ABOUT ALCES ACADEMY
Practical science. Human connection.
Alces Academy helps families and individuals understand behavior, build confidence, and make meaningful changes in everyday life.
MEET DANINA
Hi, I’m Danina Thatcher.
M.S., BCBA, LBA
I’m a board-certified behavior analyst, educator, and behavior coach with experience supporting children, families, and individuals in home, clinic, and school settings. My work has included individuals with autism, ADHD, executive-function difficulties, and a wide range of emotional and behavioral needs.
Throughout my career, I have seen how overwhelming behavioral advice can feel—especially when it is filled with clinical language or does not fit the realities of everyday life. I created Alces Academy to make behavioral principles easier to understand and more practical to use.
My goal is not to provide a script for every difficult moment. It is to help people slow down, recognize patterns, develop practical strategies, and respond to challenges with greater clarity and confidence.
Whether I’m helping a parent navigate a difficult routine or supporting an individual in building habits and working toward personal goals, my approach begins with understanding behavior and identifying practical ways forward.
A different way to understand behavior.
OUR APPROACH
Behavior doesn't happen in isolation. It is influenced by our experiences, our environment, the skills we have, and what happens around us.
At Alces Academy, we look beyond the question, “How do I stop this?” Instead, we ask what might be contributing to the challenge, what patterns we notice, and what could make a different outcome more achievable.
For parents, this can mean understanding recurring struggles and finding new ways to support a child. For individuals, it can mean identifying what gets in the way of goals, building routines that fit real life, or finding strategies that make follow-through easier.
When we understand more about what influences behavior, we can move beyond frustration and begin making thoughtful, practical changes.
Look for patterns, not perfection.
I have always loved elk and what they represent: strength, resilience, and the support found within a herd. Those qualities reflect the kind of environment I want Alces Academy to create.
Life can feel isolating when family challenges keep repeating, when everyday routines feel difficult to manage, or when you know what you want to change but aren't sure how to get there. It can be hard to know where to start or which advice to trust.
Why Alces Academy?
Alces Academy is built on the belief that people deserve practical knowledge, compassionate support, and tools that work in the context of their real lives. Growth doesn't require having everything figured out or getting everything right. Sometimes it starts with a better understanding, a small shift, and the confidence to take the next step.
The mission of Alces Academy is to make behavioral science accessible and understandable through practical education and coaching, empowering individuals and families to better understand their behavior, build meaningful skills, and create environments where they can thrive.
Our Mission
Understand behavior:
Develop a practical understanding of how behavior works from a board-certified behavior analyst.
Build confidence:
Find practical, evidence-based strategies that support learning, habits, routines, and meaningful goals.
Strengthen connection:
Make room for compassion, collaboration, and growth without judgment or the expectation of perfection.
Experience you can trust
Danina holds a master’s degree and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA). Her experience includes supporting children and families across home, clinic, and school settings, as well as helping people apply behavioral principles to everyday challenges.
Her work is grounded in behavioral science and a commitment to making evidence-based strategies understandable, practical, and relevant to real life.
M.S.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Licensed Behavior Analyst
Experience across home, clinic, and school settings
Meaningful change starts with understanding.
Whether you want support navigating family challenges, helping a teen build independence, or making changes in your own life, you don't have to figure out the next step alone.
Explore the options below to find the support that fits your needs.