and in advocating for others to access and receive the supports they need.

1)      What attracted you to the field of psychology? “As a caregiver for a family member with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), I was aware of many gaps in services to help individuals and their families who are directly impacted. I wanted to help, and over the years I mentored others, advocated for many, and organized volunteer activities to support families with special needs, while working other careers and raising my family.  I continued to see more barriers and gaps, and decided I really wanted to be a more active part of the solution.  I brought experience from previous careers; I was a bookkeeper and auditor, I had medical clinical experience as a radiation therapist.  I initially thought I'd become a social worker, but then I learned about applied behavior analysis (ABA). I decided to pursue that specifically, with the goal of providing consultative services to adults with IDD.”

2)      What do you enjoy most about your work? “Meeting new clients and their teams and solving the mystery of what’s going wrong. It’s so multifactorial and complex, very interesting work to solve mysteries and help find solutions. I also like teaching and telling others about this type of work.”

3)      What advice would you give someone who is considering getting a degree in psychology? “Contact psychologists with a wide variety of backgrounds, experience, and expertise. Interview them, meet with them, shadow them. There are so many ways to use a degree in psychology that the average person doesn't know anything about.”

4)      When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing? “Sewing, crafting, painting. I love spending time with my family and cooking. I am an organic gardener. I ride motorcycles. I like to travel with my husband and having time at the beach in any type of weather.”

5)      What is something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know? “I’m an average sized person, but as a preteen and teen, was a competitive gymnast. By the time I turned 15, I’d grown to 5’ 6”, and could no longer compete. I was too tall to be a gymnast, at least at that time.”

6)      If you were not a psychologist, what would you do? “Given my life experiences, and educational, and professional experiences, I would keep myself busy advocating for others. Navigating various policies, the healthcare system, benefits management, and all the government entities, is super-challenging for individuals and families impacted by IDD and ever-changing. I would still be doing advocacy work. I would simply continue to help others.”

7)      What is the next place on your travel bucket list? “Barbados. And at some point, the Grand Canyon. I lived in Arizona for four years when my children were small, and we never visited it.”

8)      What are you currently reading or listening to? “A few different ABA podcasts… and I just finished ‘Atomic Habits’, by James Clear, and I am just starting ‘Try Softer’ by Aundi Kolber’.”

9)      What is your favorite word and why? “’ ‘Joy’. I can hold joy, create joy, experience joy in all kinds of ways. We all need joy.”

10)    What is your least favorite word and why? “ ‘Manipulative’.  As a behavioral analyst, I'm always looking at the function of the behavior and trying to understand what it means. When someone refers to a person as ‘manipulative’, it tells me that they are taking the other person’s behavior very personally, which isn't helpful to anyone. ‘Manipulative’ is just too judgmental of a word.”