About

Dr. Steven Gonzalez is an Assistant Professor of Applied Behavior Analysis at Ouachita Baptist University and has been with the ABA department since 2020. Dr. Gonzalez is a Texas-licensed behavior analyst, a Doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been involved in developing and implementing behavioral interventions since the early 1990’s, and the owner and Chief Executive Officer for South Texas Behavioral Institute (an organization which employs a strong combination of behavioral psychology and applied behavior analysis). In addition, Dr. Gonzalez holds several licenses and certifications, including a provisional license from the state of Texas as a Chemical Dependency Counselor, a professional certification from Florida State University in Trauma and Resilience, a Clinical Trauma Professional certification from the International Association of Trauma Professionals, and a certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Dr. Gonzalez also has extensive training in the modality of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Dr. Gonzalez obtained his Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialty in Behavioral /Organizational Psychology from Capella University and a post-graduate re-specialization from the University of North Texas in Applied Behavior Analysis. Dr. Gonzalez has decades of teaching university courses and he comes with a rich experience that includes a wide range of skills in the application of behavior analysis beyond AU/IDD. Some of his experience includes working alongside nurses, psychiatrists, LMSWs, LCSWs, adoption agencies, attorneys, and judges to ensure permanency of children dealing with issues such as incarceration, homelessness, trauma, IDD and autism in safe and supportive environments while reducing the placement into foster care. Dr. Gonzalez has also pioneered a program through which he provides training to hospital medical professionals, direct care staff, and families on crisis de-escalation using pyramidal Behavior Skills Training (BST). He’s developed and implemented training workshops for reputable hospital systems’ medical staff on dealing with high-risk patients and aggression in hospitals; and C-level executives on functionally understanding and reducing stress and anxiety in the workplace.

In 2016, Dr. Gonzalez led a team that developed and created the 72-hour crisis intervention program for the Alamo Area Counsel of Government which serves individuals with developmental disabilities in the Bexar County and surrounding areas of Texas. Dr. Gonzalez also supports and trains the Bexar County Sherriff’s Department and surrounding law enforcement municipalities on crisis intervention and how to work with crisis individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities; he works with Federal and State law enforcement agencies and conducts training for HIDTA, DEA, DPS, and Juvenile Justice Criminal Division, among others; and he clinically supports the department of family and protective services with children that have been exposed to abuse and neglect. He currently holds two certifications as a Police Academy Instructor from the San Antonio College Law Enforcement Academy and the Texas Commission Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

Dr. Gonzalez’ goal is to provide the most comprehensive and effective clinical services to individuals from age 2 through end of life in crisis, psychiatric care with acute and chronic conditions and those with and without developmental disabilities. Dr. Gonzalez’ research interests primarily focus on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training and the combination of behavior analysis and addiction studies.