Meet our clinical leadership team

Excelsior University - BA Psychology, Daemen University - MS Special Education & Training, Florida Institute of Technology - BCBA Certification

Malkie Nussbaum has dedicated more than 25 years to working with children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. She began her career in education, working throughout Ocean, Marlboro, and Manalapan, New Jersey, where she developed extensive experience supporting individuals ranging from ages 3 through adulthood across a wide variety of developmental and behavioral needs. Throughout her career, Malkie has worked with individuals across the spectrum, from severe autism to high-functioning learners, focusing on language acquisition, verbal behavior, communication, social skills, adaptive living skills, potty training, behavior reduction, and independence.
Malkie has received extensive training and certifications in multiple states and has continued to expand her expertise through ongoing professional development in evidence-based practices, behavior analysis, Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs), skill acquisition programming, behavior intervention planning, and the latest advancements and trends within the field of ABA and developmental therapy.
After witnessing the life-changing progress children and families were capable of achieving through high-quality, individualized care, Malkie founded Achieve Behavioral Therapy in 2013 with the vision of providing transparent, compassionate, and clinically excellent services focused on meaningful outcomes and lasting independence for every child.

As Founder and Clinical Director of Achieve Behavioral Therapy, Malkie provides the clinical leadership, vision, and operational oversight that guide the organization’s growth and direction. She is deeply involved in maintaining the highest standards of care across the company while mentoring clinicians and fostering a culture centered around accountability, collaboration, transparency, and continuous professional growth.
Under her leadership, Achieve remains committed to delivering individualized, evidence-based therapy designed to help children make meaningful progress as efficiently and effectively as possible. Malkie believes no child should ever be left behind and has built Achieve around the mission of providing families with the highest quality support while helping children develop the skills needed to ultimately transition out of therapy and achieve greater independence.

I believe therapy should focus on meaningful short-term intervention that leads to long-term, lasting results. My goal is to help children build the communication, behavioral, social, and adaptive skills necessary to achieve greater independence and ultimately graduate from therapy whenever possible.
I am committed to meeting each child where they are developmentally while empowering parents through education, guidance, collaboration, and transparency so they can confidently support their child’s continued growth both during and beyond therapy.

M.S. ED, BCBA LBA, Florida Institute of Technology-BCBA Certification, Daemen College- Masters in Childhood Special/General, Mercy College- BS in Behavioral Science, Supervisor Training as a BCBA

With 11 years of experience in education and 10 years in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), she has dedicated her career to supporting children with diverse learning and behavioral needs through compassionate, individualized care. She began her journey in 2015 in a special education preschool, working closely with students with multiple disabilities while implementing behavioral modification plans and sensory-based supports tailored to each child’s unique needs. She later transitioned into a teaching role within a special education school, where she developed individualized behavior plans for students with a variety of disabilities, including autism, collaborated with multidisciplinary teams during IEP meetings, and focused on creating engaging, supportive classroom environments that fostered academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth. In 2017, she expanded her experience into ABA services as a Behavior Technician, providing therapy across school, home, and community settings using evidence-based strategies such as Discrete Trial Training, Natural Environment Teaching, verbal behavior, and social skills instruction. Throughout her work, she partnered closely with families, tracked client progress through detailed data collection, and supported innovative therapeutic experiences, including animal-assisted therapy in a farm setting. Since joining Achieve in 2019, she has continued her work as a BCBA, bringing clinical knowledge, creativity, and a child-centered approach to every family she supports.

In her role at Achieve, she develops and implements individualized ABA programs designed to address behavioral, social, and communication challenges for children and adolescents ages 3–18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She creates personalized behavior intervention plans tailored to each child’s unique strengths and needs while collaborating closely with speech therapists, occupational therapists, educators, and other providers to ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to care. She is responsible for writing and updating assessments and reassessment plans, monitoring progress, and adapting programs to support continued growth and meaningful outcomes. She also partners closely with parents, empowering them with the tools, education, and support needed to successfully implement strategies and behavior plans within the home environment. In addition, she supervises and trains paraprofessionals to ensure high-quality, consistent implementation of individualized programs, and oversees remote cases across multiple states, including North Carolina.

I am passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities in developing essential life skills. My goal is to help them increase independence and navigate daily life more effectively. I find this work meaningful as it promotes greater inclusion and participation in society. I find this work especially fulfilling, as I experience a strong sense of satisfaction when I see meaningful progress in the individuals I support.

Gitty oversees all clinical assessments and supervises all NJ cases.

Aurelie is an experienced Operations Manager who has been a key part of Achieve for over four years. In her role, she oversees both the HR and clinical departments, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations across the organization. She is responsible for maintaining quality assurance standards and ensuring full HIPAA compliance, demonstrating a strong commitment to regulatory excellence and patient confidentiality.
Aurelie supervises payroll, recruitment, and scheduling processes, providing leadership and oversight to ensure efficiency and consistency across teams. She works closely with staff and department leads to support hiring efforts, therapist onboarding, and coordinated scheduling without directly managing each task herself. Known for her attention to detail and strong organizational leadership, she plays a central role in optimizing workflows, supporting team performance, and maintaining high standards of care throughout the organization.

B.A. in Biological Sciences from Binghamton University

Russell leads the organization’s marketing efforts, including outreach across state lines, to expand access to care and connect more individuals with the services they need. He also manages social media platforms, ensuring content is informative, approachable, and aligned with the organization’s mission.
In addition, Russell supports the growth of the clinical team by recruiting and onboarding qualified providers, helping to meet increasing demand while maintaining high standards of care.
He oversees the intake process from initial inquiry through client placement, working to ensure each individual is matched with the right therapist as quickly and seamlessly as possible. His work is centered on creating a responsive, supportive experience that prioritizes timely access to quality care.