u/NoFlatworm3076

I am currently a RBT and I am still in school for psychology with a ABA minor. At first I didn’t mind being a RBT and doing sessions and having my 15 to do my notes and such. Then the policy changed and we have to do our data and note as the session goes. This is a clinical setting so I could get 2/3 different kids a day so ultimately I don’t have time to do all my notes (because they don’t provide us iPads or anything to do as we go). So i usually have to sit unpaid to complete my notes, also I get annoyed working all day and not having any breaks for lunch. We get told to eat when they eat but then we are told to wait until every kids lunch is done to start ours so we don’t actually get that time to eat lunch unless it’s cold. Also I don’t really enjoy working full days at the clinic how they have been in the summer. I asked to do my BCaBA hours because both of my bosses are so in the company it is an actual position. But I haven’t heard back and it’s been a month, and I have followed up.

My question is does the breaks and such get better as a boss or possibly in a different setting or is ABA just not for me. I have been thinking about what I want to do for my masters and I’m debating with a school counselor, a therapist, ABA, or SLP. Since psychology is very broad I could easily go into all those fields. I just need advice from experienced BCBAs to see if this is something I should pursue more.

I am a new RBT! I absolutely love my job so far and I love working with the kids! I work in a clinical setting and was just wondering if this is how aba works in general. Sometimes I feel like the clinic isn’t letting kids just be kids.

For example, I understand wanting food to be motivating for a reinforcement but matching law seems a bit insane to me. I have noticed a lot of behaviors when I only give them a piece of chip at a time. As in they work for their allotted time and they get one half a chip or muffin or whatever. Like I would be pissed too if I couldn’t even get a full snack.

Also we have a music time and the kids have to functionally dance to say Danny go and if they do not dance like him they have to sit back down. Or if a “not dancing song” like a princess song comes on they shouldn’t get up to dance. Also before getting to dance they have to ask their RBT if they can.

Another thing is they have to functionally play with everything. I understand having to sit on your bottom for the slide so no injuries occur but they can’t even use the slide to side cars down. We also have a swing and they have to sit on it and just swing they can’t spin around on it or lay on their belly.

Also for “their turn” and we ask ahead of time what they want and say if they want swing they have to swing for their full turn and if they say all done and want something else then we have to go work for it first.

I love working with the kiddos and seeing them progress but I feel like they should be able to be kids and play. Like I feel awkward when I do run around and play with the kids because I’m about the only one doing it. Most RBTs just watch the kid and make comments about what they are doing instead of fully trying to play.

I am a new RBT, I have been working at my company for about 4 months now. Everything just seems so disorganized and chaotic I am considering quitting. I am still in school so I am part time and this is a clinical setting. I don’t work at a huge company but there are a couple of branches. At my specific branch there is 16/17 kids with 8 full time and 10 part time people. I don’t know how other companies work but I have worked with every kid.

My issue with disorganization comes into play with the schedule. I get kids call out and everything but my schedule changes every single day at least twice. The times the kids I’m working with everything. The company also does not have a policy about employees calling out so on a daily basis at least 2 people call out.

Also just everything is disorganized like the kids will share specific card targets and there will only be one copy and I have to run around and search for it. The soap note policy has been changed 3/4 times since I have started. I now have to interact with the client during reinforcement time as well as write my soap for the kid and enter in the data into the system.

I was thinking about starting my hours to obtain the BCaBA but I talked about it with my boss and have not heard back and it’s been over a week. Honestly I am unsure if this is what I want to do as a career if it is so disorganized all the time. I don’t want to have to work about waking up 2 hours before the clinic starts just because my schedule might get changed from 10 to 8. As well as run around and be stressed and not even have an opportunity for lunch.

Hi, I’m new in the realm of aba. I get confused with maladaptive vs adaptive behaviors, i have to look it up regularly to remember the difference. Is there something that is easy to help me remember?