Trish Schnabel holds the rare combination of being a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (LBA, BCBA). This dual qualification allows her to support children, teens, and adults facing mental health challenges, executive functioning concerns, or autism spectrum diagnoses. By drawing from two fields, she provides guidance that addresses both emotional well-being and the behavioral skills needed for communication, relationship building, coping, and adapting to life changes. Over the course of more than 25 years working with individuals on the autism spectrum, she has remained dedicated to helping people develop practical tools and confidence. Her counseling work also includes supporting those dealing with depression, anxiety, life stress, military family struggles, codependency, and ADD/ADHD.
She is currently an LPC at Paraclete Counseling, Inc., where she offers therapy to individuals, families, and groups. Her clients present with a wide range of needs, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and concerns tied to executive functioning. She integrates her background in mental health with her training in evidence-based behavioral strategies, enabling her to design treatment plans that meet established standards and align with each client's goals. Her responsibilities include conducting clinical assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and coordinating care with social workers, psychiatrists, and case managers. She has also led psychoeducational workshops on autism spectrum disorders, executive functioning, stress management, and coping strategies. Through her combined experience as a Counselor and Behavior Analyst, she offers a practical and informed approach for both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals working toward their personal therapeutic goals.
Beyond her counseling practice, Trish has operated an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) company since 2010. In her role as a Behavior Analyst with The Learning Ladder Behavior Analysis & Therapy, she provided therapeutic consultation to adults diagnosed with autism and to individuals with developmental disabilities. Her process involved speaking with family members, caregivers, and the individual to identify concerns, clarify goals, and understand the desired results of consultation. She observed individuals in natural settings, reviewed existing strategies, and evaluated whether any adjustments or environmental changes were needed to support the person better.
She has written numerous therapeutic consultation plans and behavior support plans, and she has trained group home staff, parents, and caregivers to help them better support individuals with autism. As an Owner and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with The Learning Ladder, she also provided one-on-one ABA therapy for children with autism. Her work included conducting direct and indirect behavioral assessments, identifying behavior change strategies based on assessment findings, and implementing interventions. In addition, she supervised BCBA candidates and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), guiding them through assessment procedures, treatment planning, and professional development.
As a military spouse, Trish has spent 20 years volunteering to support military families and veterans. Her service has helped individuals navigate deployment cycles, extended separations, reunifications, frequent relocations, and combat-related stress, including PTSD. She was appointed to the Virginia Governor’s Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, where she worked to reduce educational barriers for children of active-duty service members who frequently move between states and experience disruptions to their academic experience.
Her years of volunteer work with military families and her efforts supporting military children with autism led to recognition through the National Infantryman’s Association Shield of Sparta Award and the Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Public Service. She remains actively involved in her local community. Her commitments include teaching religious education classes for individuals with special needs, preparing meals for special needs group homes, and volunteering in senior living facilities. She also participates in programs that honor military veterans, such as welcoming them to Washington, D.C., memorials through Honor Flights and taking part in Wreaths Across America each year. She is additionally involved as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
During her time living in North Carolina, she recognized a need for sensory-friendly movie offerings so families with a child with special needs could enjoy outings together. She approached a local theater, which agreed to hold monthly sensory-friendly film showings with brighter lights, softer sound levels, and the freedom for children to move, speak, or engage as needed. The program grew into a valued community event and was featured in the local newspaper on January 27, 2015.
Trish earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a Research Assistant at the U.S. Army Research Institute. She continued her training by completing a Master of Education in Community Agency Counseling at Auburn University in Alabama. As part of her graduate experience, she completed practicum and internship hours in both individual and group counseling. She also earned recognition on The Chancellor’s List for outstanding academic performance.
In 2009, she completed her Board Certified Behavior Analyst Graduate Certification through Pennsylvania State University. Her coursework covered advanced ABA topics, including functional assessments, evaluation of interventions, support for individuals with challenging behaviors, and executive functioning. She also studied ABA applications in family systems, classroom environments, and during crises or emergencies.
Trish Schnabel appeared as a contestant on the television show “Wheel of Fortune” in January 2020, where she won $65,495 by solving the Bonus Round phrase “Above and Below.” Her winnings also included a trip to Italy, which she viewed as a long-awaited Bucket List experience. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys traveling, attending concerts, connecting with family and friends, and walking her two Labrador Retrievers to reach her daily step goals. During the fall, she spends Saturdays watching college football, especially SEC matchups.
