M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis
Northeastern University — advanced graduate training in behavior analysis
BCBA, LBA, IBA
Board Certified, Licensed, and International Behavior Analyst certifications
Foothills Behavior Specialists (2018)
Founded a thriving ABA practice in Washington State before relocating to South Dakota
PhD — currently pursuing
Continuing to grow in the field while serving families across the Black Hills region
Monika began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician, driven by her passion for helping children — a passion shaped by her own experience raising two children on the autism spectrum. She earned her Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
After several successful years serving families in the Pacific Northwest through Foothills Behavior Specialists, Monika and her family relocated to Hermosa, South Dakota. She founded Beautiful Minds to bring the same level of compassionate, evidence-based care to children and families across the Black Hills region — accepting Medicaid from the start to remove financial barriers.
Today, Monika lives in Hermosa with her husband, their children, two dogs — Cash (Pitbull) and Daisy (Rottweiler) — and five cats. Outside of her work, she enjoys music and traveling and camping with her family in their RV. For Monika, ABA is not just a career — it's a calling.
Evidence-based practice
Every treatment decision at Beautiful Minds is grounded in the science of Applied Behavior Analysis. Data-driven methods guide program design, progress tracking, and treatment adjustments — ensuring your child's time in therapy is as effective as possible.
Naturalistic & structured strategies
We use a blend of naturalistic teaching, play-based learning, and structured discrete trial instruction — selecting the approach that best fits each child's learning style, age, and goals.
Trauma-informed & neurodiversity-respecting
We never use punitive approaches. Our clinical philosophy centers on building skills, reducing barriers, and celebrating the unique strengths of every child.
Family training & generalization
Skills learned in therapy must carry over to real life. We invest heavily in parent and caregiver training so progress translates to the home, school, and community.
IEP & school coordination
For school-age children, we collaborate actively with IEP teams to align ABA goals with academic objectives — ensuring families don't have to choose between behavioral and educational support.
Accessibility
We accept Medicaid and work with families to explore all available coverage options, including single-case agreements.
Dignity
Every child and family is treated with respect. We never use punitive approaches or methods that compromise dignity.
Partnership
Families are the experts on their children. Our BCBA collaborates with parents as equal partners in treatment.
Transparency
We communicate openly about progress, challenges, and clinical decisions at every stage of treatment.
Community
We are committed to filling the gap in ABA services in Western South Dakota and growing with this region.
Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest clinical and ethical standards of the behavior analytic profession.
Beautiful Minds is led by Monika Haffner, BCBA, with a dedicated team of behavior technicians serving families across Rapid City and the Black Hills region. Little Explorers is independently owned and operated by Regan Buonadonna.
From the time she was little, Regan's heart was drawn to supporting children with unique needs. As a student, she often spent her lunch breaks in the Special Education classroom. At just 13 years old, she began volunteering as a peer model at a local ABA company. At 18, she became a Registered Behavior Technician — and the field never let her go.
When she returned to South Dakota, she rejoined ABA as a Behavior Technician and discovered a new love: the administrative and organizational side of helping families. Today, Regan is pursuing a dual major in Business Administration and Human Resource Management, and is the proud owner of Little Explorers.
Outside of work and school, Regan enjoys watching Law & Order: SVU with her husband, playing video games, traveling, and shopping — and soaking up every moment with her baby girl, born in December.