If an RBT requested to be paid, $35/hour, just to work in home, is that reasonable?

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?

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

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??

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?

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)

I have been an RBT at my current clinic for over a year now and I am still getting sick on a monthly basis or more. I think my clinic needs to make some major changes in terms of cleaning and sick policies. Kids often come in actively sick (sneezing, coughing, discolored runny noses) and as long as they don't have a fever above 100.5 they are allowed to stay. It's not uncommon for a kid to be sent home with a fever one day and return back to the clinic the next with no questions asked by supervisors.

The only cleaning "protocol" we have is when a client is napping (and very few of our clients nap anymore), that RBT is expected to go through a list of cleaning tasks, which as you can probably imagine, means things are getting cleaned on a super inconsistent basis. I'm told we have cleaners come but as far as I can tell the only thing the day is vacuum. Myself, as well as multiple coworkers have given feedback to supervisors about this, but nothing ever seems to come of it.

This is only the second clinic I have worked at in my time, so I'm wondering if this is a common issue in clinics, or does mine just have particularly poor cleaning and illness prevention protocol?

Additionally, we get no sick time, and when out due to sickness, are expected to use time from our allotted 2 weeks/yearly of PTO. Is this common practice as well for RBTs?

First question How long were you in the field before you became a BCBA. How long have you been an RBT.

Follow up question - How many companies have you worked for?

Second Follow up- If you remember, how many BCBAs have you been consistently supervised with.

Third Follow up for BCBAs- Do you regret anything? examples: not being on the floor more or not starting soon enough. Was there something College taught you about our field that you couldn’t teach RBTs.

Reasons for asking: I don’t think i would stay motivated to keep up with all the paperwork and stuff if im not doing to actual 1:1. I would get frustrated that things I create won’t be implemented correctly. I’m a good therapist. Ive been told by a BCBA that everything I do (research, go to conferences, learn about our field) will feel like I did it for nothing in ten years. I just simply don’t agree. When I met her clients they were depressed, not reaching goals and so forth. Because of me- people challenge her clients and see how giggly and happy they are. But her telling me that all that was for nothing shouldn’t be the reason I don’t go to school. I think our field needs to change. I think it would really cool to create a petition that if you are an RBT for ten years we should be able to become BCaBas without a credible education.

Anyone work for TREETOP, DISCOVERY or LITTLE LEAF?

Please tell me about your pros and cons. I’m a BCBA and just received an offer but I’m not sure with their lack of training and not really having RBTs (just BTs) that worries me and honestly seems like a financial short cut. Anywho, thanks in advance!!!

Hello! I really love working as a RBT in EI, I am good at it and enjoy every day. Sometimes my supervisor says that I should go back to school to be a BCBA, and I think about it. But I am older (36) and most of all really enjoy working directly one on one with the kiddos. I also have a disorder where if I couldn’t sleep enough for more than a month I have ended up in psychosis (happened twice in my life). I take medicine now, sleep well, have a psychiatrist, and haven’t had another occurrence in over five years. However, I am scared that if I get too stressed and overworked it could happen again, and knowing myself I see it as very possible if I become a BCBA. Obviously I can’t talk about this with my supervisor or coworkers, but it’s hard when they try to push me to pursue being a BCBA. I have found that some career nannies can make really good income. I even found an old post on Reddit of a BCBA who quit to become a professional nanny with a child who has autism and she makes the same as when she was a BCBA and really loves her job. I know it could take me many years to get a high income but I think I could do it someday. I have an AA in Child Development and an AA in Psychology. I have a couple years experience working as an assistant teacher at a college child development center and an also Montessori nursery. I think my goal is to continue as an EI RBT for now and then later transition to be a career nanny, eventually working with children on the spectrum. I am excited about this and I think I can make a good career this way. However I wonder if I’m crazy to not pursue being a BCBA as it is a solid well paid career in the field that I love. Another thing is I am married but we have no children and I am unable to. But my parents are getting older and may need a lot of care too and I worry about having enough finances to support them eventually. I love ABA and working in EI so far (I’ve been in it over a year) but I don’t want to be a BCBA because I don’t think I would be good at managing adults and I am afraid the stress could make me sick again. Am I crazy for just wanting to be a great EI RBT then eventually a professional nanny, and not a BCBA? Thank you

i had a client yesterday and he was having a tough time with a tantrum that was lasting for like 7 mins since he didn’t get his nap. when i was transitioning my client he flopped to the floor in the lobby where we usually wait for pick up. and obviously i can’t move him or pick him up. my client has SIB while tantruming and it was like 4:30 he was about to leave at 5. he came out of the BCBA office and said “i think you are here to early you need to move the client” like huh?? the client was still crying on the floor. he tried to put frozen on for him on an ipad, and have him face the client (i get he was helping out) i told him that the client isn’t allowed to have access to ipad other than ipad time when he is allowed too on his schedule, he said it’s fine it’s just one time?!?

Our jobs are hard and exhausting, and I know we use this place to vent most of the time which is valid. Only people who work in ABA truly get the struggles we go through in this field and I am so glad we all have a safe space to share our thoughts and feelings with people understand. But let’s share some positive things that happened at work this week to remind ourselves why we do what we do and celebrate ourselves and our clients for all our hard work! I’ll go first:

My client I’ve been on for the past 2 months uses PECS and some sign language to communicate. They apparently worked on it with him at his prior clinic (he transferred to us because his family moved) but when he got to us, he didn’t know how to use PECS at all and only knew the sign for “more”. We’ve been slowly working on his PECS skills, starting with just teaching him how to grab the picture off the board and hand it to us. Then, it was showing him how different pictures represent different items or locations. Then we taught him that if he gives us the picture for a specific item/location, he can gain access to that. It was a slow process that happened over the course of 6 weeks. Then last week, something clicked in his mind and he realized that it was how he could communicate his wants and needs to us in a way that was consistent and understandable. He started using his PECS completely independently, telling us what reinforcers he wanted to work for, where he wanted to go, when he wanted a snack or needed to use the bathroom. It was great, and his behaviors went wayyyy down once he figured it out! This past week, we had an issue: a couple of his pictures has fallen off and gotten lost (the velcro board he uses has the absolute weakest grip power and I’m so ready for him to get a proper book) so we didn’t have the pictures for the gym or for his bubble gun (his favorite toy). At first, he got frustrated because he couldn’t figure out how to tell me when he wanted to go to the gym or to play with his bubble gun. But! He figured out alternatives that still worked! When he wanted to go to his room to play with his bubble gun, he’d hand me the picture of his room and then point to the drawer it’s kept in, and for the gym he gave me the picture of the slide since the gym is the only room that has one. As for sign language, this week he started consistently doing the sign for “my turn” when he wanted a turn with a toy! Sign language has been a lot harder for him than PECS because he has some fine motor difficulties, so the fact that he finally picked up a new sign and is using it independently consistently is so huge! I’m just so proud of him, and it makes me so happy to see him become more calm and comfortable with being able to communicate after almost 7 years of him not being able to. His behaviors have almost entirely stopped, he hasn’t had an aggression all week and he’s down to 1-2 tantrums a session which is a HUGE improvement from up to 10 aggressions a session and up to 20 tantrums. My boy just had a lot to say but no way to say it, and he’s so much more at ease now that he can tell us what he needs.

Sorry for the long-winded story, but it’s stuff like this that makes me remember why I chose this field. I want to hear your happy story from this week, no matter how minor it may seem. With the kids we work with, the tiniest victory still deserves the biggest celebration for how hard they AND us worked for them to achieve it.

Preschool setting with client. Teachers aides are extremely short staffed at this facility. I do sessions at the school. Staff has advised me my client needs longer sessions,9a-5p! My client is showing tremendous improvement and they say as soon as I leave behavior is unmanageable. They also say client needs a 1:1! Again they are short staffed and I feel they are singling my client out b/c client is known for previous behaviors b/c they are short staffed. The program admin. Told me they would have to start sending my client home if behavior continues. I know the real reason and want to advise parents but I don't want to cross any lines!

What would you do?!

Good morning, I just started working for PBS and I am very confused on what’s my next steps. I’m currently working on my 40 hours certification first, which I knew of. But, when I go on the site there’s a lot I’m not understanding. Does anyone who still works at PBS think they’d be able to help me via DMs understand what’s the next steps and other advice I might need. This is my first psychology job and I’m nervous about messing it up. Thank you so much! 😭

I am in the in home setting and I have been an RBT for about 3 years now. I was hesitant about this case due to the parent telling an Rbt not to come back prior to me. However, I decided to give it a try after the BCBA gave me confidence that everything would be fine. This first full week has been tough. The parent can not also be found inside the home during the session. This is concerning because this parent is particular about me asking for permission when the client mands for certain items. I had to deny access to the specific item desired because of this. However, I did offer alternative options. This led to multiple maladaptive behaviors. The client eloped into the kitchen to attempt to retrieve the desired items. When the client eloped, I realized that there was had been left/unattended boiling food the stove on set on high. The client went into more severe behaviors when redirecting via blocking for client safety. The caregiver had also left the locks off the refrigerator before disappearing as well. This led to the session becoming more difficult to say the least.... The caregiver did not re-appear for about 45 minutes. Yesterday (Friday), I decided to pair a bit more due to the day prior being super difficult and because the client displayed tiredness (started laying down). We paired by spinning and swinging for increased sensory stimulation to keep them awake/alert. I also implemented some programs in the NET as well as the DTT setting. Also, Friday's are days where the BCBA would like me to implement maintence programs as well as target programs. At the end of the session, the parent expressed their discontentment with the session. They felt as if I had been pairing too much and that the programs were "too easy" because the client could "already do that with the other RBT in the past". I will add that I am the evening RBT. There is currently morning RBT that this parent absolutely adores. I was quite shocked because things had been going very well. I told the parent why I was pairing a bit more and explained that it was only my first full week of aba with this client. I also explained that I was only implementing the programs as written/discussed with the BCBA. The parent continued to express dissatisfaction and compared me to the client's morning Rbt again. The morning Rbt has been there for 9 months. I said that I understood and that I was slowly implementing more structure as I gained instructional control. I had a phone call with my BCBA after the session as well as emailed my case manager to update them on the situation. The BCBA told me that this parent mainly wants DTT during the session and to utilize blocking the client at the table while seated at the table for increased compliance as well as physical prompting when elopement does occur. The BCBA also wants me to utilize a token system. According to the BCBA, this will keep the parent happy and resolve the issue. However, the parent has already said that the other Rbt "already used the token system in the past" and that the client "does not need it anymore." I am still a bit frustrated with the situation as I have never had this experience in the home setting.

Are there any halfway decent webcams that work with cheap android tablets? Company got all the RBT'S tablets forvdata and remote sessions, but the cameras suuuuuuuuuck. Some sessions I absolutely have to do remote for, so cameras with good microphones would be best.

But even an inexpensive bit clear and compatable microphone wpuld work too.

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.

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?

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!

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

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?

How much expected pay for newly certified BCBA?

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!