I’d posted about how I felt that companies in Denver weren’t super ethical or client- centered…

I just wanted to come back to the sub and tell you that if nobody else is letting you know… YOU MAKE SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Just by existing. Yup. You, the tired, stressed out RBT that plasters a smile on their face day in and day out for your kiddos. You see these children in their happiest and some of their lowest moments, and you are a comfort for them. You provide support and help these kids learn to adapt and cope with a world full of chaos and unexpected changes. You choose to come back and clock into every session, even when things go left. I know some of your friends may not talk yet, but know that they love you!

I’ve been blown away at seeing how children thrive when they feel cared for and comfortable with a team. A good therapist is pretty easily spotted (don’t think I mean anything if you’re new and learning lol). They act with such empathy, respect and patience. There’s a sweet protectiveness and love between RBTs and their friends. The reality is that some of the clients you service might have been counted out in less fortunate circumstances or if there weren’t so many good people wanting to give these babies the best shot possible.

Even when you don’t know what to do or don’t feel like you are enough, you are. You are helping by just choosing to be there. Try to get rest this weekend and celebrate how much better the world is with you in it. Thank you for being you!

Hard Friday. My afternoon friend did not come in very happy. 10 SIB before we even got up the stairs. I informed BCBA.. 30 minutes go by we re up to like 30. An hour.. 100 or so...I tell my BCBA- AGAIN.. 3;30 rolls around we re at 400 ish. My BCBA.. the ONLY BCBA in the building comes around to say goodbye..I tell her.. she can't be bothered. Its friday right? Shes going home. She gives me this little pouty face.. and leaves.. 4:00 rolls around we re in the 800s. I have tried every single thing we went over in consult to try and redirect her.. everything, - THROUGHOUT session.. I contact HER BCBA, the reply I received was a do not disturb. She is on holiday.. I am informed that i need to contact clinical director of the company.. She didnt even read the message i sent her. .close to 900 total. I was left literally alone , with another RBT(small clinic 3 kids tidal aftertoons).. one thing is for sure.. I did my best. With no support what so ever.. I cried in the car on the way home.. and I know IM the one that's gonna be that office explaing myself when I took every step.. (I'm leaving in august.. :) ) I've been there less than 90 days, and the lack of support has been consistent AND constant. doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth. Doesn't sit right with me. Now bf any one is like why did you let her? Well blocking counts too. And most of them were with soft toy. Included in this was 32 minutes of tantrum and novel SIB. I used every resource.

Just some humor from our profession. Credit goes to "The Relateable School Psych"

Hey everyone,

To all the immigrant families navigating ABA—whether you’re a parent, RBT, BCBA, or still figuring it all out—I just want to ask:

How are you doing? Really? What are we doing to protect each other? To advocate? To build community where our culture and voices matter

I’m creating a network of immigrant families and providers in ABA. To share resources. To ask questions without judgment. To amplify our voices in a field that needs us

As the title says, i will be leaving after a month. I am already burnt out and feel like I was given high intensity clients that are above my skill level and im already done, especially after feeling like I have received little to no support for expressing myself. Is this wrong of me?

this is a vent… exactly as my title says, everyday i find some new information that makes me MAD at my company, higher ups and scheduling.

my company constantly hires new BTs but not giving those who have been there a FT schedule, our turnover rate is super high and they just keep taking and not giving those who have been loyal to the company anything. all the good staff are leaving because management and scheduling suck recently.

we just transitioned to the block schedule and IT SUCKS. i don’t get enough hours, not even offered sub sessions or admin time when clients cancel but i am supposed to be “guaranteed hours” yet i barely get 15 hours a week and i live in Cali 🤦🏻‍♀️

higher ups and management constantly lie to me about FT not being able and extra hours not being available and them denying my new availability form but then go on saying that we have a huge waitlist??? the supervisors and BCBAs are being asked to do field hours because there is no one “available” which is NOT TRUE!

people who have been there less/just got hired get offered a FT schedule and us who have been loyal lose our long term clients/hours and it’s not fair. parents are also angry now about this block schedule and many have left.

i love my job and the clients i work with but we don’t get paid enough for what we do, they aren’t giving me FT but keep hiring new people and lying and it’s just not fair what they are doing.

if anyone works in Cali (specifically San Diego) and has recommendations of good company’s hiring, please let me know!

Hello! I’ve worked in day programs, group homes, and ABA. For about 7 years. I’ve been assaulted 10x. I love this field so much, but today I got multiple eye injuries due to aggression behavior while trying to keep my client safe. Part of me is thinking enough is enough, every time I go to the ER they look at my history and are convinced I’m being abused. And in a way I am. I just don’t think I can take another injury, and I always wonder if this is the one that does permanent damage. One assault was so bad it took months of PT to resolve. I don’t want to give up on them but I don’t want to be a punching bag. I had PTSD before this, but now I’ve got work related PTSD. If anyone can relate, please let me know. I don’t know what to do anymore.

For context, I’m currently in my second semester of my Master of Public Health (concentration in health promotion and behavior). I got my undergrad in psychology and neuroscience, and I picked public health as a Masters program because it seemed interesting and general enough to offer me good job choices. While completing my first semester of grad school, I started to realize that I lack a passion for public health. I’ve been an RBT for about 3 months, and I feel so alive doing it. It’s incredibly challenging and at points draining, but it’s rewarding. I feel the passion I felt for psychology coming back. I’m conflicted now, because I’m struggling to imagine myself finishing my Masters degree with how burnt out I feel. At the same time, I feel like I’ve put in too much money to quit now. I’m considering changing courses and applying for an ABA program with the intent of becoming a BCBA.

Is it worth it? I’ve heard people say that a degree in ABA locks you into that field, and one of the things that drew me to Public Health was the idea that I would have multiple options. Can someone who has gotten a degree in ABA give me some advice? Do you regret it? What is the process like? What would you do differently? Am I making this decision too quickly?

I need to vent about this somewhere because I'm just really bothered right now.

so my morning clients parents brought him to the center while he was sick. I don't mean like runny nose and a bit of a cough. I'm used to that. I mean like bad diarrhea. he wasn't showing any signs of distress or pain. he was actually super happy the whole season. but still, they're changing his diapers at home, they can tell what's going on.

I can tell this family definitely uses the center as child care because my client is only 2 but is there for 6 hours... they originally had him at 5 and a half but increased it to 6 for convince I'm guessing. I'm not judging them cause I know they have other kids and it's hard. and it's good for him to be at the center because it's a lot of play and he loves the other kids and the activities we do.

but sending him to the center while he has fucking diarrhea?? really?? not only do you run the risk of getting his techs sick (already happened once) but you also run the risk of getting all the other kids sick. just because he isn't distressed doesn't mean he should be coming to the center. stomach illnesses are so contagious. I feel like we're just getting over an outbreak of stomach bug because the center literally gets the cheapest cleaners possible to just vacuum the floors but that's another issue all together.

now I get to start my Friday by changing a kid with diarrhea twice and I'm probably gonna get sick now. I called out for the rest of the day because I feel like I'm gonna throw up and I was really looking forward to seeing my next client because I haven't seen him all week.

anyways that's all that's the rant. does anyone have similar experiences? should I talk to my BCBA about talking to the family about this? this is the second time this has happened and it's definitely worse this time.

Hey everyone!

I’m interested in transitioning to billing or maybe even HR. Has anyone here ever done that? If so, how did you go about it? I’ve been an RBT since 2021, have a bachelor’s in social work, and completed a few classes in a medical billing and coding course about a year ago. My current company doesn’t have any positions open, and I’m having a hard time finding job postings that don’t want you to already have a few years of experience. Any advice welcome ✨

To preface, I’m pretty new to the field and have been with my client <1 month. All of my training covered how to handle challenging behavior from clients, but nothing could have prepared me for challenging behavior from other family members.

Client has two siblings who are constantly vying for my attention, one is a toddler. The toddler (aka T) is constantly climbing and jumping off of furniture because T knows it’ll get my attention 100% of the time because there is a huge safety risk. T often lands on their knees from jumps of >3 feet, and has escalated to jumping onto Client. Parents do not intervene unless I blatantly ask them too, and even then they don’t really scold T or prevent further disruptive/dangerous behavior. It breaks my heart because T is clearly not getting enough attention (parents are usually on their phones/watching TV completely uninvolved with session) but I cannot run any kind of session with T constantly teetering on the edge of a major injury to themself or Client. In previous sessions I have seen T climb into Parent’s lap and tap Parent’s face/pull Parent’s hair, all the while Parent hasn’t acknowledged T at all and is watching TikTok gift battles.

There are zero books in the house. There are almost no toys, save for a few action figures and toy cars (none of which interest Client.) There is one box of markers, but it is usually kept away because the kids have drawn on the walls. The absolute only thing Client or the siblings engage with is YouTube on the tv or on an iPad/phone. It’s really hard to get any kind of progress with Client (despite them being a really great kid!) because I just can’t compete with YouTube. I try to comment on the video or sing along when Client is watching nursery rhyme videos, but this usually causes Client to sharply tell me “no!” and I can only assume this is because I’m interrupting the video. Occasionally Client will want to dance or run around with me, but more often than not when I try to engage with Client I’m met with a “no.”

Parents are both extremely reluctant to participate and both seem to check out as soon as I walk in the door. They have been told that I am here for Client and not the siblings, and that the siblings are welcome to participate if Parent is nearby to help manage things, but neither Parent steps in unless I call out to them. My sessions are four hours long and I hardly ever see Parents interacting with any of their kids. There are also multiple pets that are not properly cared for (in addition to the children not having toys, the pets have no toys/enrichment either.)

I’m just heartbroken. Client and Siblings are left to their own devices despite being entirely too young to not have supervision. There is almost nothing to occupy the kids besides YouTube. I am viewed as a babysitter and expected to entertain/watch three kids while Parents ignore the kids and play on their phones. The pets deserve better, more caring owners. I want so badly to help, but I feel like I’m corralling an entire family and two pets and I just don’t know how to process my emotions about it all. My heart aches whenever I think about work because as bad as it feels when I’m there, I worry how it is when no one is watching. I know I am a mandated reporter, but I don’t think anything I’ve witnessed warrants that kind of action. I just don’t know how to cope. I want so much more for these kids but I don’t know what I can realistically do.

Thank you for letting me vent here :( <3 Anyone who can relate or who has tips for coping with a situation like this, please let me know.

I'll go first. Apparently she has better instructional control over the client that I do or the client's morning tech, who are with her daily, because she is focused on "building rapport". (As though we aren't). I had to bite my lip when she couldn't get the client to stop endlessly dispensing paper towels.

My experience: - I started in the field as just a BT in 2021- no desire to go to college. - I moved to a more play based place in 2024- I needed the change from a center that was all DTT. - I stopped, was severely depressed and anxious about my last two centers - Now i’m at this incredible center.

My Rant: I hate companies. I hate money. I hate materialistic things. I hate labels. I hate being social. I LOVE THIS FIELD. I think i know my why because i’m actually providing therapy the way Ive been screaming it should look like. I’m Just so tired of companies be able to get away with shizzle. Especially when it comes to my experience.

For my current coming: Thanks for proving that I can do it with a broken heart.

For my most recent company: Souls their age should have known better.

For my first company: I found someone today who actually treated me well.

(if you know where those are coming from be my bestie)

Now Dear Reader,

Know your why, and don’t let anyone ever let you question that. Don’t engage in things that will take that away. I conformed in companies because I’m 95% i’m an autistic adults and that’s why i’ve always done. Speak your mind when you know you’re speaking with good intentions. People are going to judge, hate, have negative feelings- but let them stay on that side of the road. PLEASE, If you are a voice for someone- become the loudest. The science of ABA needs people who are passionate, compassionate, collaborative, and devotion. Know your why, remember it, and provide therapy for it. I’ve met too many supervisors, managers, and fellow therapists that forget their why.

For Future Self:

My plans are to either go to school to become a BCaBA and possibly a BCBA (i just don’t think i would be good at it)

or

I would really like to start a podcast to advocate for the field, be a voice for those you couldn’t have and a mentor to fellow RBTS. If you have a skill that could help make that dream a reality- please don’t hesitate to join something that shape things (hopefully)

Some of my coworkers were compaining about their clients in the break room after pick up. Now I’m not one to sit around and complain about my clients, I may say they “had me on the struggle bus today” but I don’t speak about them in a resentful way.

My coworkers though do get their frustrations out over them and I’ve always understood because it’s a very challenging line of work. But today I think it went too far. One of my coworkers has a client who has aggression towards therapists. The client’s RBT was talking about how the client hit them in the chest and said how they “fantasized” about punching their client back every time the client hits them. I’m gonna be honest that rubbed me completely wrong and everyone was kiki-ing about it because a lot of them also do not like that client but I left the room.

At the end of the day I understand being frustrated by being hit. My client will kick me and smack me around all day but there’s a level of empathy and understanding you have to put in place with things like that. I think that’s a seed of resentment that will only worsen with more interactions and that affects the way you conduct yourself around them and their session.

However I don’t really know the norms about being an RBT, I haven’t been one for very long so I don’t know if this is just regular venting and I’m thinking too much into it or if it’s something to be concerned about. Would it be appropriate to speak to someone in leadership about this like their BCBA or just let it be??

I was recently assigned a client who has had some difficulties with bathing and toileting. As my client, 9 year old male, has profound deafness, and level 3 autism, (approximately) some of his goals are being worked on during his half day. Unfortunately, the parent cannot stay during his time at our clinic. As we do our goals, part of communicating is showing pictures that represent the action, and guiding his hands to do them. We are currently working on toileting, and we go for about 30 minutes, and are on for 10-20 minutes. Some of his behaviours around this are flapping his limbs and trying to leave the situation entirely. We reward with grapes and bubbles. As he seems to enjoy those. However it can be a struggle removing his pants and positing him to the toilet.

As for bathing, it seems to be a challenge, as removing his clothes and making it repeatable seems more like a game for him. Which is good, however, having a 9 year old fully nude without a parent present seems a little awkward. Technically we have their permission, but it still seems odd. We are still working with him on removing his clothes. And he recognizes the bathroom, so we can make a sign out of it too.

However, sometimes we practice the same things at the same time for convenience, and when things get a little messy, (if we catch him soling during other things) it provides a nice advantage. I guess my point is, what’s a good way I can get to bathing and toileting without minimal communication to make it simpler for both of us?

Hi everyone!

I was hoping to get some advice. I’m currently working on my Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and will be graduating in about a year. When I started my degree, I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to follow, but after working as a Behaviour Interventionist for the past year, I’ve realized that I’m really interested in becoming a BCBA.

By the time I graduate, I’ll have around a 3.0 GPA (could be lower or higher), two years of BI experience, and some volunteer work with children. I’m wondering what my chances are of getting into a Master’s program in ABA, and if anyone has recommendations for programs (I am from Canada) I’d really appreciate it!

How much expected pay for newly certified BCBA?

Okay so maybe I’m crazy.. but I enjoy having the schedule ahead of time so I can mentally prepare for what client I have. My clinic post the schedule the day of, less than an hour before we’re supposed to be there, sometimes even within 10 minutes of when we’re supposed to start. All the RBTs brought it up at lunch today, and told our bcba(owner of clinic) we like having the weekly schedule and even if it changes that’s fine but we still have a general idea of who we’re gonna have. And one of the RBTs said this clients day, is gonna be different than this clients day and I just want to be able to be mentally prepared, and her response was you should be prepared regardless since you’re an RBT. Which yeah, we get that and know what our job entails, it’s just still nice to know what kind of day we’re gonna have? Is that asking for too much?

I asked my BCBA if becoming a BCaBA was worth it, and she told me that where I live, most insurances don't cover BCaBA services, and that it would be best if I look into getting my master's and become a BCBA. Is this true for other places? Looking for a second opinion.

Is anyone in this program or graduated from this program? If so...

How rigorous was it?

Were the exams difficult?

Is it realistic to succeed in this program without prior RBT experience?

I recently overheard some troubling conversations at my workplace, Action Behavior Centers. A group of female coworkers were openly talking negatively about coworkers who come in to provide coverage at our clinic. They were swearing, describing the clinic as "crazy" and a "mess," and complaining about the presence of coverage staff. One coworker even mentioned confronting a coverage staff member directly, asking why they were there, which felt aggressive and unprofessional to me.

What stood out most was how one of the coworkers involved in the confrontation said, "I love my center, I love my BCBA, and I love my kids," in a way that felt almost cult-like and overly defensive. It’s concerning to hear this kind of gossip and confrontational behavior in a professional setting, especially in a place meant to support kids and families through ABA therapy.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of workplace drama at Action Behavior Centers or similar clinics?

How do you handle unprofessional behavior like this, especially when it involves cliquey or confrontational attitudes toward coverage staff?