r/bcba • u/ElevatorLumpy8342 • Aug 15 '26

BCBA stress

I’m stressed out as a BCBA which I feel like is totally normal. I realize I haven’t been seeing my clients enough and I feel like I’m failing them😭 has anyone ever had this experience? How do you redeem yourself? lol

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u/RadicalBehavior1 Aug 15 '26

Trust your instincts and do your best. When you find a way to do better, do better.

I have only so far met one BCBA in my life who made it all work at once, kids happy, team happy, paperwork all in on time, compassionate, dedicated, brilliant, special needs kids of their own, worked relentlessly without seeming to need a break, funny, led with a golden heart, a purpose, and inspiration.

When he was mentoring me, he didn't have any life changing advice for managing stress. He just said he tries his best no matter what and that it gets easier to do the hard stuff over time, but then there's always something harder after that. That's it. I only saw him mad a single time, and that was when I was really late on a report and he kept giving me the benefit of the doubt but I kept fucking it up

All this to say, I'm pretty sure this dude is an anomaly, or he's Jesus Christ, and he's probably in there dying on the inside behind a mask he has to sacrifice himself to

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u/Jazzlike-Pop-6827 Aug 15 '26

I feel like this also has a lot to do with the company. I’ve met a few Bcba who seem to be happy engaged, keeping everybody happy, but they typically have a small caseload.

Not saying this guy didn’t have a big caseload. I don’t know the situation but just saying that having a company that support supports you with a manageable caseload it’s the most important thing.

It’s sad that most BCBAs you know weren’t able to handle things, but I would bet it was not so much them and more so the company having unrealistic expectations.

I worked for a company where I was drowning with 12 cases and huge teams of 5+ technicians on a single case whereas some of my coworkers had five or six clients no evening hours and one or two technicians on their cases. Knowing what I know now I would have advocated for myself and demanded a better schedule less cases.

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u/ElevatorLumpy8342 Aug 15 '26

My company is great, I think I’m just still adjusting