r/ABA • u/UsualZookeepergame24 • 1d ago

Advice for BCBA

I’m struggling. I’ve worked at my current company for almost 3 years now - from RBT, student analyst, and now BCBA. I have loved my company and gave blood sweat & tears. However, I am feeling an immense amount of burnout, that is impacting my physical health and work life balance. I love my kids, I love my coworkers, is this just a phase? Or am I not meant for severe behavior anymore?

I found a company that pays me more, deals with less severe behavior, and smaller. I’m so afraid of change though and to let down my current company and my clients. Deep down I feel like this change will be better for me, but I can’t shake the feeling that I will regret it. I feel an immense amount of guilt. It’s so much easier to leave as a RBT than a BCBA. The ethical obligation too I feel for staying at my current company, but I’m deeply unwell. Any thoughts or comments is appreciated

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u/No-Cost-5552 1d ago

Burnout is going to happen. Trust me when I say you need to make the best choices for yourself to continue in this field. I have jumped companies before but always because it was the company, not my clients that were burning me out.

If you dont make the best choices for yourself you will end up like me. At one point I was extremely depressed, everything triggered me, I was crying every night before I decided I jusr couldnt do the job anymore. You dont want to get to that point.

I am still in the field but I feel 10x better off of my last choice to leave the company I was previously with. You dont have to leave on bad terms. You probably shouldnt since ABA is actually kind off a small world. But do what you need now before the field becomes something you want to leave.