- Burnout is common in ABA, especially early in a career.
- Low collegial support is linked to higher burnout.
- Watch for exhaustion, dread and detachment.
- The biggest fixes are structural: caseload, time, supervision and peers.
How common is burnout in ABA?
A study of early-career BCBAs found high levels of burnout, and those with less support from colleagues reported more.1 RBTs face similar pressures: travel, challenging sessions, and pay that doesn't always match the demands.
What are the warning signs?
- Constant tiredness, even after time off
- Dreading sessions or supervision
- Feeling cynical or detached from clients and families
- Falling behind on notes and never catching up
- Getting sick more often
What helps individuals?
Try
- Batching notes into set blocks during work hours
- A peer you can debrief with after hard sessions
- Clear start and stop times, with notifications off after
- Asking for help early when a caseload grows
Skip
- Writing notes every evening
- Taking on every extra client
- Skipping supervision when busy
What helps organizations?
- Right-size caseloads and review them regularly
- Protect non-billable time for planning and documentation
- Build supervision and mentoring that focuses on growth, not just paperwork2
- Create peer support, like case consults and new-BCBA cohorts
- Use tools that cut documentation time
What can I change this week?
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Read next: How do I find a good BCBA job?
