Episode 047
From Burnout to Boundaries: A Behavior Analyst’s Wake-Up Call with Kassandra Alvarez
She was teaching autistic kids how to regulate – while quietly unraveling herself.
Kassandra Alvarez looked like she had it all together. Board-certified behavior analyst, climbing the ranks, thriving in her field. But behind the scenes? Toxic relationships. Burnout. Addiction. And a brutal realization: she was teaching skills to kids that she wasn’t living herself.
That truth cracked her open – and ultimately saved her.
In this episode, Kassandra shares how she broke free from burnout by turning her clinical insight inward, quit job-hopping for external validation, and started modeling the regulation she once only coached. She now helps parents of autistic kids calm their own nervous systems first – because when the adult energy shifts, everything else follows.
You’ll hear about: – Leaving a toxic environment (and the messy grief that came with it) – Going slow in a world that wants you to rush – Walking away from relationships, roles, and a life that looked good on paper – Rewriting the story – with God, peace, and purpose at the center
Whether you're a parent, practitioner, or just someone who knows the mask all too well – this one’s a breath of fresh, healing air.
“Misery and peace can absolutely coexist.”
Connect witH kassandra:
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@thatsteadyparent
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kassandraalvarez
Timestamps:
00:00 – Meet Kassandra: The Burnt-Out Behavior Analyst
02:00 – The Job-Hopping High Achiever Who Wasn’t Happy
06:30 – When the Work You Love Starts to Hurt
08:45 – Teaching Self-Regulation While Crying Yourself to Sleep
10:22 – The First Step: Spending Time Alone, On Purpose
13:00 – Moving States, Breaking Patterns, and Finding Unexpected Peace
14:30 – Misery and Peace Can Coexist
17:00 – From Chaotic and Fast to Mellow and Self-Aware
22:00 – Why She Rushed: The Myth of the Milestone Life
24:45 – Slowing Down Made Room for Faith
26:00 – Reading the Bible for the First Time as an Adult
29:00 – Rethinking Her Work: Parents Set the Emotional Tone
33:00 – Why She Started Coaching Parents, Not Just Kids
36:00 – The One Small Thing to Do When You Know You Need a Change