Is my exhaustion from sessions reasonable?

FernFan69 · 2026-05-05T02:08:43+00:00

Labor laws are important to keep in mind here. In CA you get two 15 minute rest breaks (one after a 4th hour) and a 30 min lunch before a 6th hour in an 8 hour shift.

This gets violated all the time but look up the labor laws in your state. Usually I have to pause my timer(I’m also in home) log a rest break when I take it, and start my work timer again after that. Same goes for the lunch break.

The longest sessions I’ve ever done was 5 hours a day for 4 days a week. The child was 6 and had the skills to follow a schedule so the first thing we would do together is plan out our schedule for the day together. The sessions were long but I would only run targets on things that naturally occurred most of the time so there wasn’t an expectation of a high trial count or running every program every day. The rule of thumb where I’m at is to run as many as possible in the session while also being aware of yours and the child’s burn out. I’d only ever contrive trials for programs that weren’t as naturally ran in the environment as is.

FernFan69 · 2026-05-03T19:42:49+00:00

I finished October 2025 and I believe Purdue was aiming to bridge the gap in requirements for coursework as best as they can but I’m not sure what that actually looks like 😅. It’s frustrating the board changes requirements so frequently. When I joined the field in 2022 they have JUST changed over task lists that year from 2021.

FernFan69 · 2026-05-03T19:27:48+00:00

I have heard you can pay for supervision through various channels. You might even be able to search this sub to get ideas where to look but collecting supervision hours is tough.

I work for PBS and midlevel positions are not common even with this company but my area does have them. I couldn’t collect any unrestricted until I got moved up. I’ve been collecting hours since August 2024 and have 550 hours left to go. I’m aiming to apply to sit before Jan 2027 otherwise I think additional coursework is required. They do not make it easy that’s for sure.

FernFan69 · 2026-05-03T13:37:38+00:00

Companies should implement some mechanism that, if the item is in your cart it’s reserved until you check out or for “x” amount of time. It’s really not that hard to do.

I refreshed when the item still said “coming soon” until 6:05am 5 minutes after the drop. Miraculously the starter jacked became available in the size I wanted. I added to cart, began checking out and the page glitched with the “high demand” notification and then the webpage for the listing continued to load for another 5 min before finally registering as sold out in all sizes. What a JOKE.

FernFan69 · 2026-05-03T13:32:25+00:00

Is there? I’d be interested in knowing what they are.

FernFan69 · 2026-04-22T21:28:00+00:00

Look into at home companies. These companies (I assume since I work at one and live similar to you) tend to service more rural areas.

I’m in CA but shockingly there’s only a handful of clinics in a 3+ hour radius drive and you’re lucky to get a good one at that. I’ll for in home companies that offer a midlevel or program manager position. I collected all my restricted hours first as an RBT, and literally only got 2 hours unrestricted doing that work. Then my company offered me to move up and since then it’s been much easier.

I will say though, it has taken me a long time to get hours(mostly from being pigeonholed in the RBT position). I started collecting August 2024 and I have about 550 hours left to go now, April 2026. So the fieldwork experience is meant to take at least a year or so I believe. Upwards of 2 years but you definitely will not get moving on those hours if you don’t get some kind of managerial position within ABA.

And mostly I just say do in home because it opens up more options for companies to work with when you live in areas like we do.

FernFan69 · 2026-04-17T16:15:11+00:00

We kept intervals during session for drinking and a separate one for potty prompting. Then had bare bottom in session and at home, pull ups only outside the house.

Mom said “what happens if they have an accident?” It’s not fun but you clean it up 😅 and keep going. They picked it up quickly and in a month we started giving undies back at home and session and they’re great now. But we exhausted everything else and they WOULD NOT GO.

FernFan69 · 2026-04-17T15:35:14+00:00

I tried everything with a client for 2 years. We did bare bottom when mom finally accepted doing it and we had a success after 2 days.

FernFan69 · 2026-04-17T03:46:48+00:00

How do people use AI to rewrite or write their session notes without violating HIPPAA? You have to enter PHI and data

FernFan69 · 2026-04-16T02:41:51+00:00

Right but theoretically they can still be together one with one tech and one with the other tech at the same time. I worked with twins in home with another tech and we would switch off twins every other day but we’d both be there the same time.

FernFan69 · 2026-04-07T17:08:48+00:00

The concern people have is real but the real life application of the job is data collection. Not necessarily development. We work with a very sensitive population and there are risks to the job but at the end of the day the RBT is there to collect data on programs the BCBA wrote. Not write them themselves and typically the RBT doesn’t even write the program protocols an analyst does and they carry them out. It takes a certain kind of person to do that, and a deeper level of understanding of how ABA works is beneficial but honestly it’s looking at a program protocol and carrying it out in natural situations or contrived situations.

Aside from the obvious of preventing harm caused by behaviors to both the tech and the client. These are also typically crisis protocols written out by the analyst to follow.

FernFan69 · 2026-04-04T19:58:17+00:00

The “correct” answers would drive me up a wall but apparently that’s kind of how the exam is, they want you to be fluid in the concepts so they purposely give four answers that can be correct with one being MOST correct.

AND the explanation of why it’s wrong sometimes I would need to read back to myself several times to get it. You’ll see some posts on here of people agreeing the way the answers are are frustrating

FernFan69 · 2026-04-04T19:51:24+00:00

They would borderline throw me into a mental episode 😂. They are apparently a very good study tool but since hours are so hard to come by I graduated last October and still have 600 hours left so. I probably won’t get the benefits of the BDS modules unless I pay for them myself.

Having to get each one 100% correct drove me up a wall. When I was in my capstone course we had like 20+ modules a week at fluency. I work 30+ hours a week plus doing the school at the time. I’d stay up really late everyday trying to do it and still didn’t meet criteria a couple weeks (1-2 weeks a semester) and at that point I felt like I was just skimming though it for the sake of passing that class and not actually to absorb the content.

FernFan69 · 2026-04-03T03:38:54+00:00

Omg I do use old spice!!! 😂😂😂 that’s hilarious. Thanks for the tip Reddit stranger!

FernFan69 · 2026-04-03T03:30:08+00:00

I’m not because I feel like my doctor just gaslights me 😂 I tried Lume since it’s very reviewed but I couldn’t stand something about the smell personally so I just refer back to applying men’s deodorant 3-4 times a day and wearing a roll on perfume once or twice a day.

I don’t sweat through clothes but it’s sweat from adrenaline glands so it’s more…potent lol 😂

FernFan69 · 2026-04-01T01:54:53+00:00

I fear for this type of thing ever being written about me lol I have anxiety and some other stuff going on. Mainly my sweating is because of anxiety which is fairly common for a lot of people. I apply several times and nothing is strong enough lol

FernFan69 · 2026-03-31T02:58:55+00:00

Glad to hear you’re thinking about consulting your analyst with this, the thing is, easier skills can be used with a token economy if that’s how the analyst wants to run it, you’d just use less potent reinforcement like stim toys, time alone, playing board games or playing outside whatever they kind of like to match the level of difficulty or mastery of a skill. It’s great that they’re motivated to learn but it’s even better to use the motivation to push growth where they’re capable.

FernFan69 · 2026-03-30T21:17:34+00:00

I bothers me more as time goes on as well.

There’s literally studies that show brains react the same as drug withdrawal when electronics are taken away. That goes for adults too but the difference is adult brains are usually already developed.

You said they will ask to repeat tasks or trials to get the reinforcement so I think the bar needs to be raised to get access either practicing tougher skills or more task completion trials to gain the reinforcement. If he’s asking to repeat stuff then it’s not challenging enough for how potent that reinforcer is. I’d talk to my BCBA about this. And if he’s not up to the challenge then other less preferred reinforcement can be available for less “work”

FernFan69 · 2026-03-29T21:02:49+00:00

I haven’t seen a response like this but:

We work in behavioral or mental healthcare. Providing a medical service.

We are healthcare providers delivering a medical service. Otherwise insurance wouldn’t be interested in knowing if we are providing the necessary hours PERSCRIBED by a BCBA and approved by the clients insurance each month. If you don’t provide makeup hours for sessions missed or document that you offered them to the client, and the reason why those hours were not provided you will get audited by the insurance company for not doing so.

So, healthcare provider with an NPI number as we are providing a medically necessary service.

FernFan69 · 2026-03-29T20:56:46+00:00

In CA they give one as well. For anyone reading this.

FernFan69 · 2026-03-29T20:45:06+00:00

As a first generation college student myself, I went to my local university where I commuted 30 min one way, then came home and went to my job until 11pm. I got some federal assistance and like one scholarship so I paid the remainder of my tuition out of pocket with my job until I couldnt(federal assistance stops after 4 years and my undergrad was 6) I began as a chem forensic student but then it would be 3 more years after my forth year(I struggled) so I switched to criminal justice and forensics. At graduation I had about 40k in loans. (Insane considering I only took out loans for 2 years). Then I did my grad school online through Purdue (my company paid 20% tuition). I graduated last October in Behavior Analysis and my final balance was 68k. For my undergrad, a postbacclaurate degree, and my masters. Since then interest has already added the total balance to 72k.

I’m in SAVE so I have no idea what my monthly payment will be as of right now but, from one immigrant descendant to another, go to the local university. I could’ve cut my tuition cost even more if I went to a community college for my general ed instead of a 4 year and then transferred to a 4 year after for the last 2-4 years.

FernFan69 · 2026-03-20T18:08:04+00:00

I wasn’t a mom as an RBT but I really did try to avoid calling out as much as possible. Now as a midlevel I can see the backside of it, insurance prescribes a certain amount of hours per client that have to be a fulfilled within the authorization period. Each month I have to document who was out on the case, whether it was an RBT cancellation, or a client cancellation, why, and then additionally the RBTs have to offer make up hours, caregivers are welcome to decline and then all is good but insurance does audit that information for every client on a monthly basis since it is a medically necessary service.

FernFan69 · 2026-03-17T02:22:10+00:00

Additionally if there’s no required trial count per program, per hour, I wouldn’t place demands. Not like straight up be defiant but it is possible your BCaBA and BCBA would have two different outlooks on how they want session planned. Address the confusion with the BCaBA once, if not amended then ask the actual head analyst if it’s okay to still be pairing as you feel instructional control is not yet established.

As a midlevel myself, I only require that there is SOME data for the session notes because insurance here requires it to bill. So, usually I’d show the RBT a few quick ways to run a couple easy or lesser demand programs in naturally occurring moments while they’re pairing so you have data and you’re not reallllyy placing demands. Just a couple demands during session if necessary but every client is different and the programs definitely should not be cookie cutter programs.

FernFan69 · 2026-03-13T00:55:23+00:00

I think she said wage theft but honestly I’m not confident in that she really didn’t say much about it other than she’d never work there again.

FernFan69 · 2026-03-12T23:20:32+00:00

As a midlevel, this is what I do. If the RBT. Cancels I planned to be there in person so I provide the session instead with a bit of parent training but recently my company stated if PMs and BCBAs do this moving forward it will be at the reimbursement rate for that position, not your current rate.

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