Exploring Life & Business with Cheryl Daniel of Cheryl Daniel Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Daniel.

Cheryl, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been a part of the disability community in one way or another for my entire life. My mom was a special education teacher and throughout my childhood I would visit her classroom at various schools or go on field trips with her classes. She said to me at age 19 that I too “got bit by the bug.” meaning I had found my calling and followed in her footsteps.
Early on in my teaching career I developed a heart for people with autism. I was lucky to be exposed to ABA as a teaching tool which then led to some amazing doors opening. In 2016 I became a BCBA, Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In 2017 I obtained a specialist degree in educational leadership and opened a program for a local school district for students with autism who were also experiencing intense behavioral challenges. Most of these students had complicated stories or even trauma that we had the opportunity to unravel, making a real difference in their lives. We accomplished great things in my 6 year tenure there but a part of me longed to apply my skills in a new and innovative way.
In 2023 I started Cheryl Daniel Consulting, LLC. I had no idea the journey I was about to embark upon but I am grateful to be where I am today. A traditional BCBA works with children with autism in private ABA therapy or in a school system. But I felt drawn to fill the gaps in supporting people outside of those boxes. There are a lot of people, children and adults, with complicated diagnoses, emotions, or even skill needs, who are not being served. One of my first clients was an older gentleman with a traumatic brain injury who needed help with problem solving and impulse control. Then I started to ecounter people with autism who needed counseling to improve their mental health but traditional therapy was not meeting their needs. Now I have clients with a broad range of needs and I can tailor their service accordingly. I provide everything from weekly ongoing one-on-one coaching sessions to short term mentoring or consulting for a specific topic or need.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Autism and the world of disabilities is complicated. A person’s needs are very individual and there are so many possible avenues to pursue. I didn’t want to limit who I could serve but this also made it difficult to define my brand. Everyone needs a BCBA but most people don’t even know what that is exactly.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cheryl Daniel Consulting?
I am an Abilities Coach/Behavior Consultant. I provide life coaching that is accessible to all abilities, with a focus on developing confidence and skills to lead an independent, authentic life. My philosophy is to meet my clients where they are and help them become the best version of themselves. I understand the complexity we all bring to the table and the importance of taking all variables into account to come up with solutions that make sense for each individual client.
Behavior Consulting benefits families and organizations with complex cases, training needs, or program development. I enjoy working alongside clinicians and caregivers, presenting to groups and organizations, or even mentoring providers of all types. I see situations from a variety of perspectives to then recommend creative solutions that are also practical and achievable.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I have 2 pieces of advice for anyone just starting out-
1. Don’t be afraid to do something different. Whatever is unique and amazing about you, the world needs it!
2. Don’t be aftraid to fail. Failure is just redirection. It will take redirection to get you where you needs to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cheryldanielconsulting.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryldanielconsultingllc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572246908527