asking to stop working with a client
Preface:
I understand I’m possibly overcomplicating the situation but I think this is just my way of processing everything.
What I need help with:
I feel strongly that I should ask to be pulled off this case and placed somewhere else. Context is provided below but this part is really what I want responses on.
If you’ve switched clients before, specifically in home / in school setting, how did you bring it up to your BCBA or your agency? What reasons did you give? Did you get push back? How did you discuss it with the family?
If you’re a BCBA what’s the best way for an RBT to bring this up to you? Would you automatically handle communicating this to the family? Do you take any issue with RBTs asking to be pulled off a case?
Is there anything else I’m not considering?
Context:
I’ve been working for an agency as an RBT doing in school and in home sessions for ~3 months now. The whole time I’ve been working with one client. She was automatically assigned to me when I started this job. It’s been challenging and overwhelming for me the whole time but this past week I’ve started to feel completely burnt out.
About a month or so in to me working with this client I let my BCBA know I was feeling overwhelmed and she performed a fidelity check. The feedback I got then and since is that I’m doing everything right and doing everything that she (my BCBA) would do it’s just that my client is particularly challenging.
My client is almost 7 years old but tall and strong for her age, completely nonverbal with no access to speech services which is a separate rant about bureaucracy. It’s also her first time getting any ABA. The behaviors I’m having the most issues with are aggression, spitting, and property destruction. The intensity, frequency, and duration of them is what’s getting to me. As well as the function of behavior a lot of times is her seeking my attention but obviously I can’t ignore if she aggresses towards a peer or climbs on furniture or elopes when she sees an opportunity.
I feel pretty reactive to the behaviors and that I’m just trying to survive day by day. I try to show up with a positive attitude and made sure I gave an honest effort. I often struggle with asking for help but I’ve been trying to communicate different issues I’m having. It seems like this is how it’s going to be for however much longer and I don’t think I’m strong enough to handle it with no end in sight.
I didn’t want to “give up” but at this point I’m anxious all day and my nervous system is trashed. I’m frustrated to the point of tears. To be clear I’m not placing blame or fault on my client or BCBA. Despite being told by supervisors that I’m doing a great job I do not feel I am the right person to work with her. For my own mental wellbeing which in turn affects the level of care that I can provide my client.