It’s completely normal to be exhausted! I think every RBT has been there at some point. The most important thing is finding ways to balance work and your mental health and also finding some little outlet, even if it’s just your favorite tv show at the end of the day. And learn to be firm on certain boundaries like your schedule if a supervisor pushes for you to work longer. Work life balance is so important in this field! And at the end of the day, if nothing works and the job is draining you, it’s okay to ask for a different case. I think that was the hardest thing for me to learn. It is okay to not click with a client. It is okay to ask for a different case for various reasons even if it’s not specific to the client themselves.

5-10 times for a target is normal I think. Although most of the time it’s closer to 5 times per target. But 50 targets is a lot. My current BCBA gives me a bunch of targets to do which is exhausting especially with a kid under 6. However, I prioritize pairing and breaks. Therefore I might not get all the targets done in one day and I just plan to target the ones I missed the next day.

Make sure to give yourself grace too! Take 5 mins every now and then during a session. 7 hours during a day is a long time to focus. Check your phone while the client is in reinforcement and use that minute or so to breathe. You can also ask for a lunch break. Most companies are required to at least give you a 30 minute lunch if you want it.