Psychologist Profiles
Vicky Saltis (Senior Psychologist), Senior ABA Therapist, BAppSci(Psych) Hons, Assoc.MAPS
Vicky Saltis is the Director of Play Psychology PTY LTD. Vicky is a Registered Psychologist & Senior ABA Therapist. Her natural love and understanding of children was stimulated in 2002 when she began working as an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Therapist for a young boy who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He inspired Vicky to make a difference in the lives of children with Autism. Please read Vicky’s story below.
In 2002, I met a special little boy, 4 years of age, diagnosed with Autism. I worked daily with him implementing the well-researched intensive therapy known as ABA Therapy (Applied Behaviour Analysis). His huge behavioural and developmental gains, his special ‘little professor’ abilities, and individual ways of learning inspired me to make a difference in the life of further children with Autism. With ten years experience in ABA Therapy, I launched PLAY Psychology.
I develop individualised ABA therapy learning programs for each of my clients (1-16yrs). The programs are implemented daily with the children by a team of therapists. There is a high emphasis on PLAY and reinforcement, coupled with prompting consistency and repetition; the keys to success for children with Autism. I’ve seen the children start to communicate and use words for the very first time, they learn social play skills, develop their fine and gross motor skills, and for many, their challenging behaviours (often self –injurious behaviours) are reduced.
The therapy also develops their imitation and attention skills and we teach them HOW to learn, so they can go out into the world and learn new things by themselves. Mothers call in each week wanting to start the therapy for their child. Mostly calls come through word of mouth; they see the difference in their friends’ children (with Autism) and they ask “What therapy have you been doing?”. It is highly rewarding working with the children everyday and seeing them learn so many new skills.
Vicky Saltis
(Senior Psychologist)
Vicky specializes in early intervention, play based therapies and ABA therapy for children with autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Challenging Behaviours, Learning Difficulties and Developmental Delays. She provides assessments, interventions, curriculum development and clinical recommendations for children across numerous settings including, through home-based therapy, at schools and kindergartens, and clinically. Vicky has worked intensively in the clinical field of early intervention as well as in the school and kindergarten environments with children with special needs for the past 22+ years.
Vicky has completed her Bachelor of Applied Science Psychology degree with Honours at Deakin University. Vicky holds a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children and Adolescents and she has completed extensive training in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA Therapy), Pivotal Response Treatments (PRT) among many other areas, Child Centred Play Therapy, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), Toilet Training Children with Autism, Reducing Challenging Behaviours, Eating Difficulties in children with Autism, and the use of Visual Schedules for children with Autism.
Vicky also presents a number of specialist training workshops each year for parents, therapists, integration aides, teachers and other professionals within the areas of Applied Behaviour Analysis, Intensive Behavioural Intervention, Teaching Social Play Skills, Curriculum Development, Reducing Challenging Behaviours and Educating Children with Autism and Childhood Developmental Disorders.
Over the span of almost two decades now….
I have dedicated my days to making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children with Autism. Each of them completely unique and Awesome!!! Being able to transform so many children by giving them speech, reducing challenging behaviours, & improving their social and life skills has been phenomenally rewarding !!!!