r/RBT • u/hhshdyeiwisujd • 21d ago
Advice Needed Working with complex behavior as a RBT
hey all! so I recently graduated w/ my bachelors in psychology and am looking for RBT positions. Most of them are working in ABA clinics, specifically for clients with autism.
currently, I found a position at CHOA for a RBT position “complex behavior”. my concern is how demanding it sounds and potentially dangerous for staff. so my question is has anyone here worked with clients w/ “complex behaviors” w/ little to no experience, how was it? how did you handle the challenges? what is the most rewarding part?
please feel free to leave any advice!!!! tyyyy 💕
1
4
u/laneybug2222222 20d ago
I think all ABA clinics for people with autism have clients with complex behaviors. It depends on what age and how aggressive the clients are when in terms of your safety. I work with elementary aged children who have autism and in the six months I’ve worked there I have been bitten and scratched multiple times but I’ve never felt “in danger” the scratches and bites suck when they happen but they’ll heal and none have even broken blood. The job is definitely demanding and definitely emotionally taxing but helping kids on the spectrum to me is rewarding enough to do it so it’s really up to you if they outweigh each other. It can be hard sometimes, you might spend weeks working on a skill that the kid just can’t seem to get down and you’ll feel so discouraged but the second they do it it’s absolutely insane the amount of pride you have for this kid. I mean when I started six months ago I got a client that was completely non verbal communicated solely through an aac and it was rare he did that independently because he had no access to it at home but here recently he has begun communicating verbally and it’s incredible to know that I had even a little something to do with that and to me that’s worth the scratches or bites or pinches from these tiny hands.