My Story

Meet Dr. Steve

South Texas Behavioral Institute, specifically under the direction of Dr. Steven Gonzalez, has been no stranger to working and contributing to multidisciplinary teams for the betterment of individuals from all walks of life.  Dr. Steven Gonzalez has worked at the PhD level alongside nurses, psychiatrists, LMSWs, LCSWs, adoption agencies, attorneys, and judges to ensure permanency of children in safe and supportive environments while reducing the placement into foster care.  The children and family members he has worked with have dealt with issues such as incarceration, homelessness and trauma while several have had diagnosis of IDD and autism.  Dr. Gonzalez has also pioneered a program by which he provides training to hospital medical professionals including MDs, RNs, intake and registration specialists, and administration professionals, in de-escalation techniques to be used during crisis.  He has also focused on the reduction of workplace stress for RNs and other direct care personnel.  Training and the ability to do so by different modalities, is so important with the individuals that the AACOG IDD Transition Team plans to work with.  Since our direct contact with the client will be limited due to distance, Dr. Gonzalez and our team have had success in training case managers, medical staff, direct care staff and family members through pyramidal methods employing Behavior Skills Training (BST).

Dr. Steven Gonzalez has been involved in developing and implementing behavioral interventions since the early 1990’s. Previously, he has served as the Faculty Chair for Social Sciences and Department of Psychology for the San Antonio campus of the University of Phoenix, adjunct faculty at Kaplan University Psychology Applied Behavior Analysis program, and adjunct faculty for Arizona State University. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty for the University of Texas San Antonio educational psychology departments as well as a faculty member for the Applied Behavior Analysis department at Ouachita Baptist University. Dr. Gonzalez obtained his Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialty in Behavioral /Organizational Psychology and a post-graduate re-specialization from the University of North Texas in Applied Behavior Analysis. 

Dr. Gonzalez is currently state licensed in Texas as a doctoral level behavior analyst and holds a national board certification in applied behavior analysis. In addition, he has successfully earned a professional certification from Florida State University in Trauma and Resilience and holds a certification as Certified Clinical Trauma Professional from the International Association of Trauma Professionals. Dr. Gonzalez also has acquired a certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and has extensive training in the modality of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He currently holds a certificate from the San Antonio College Law Enforcement Academy for as a Police Academy Instructor and a Police Academy Instructor Certification from the Texas Commission Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.     

In 2016, Dr. Gonzalez lead the 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.  Dr. Gonzalez currently serves as the owner and Chief Executive Officer for South Texas Behavioral Institute which employs a strong combination of behavioral psychology and applied behavior analysis.  Early in his career he taught at colleges such as Palo Alto, St. Phillips and also consulted for St, Mary’s University on implementing dispute resolution programs for children and at-risk youth in alternative centers. 

Dr. Gonzalez has supervised and implemented behavior change programs for such agencies as the San Antonio State School, Maximum Health Care, AACOG 72 Hour Crisis Unit, AACOF IDD Transition Support Team, Center for Health Care Services, Department of Bexar County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education program, Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department and numerous behavioral analytic clinics in the state 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.  In addition, he clinically supports the department of family and protective services with children that have been exposed to abuse and neglect. His 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