r/ABA • u/AutoModerator • 5d ago
The Weekly Vent & Support Thread
Please use this weekly thread to discuss all things related to trials and tribulations at work. This includes struggling with cases, burn out, difficulties with peers or supervisors, and yes, the possibility of looking elsewhere for employment.
This is an iterative process. I am not shy about receiving feedback. Please reach out with constructive suggestions on how to improve on this idea, if I should add anything, or change things up. Commenting directly in the thread may not quickly reach me. You can always privately chat me.
You may be asking yourself, "So what about all of the posts referencing the above referenced topics?!" Simply put, they will be going away. There is evidence that some of these posts are from new accounts, posing as disgruntled employees (i.e., trolls). Not all, but some.
I will be providing a prompt towards this weekly thread to users who post content that is covered by it.
It is also important that people have a safe space to discuss these issues that are affecting their work and personal lives. This scheduled post will be live all week with a new one starting on Tuesday evenings at 8PM Eastern.
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u/goodorfear 3d ago
hello everyone. i’ve been an rbt for three years and some change. i’ve loved the job from the beginning, even when i worked in a very questionable (to say the least) clinic. currently, i’m at a clinic where the employees care about our clients, and i often see the rapid growth in our clients behavior, knowledge, and social skills. on paper, this is the dream, right? but lately, despite the care i have for our clients and the bond i have w other therapists, the original passion and drive i had when entering the field just really isn’t there. and i can’t tell if thats normal after being in the field for a while and my spark will come back eventually, its just work being work kinda thing or if maybe this just isn’t the field for me? anyone else experience this?
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u/Individual_Engine627 3d ago
I feel like this is unfortunately pretty normal. I’ve heard from other more experienced people in the field and seen online that compassion fatigue and burn out is VERY common in the field. I’ve only been working 7 months in the field and I’ve definitely started to feel the burnout as well. For me, I told myself if the burn out is getting to a point where it’s affecting my well being, then I know it’s time to reconsider if it’s sustainable, and start looking at other options.
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u/_Flowergirl17 3d ago
So I'm new-ish to the role directly but not the responsibilities.
I am a BC & MT and I just want to see what are you all doing during your BC sessions? How do you approach your clients? Any tips?
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u/Climate_Face 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hey all, I’m starting to burn out. Been with my company for over a decade, most of that time was as an RBT, but the past few months have been as a BCBA. I was very excited to begin as a BA because I enjoy data analysis, program development, feedback, etc., but have found that excitement turning into burnout as the majority of my hours of late have been working directly with my students, leaving very little time to complete my other billables; things are beginning to stack up.
I’ll get through it, as I always do, but it does make me wonder: how many hours of direct service, i.e, 1-on-1 shifts with clients, are other BCBAs working? I have average between 24-32 since becoming a BCBA; my role at this company seems to be more of that of an RBT with some added responsibilities and it is starting to chafe.
Edit: I also want to add that I am considering other options in the area as there is another agency that pays much more and has greater benefits. I am hesitant to do so at this moment due to what I perceived to be a general lack of clinical experience since I just started this role.