Our Team
We bring together diverse backgrounds in clinical care, operations, and service delivery, but we’re united by a shared commitment to thoughtful systems, meaningful support, and creating real, lasting impact for the families and communities we serve.
Dr.Stephanie Ross, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA
Stephanie Ross is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who received her BA in Psychology from the University of San Francisco. She then studied clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she received her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis.
Stephanie worked as an ABA therapist in Southern California while completing her education and became a Clinical Managing Supervisor of a small, private ABA company. After moving to New York City, Stephanie worked for a medicaid service agency to help build a model program for the state of New York, providing in-home and community services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
After her youngest child was diagnosed with autism, Stephanie went back to school to pursue her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis where she studied burnout in the autism caretaker and direct care staff. She earned her PhD in 2024.
Stephanie and her family have settled in Santa Barbara where she now brings her expertise in behavior intervention and family services to Santa Barbara County. Stephanie focuses on a collaborative and neurodiversity-affirming environment where everyone is understood, trained, and has their needs met using evidence-based practices to promote lasting change.
Executive Clinical Director
Dakota Gutierrez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Sonoma State University. During her time there, she volunteered weekly at the nonprofit organization Forget Me Not Farms, where she supported and mentored children and pre-teens with autism through animal-assisted and horticultural therapeutic activities.
She went on to earn her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis, with an emphasis in Autism, from Ball State University’s Teachers College. Dakota began her career with Learning Beyond the Spectrum in November 2021 as a Behavior Technician, providing support to clients in both home and school settings.
After obtaining her BCBA certification, Dakota chose to continue her work with Learning Beyond the Spectrum. She values building meaningful, in-person connections with her clients and takes an active, hands-on approach by providing supervision and mentorship to the Registered Behavior Technicians who work directly with them. She has served as a BCBA with the organization for the past two years and was recently promoted to Associate Clinical Director. Her passion for the science of Applied Behavior Analysis continues to grow, and she looks forward to continuing her work in supporting Learning Beyond the Spectrum and the families it serves.
Associate Clinical DirectorDakota Gutierrez, M.A., BCBA
Alexandria Stone is an Operations Manager at Learning Beyond the Spectrum, where she has been a dedicated team member since September 2023. Originally from Altadena, California, she moved to Santa Barbara to pursue higher education and joined the organization, where she has grown within both clinical and operational spaces.
She holds two associate degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice and transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also received training in behavioral therapy through ABA settings, which informs her understanding of service delivery, while her primary focus has evolved into building systems, supporting staff, and strengthening internal operations to ensure families receive consistent, high-quality care.
A Latina professional passionate about social justice and marginalized advocacy, Alexandria is committed to creating ethical, effective, and equitable systems that drive meaningful, lasting impact for the communities she serves.
Operations ManagerAlexandria Stone
Lead RBT, Assistant SupervisorEmma Brown
Emma Brown is a graduate student pursuing her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in mental health. She began working with individuals with autism during her undergraduate studies and quickly developed a passion for becoming a BCBA!
After earning her B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from UCSB, she joined Learning Beyond the Spectrum, where she is currently accruing her supervised clinical hours toward BCBA certification.
She is committed to deepening her understanding of ABA to support meaningful, individualized, and person-centered outcomes for her clients.
Fathiah Bauman, MA, LMFT
Fathiah Bauman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who received her BA in English Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She then studied clinical psychology at Antioch University where she received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology.
Fathiah worked as a group and individual therapist in a small nonprofit Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Santa Barbara while completing her education. After graduation she became the Clinical Manager of the treatment facility before leaving to pursue a career with Child Welfare Services (CWS). The work with Child Welfare Services was demanding, and exhausting but rewarding. Fathiah then left CWS to work in the Santa Barbara Elementary School System as a school-based therapist. She now currently works with Santa Barbara Counties youth providing services and resources, assessing for suicide and involuntary hospitalizations, as well as supporting the community with a small private therapeutic practice.
Fathiah works as client centered therapist focusing on goals and treatment plans created by the client. She supports a collaborative effort and works with the client’s family and other professionals if appropriate, utilizing CBT therapy, family systems and solution focused theories when appropriate.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist