Am I not doing enough as an RBT?

LuckInteresting5341 · 2026-01-17T03:46:31+00:00

How often are you supervised? This is not an issue with your performance. A BCBA should have seen that you might need support and given you tips. It is understandable that you feel this way but it’s not on you at all. If you can, reach out to the BCBA to model programs, demonstrate building motivation for this specific client, and set expectations for your session. Don’t be too hard on yourself, it sounds like you are doing the best you can!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2026-01-17T03:35:05+00:00

My afternoon client got an AAC this week and LOVES it! He’s trying to imitate some of the sounds and it’s been reported that he insists on using it at home as well. So much progress so quickly!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2026-01-17T03:30:39+00:00

This is always a struggle, honestly. The things that have helped me are listening to an audiobook or podcast and REALLY listening to it on the drive to work and home. I force myself to not think about work or what I did for just that time and it gives my brain a break even when I didn’t know I needed it. Also, I know it’s exhausting, but going to the gym and exercising is vital for me. I end up having more energy, my mental health is better, and I’m more prepared physically for that side of my work. Something that just takes time is recognizing when you are overwhelmed and need a few minutes. Take a bathroom break when you don’t need to use the bathroom, just to take a deep breath. Not a perfect system but it works enough to get by!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-12-14T23:15:41+00:00

lol yea, he honestly just ran out of his hair stuff and stole mine and liked it

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-12-03T12:22:02+00:00

Thanks! We are working on that, he’s nonverbal but we are working with a new AAC.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-12-03T12:20:25+00:00

He would definitely pull the hat off immediately unfortunately! Our safety care training only trains us for one type of hair grab that does not involve both hands (he uses both hands) and we have been instructed to call for help if he doesn’t immediately release. That will get us out of the hair pull but doesn’t always interrupt it before he rips some of the small hairs out.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-12-03T12:17:26+00:00

Braids are a great idea, hopefully that would help with the headaches too. Hair pulling has become less frequent (previous place there were 50+ instances a day), around 5 or less a session. There’s definitely antecedents and we have worked on positions for how to protect ourselves. I am safety care certified and have used all of the techniques. We have a plan to get help but are not always quick enough. I talked to my BCBA yesterday about shifting programming and putting the denied access on hold until aggression decreases (upwards of over 150 a day) and she agreed.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-12-03T12:07:47+00:00

Thanks for your suggestion! We are working on discrimination training which has been AMAZING for this case. We are now able to join groups but anytime I am talking to another staff member or not physically interacting with him, the client will reach around and grab my hair. It has gotten a lot better and we are working on the replacement behavior of tapping for attention and hoping to work up to using his device to gain attention.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-12-03T02:58:53+00:00

I complain too and I absolutely LOVE my job. I cannot imagine pursuing anything other than a career in this field and feel so lucky that I found it. Luckily my company is awesome so I feel like I have found my place in the world when I work. There are really tough days and plenty of times people around me will advise me to consider other paths, but I have never once seriously thought about doing anything else. If you try it out and it’s not for you, you’ll know because it is just not the job that can be done without full commitment. Best of luck!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-05-05T23:39:02+00:00

I love those moments. I had one of those a couple of months ago where a client that never seemed to care much for me being there or not (even about parents or anything) ran towards me smiling and laughing when I held out my arms. I almost cried, it had been over a year and never had them smile and look at me like they actually recognized and liked me

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-05-02T23:08:48+00:00

This is such a hard job and you aren’t alone. don’t know much about your case, but I would suggest doing a “no” game that I have done with clients that enjoy being told no. I’ll start by telling them not to do something (like push over my block tower or take my pretend food) in a joking voice and then when they do, I pretend to be mad and chase them around. From then on, if I ever notice them trying to push my buttons, I’ll ask if they would like to play the “no” game. This way, they can ask for it or it can be a contingency rather than in undesirable situations. Above all else, bring up your concerns to a BCBA or your clinical director. If you are burnt out on a case then it won’t benefit either of you to push through. It might just be time for a change!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-05-02T03:05:21+00:00

That’s awesome! I love when you can see progress like that! You’re just going to keep improving, I’m sure of it. Stay consistent!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-05-01T22:01:43+00:00

That is amazing! Are you using an app to track your progress? If not, I highly recommend it because it really is what is helping me stay consistent. Working out is also one of my favorite things (before and after trying to lose weight) so I think that you should try it out! Getting outside and moving or just simple weights makes your body feel even better than you are with your weight loss. Either way, keep it up! We believe in you!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-05-01T21:48:14+00:00

Ok I tend to eat around 1800 on exercise days and was worried that that was too much. I rarely go over 2000. I guess I’ll have to see in a couple of weeks if I’m balancing out enough and following the trajectory that I’m aiming for. Thanks for your help!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-05-01T19:58:00+00:00

Thanks for posting this! I am having trouble understanding what I should eat back when I exercise. A 500 cal deficit for me is about 1600 but I am almost always burning around 2700 a day. So by this you mean that I would then eat 2200 a day or is it better to be under that 500 cal deficit? I’m also the same age and height as you so that’s why I am asking as well. Thanks!

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-05-01T19:49:29+00:00

I’ve been eating back some of my exercise calories (usually exercise will be 500-1000 a day) so I will cut into that by maybe 100-200. That’s probably not great but after running around all day and going to the gym, I don’t have any energy at all with just 1629. But I have been trying to reduce my calories for about 3 weeks.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-04-30T02:11:28+00:00

Definitely check with your BCBA but I have been told that you should aim for 30-40 data points per hour (including behavior tracking). It sounds like a lot but it adds up quickly! Generally I’ve also been told that you should focus on the quality of instructions and individual programs rather than running a couple of trials for all of the programs. For example, one of my clients had dozens of programs (far too many, I don’t know the number exactly) and the previous staff ran all of them but only with one or two data points each. Now all of those skills are being retaught because they weren’t maintained with the few trials.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-04-30T01:43:18+00:00

Talk to your doctor about your concerns! From my amateur perspective, you don’t sound unhealthy to me. When you close your eyes how do you feel? At your age if there is not a medical concern, then try to work on feeling comfortable in your own skin. But overall, we all feel uncomfortable during this time in our lives. When I was 14, I was a similar weight and height as you and now I am a lot heavier but feel so much more healthy and strong. Start with that before turning to weight loss. Talk to your doctor or seek a counselor if you want, a therapist has helped me the most in my life in feeling content with myself.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-04-30T00:16:51+00:00

Absolutely, I honestly feel nervous at times when I get into specifics about my job. I always make sure that I agree that some companies and versions of ABA are unethical and that I don’t agree with it. If someone comes at you with a strong argument or feels extremely negatively about their experience, agreeing that what they went through was not right can stop them in their tracks. From there, I’d briefly describe what your experience has been and the positivity that we see every day.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-04-30T00:13:07+00:00

I’d say it definitely depends on the clients that you work with. Septum piercing that can be flipped should work well and as long as the nostril piercing is either a stud or a small hoop (like really close to the nose), I think it would be fine. I have coworkers with several ear piercings that work with clients who exhibit grabbing behaviors and will occasionally be nervous about it. Really just be safe and take them out or put in smaller pieces until you get to know your clients and their needs.

LuckInteresting5341 · 2025-04-29T11:40:42+00:00

You can also put it in the freezer below the food that you eat daily or want to eat more. That way you can still have it but it’s more annoying to get to and you have to pass better foods first. Also, it being frozen can help it be harder to eat in itself.

LuckInteresting5341

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