11 Years in the Field of ABA
Hi! My name is Michael Quan and I currently work as a Behavioral Program Director here at Joyscape Therapy!
I started my journey in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) back in August of 2013. Having graduated with my Bachelor’s in Psychology a year prior, I always knew I wanted to help people but never knew in what capacity. I heard about working with autistic children during my undergraduate years, however I never thought I had the patience for it. Fast forward to August of 2013 and feeling stuck in my retail job, not being able to get full time or move up, I saw a listing for a Behavioral Therapist and applied. I interviewed, got the job, and received my training before doing some shadow sessions before flying solo. I quickly learned I did a pretty good job, at least that’s what my supervisors told me. A year later, I found a job closer to home as a Behavioral Technician. There I was recognized for my hard work ethic and flexibility, and quickly worked my way up to a Staff Development Assistant and began training and overlapping staff. During this role I began the coursework and supervision to obtain my Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) certification and became a mid-level clinician. Eventually, after some kicking and guidance, I started a Masters program online to set out to finally become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). While I have only been a BCBA for a little over a year, I do think that I bring a lot of experience and have some knowledge. I appreciate the fact that I have also held the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and BCaBA certifications, and champion for that BCaBA certification!
After becoming a BCBA, I began working here at Joyscape. I have to say it was like a little refresh/restart. After working in the field for 10 years, and doing the direct work, it was nice to be able to do what I wanted to do, probe things on the fly, and work more intimately with caregivers and see them on a more frequent basis. I do often wonder what my clients when I first started my career would be like if I was the BCBA I am now in that RBT version of myself. So, I thought I’d write a blog about 11 things that I want to tell my past self, or even current BCBA’s, BCaBA’s, RBTs, and those just entering the field.
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We have to remember that our client is always going to come first. They are why we are doing what we are doing. We’re doing what we’re doing to help improve the quality of life for our clients. And not what we or others think “quality of life” is, but what does that look like for them. Whenever possible, we need to make sure we are checking in with our clients to see what it is they want. I’ve worked with clients helping them make our goals together which has been so fun to do. It also gives them autonomy over their choices and their life. It helps them see what we’re doing is to the benefit of them. We have to advocate for our client! This also looks like programming or goal development. We cannot continue to copy and paste goals from one client to the next. Yes, some goals may look or be similar- BUT- everything should be individualized for each client. Yes this field is all about the data, but remember. Behind the data is an actual human.
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It’s okay to not be perfect. You can try and prepare using things like BST but what’s really going to help you learn is hands-on experience. It’s okay to make mistakes as long as you’re learning from them and are receptive to feedback. Sometimes you think you should know all the answers or you might feel you should know more or do better, but this is a process. If you have questions, reach out to a supervisor and ask. It’s okay to admit what you don’t know and to learn and grow from it. Even seasoned BCBA’s can always learn a thing or two. No one is too old to learn.
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Not to be cheesy and quote Vanilla Ice, but collaboration is key in this field. One of the companies I worked at was founded in part with a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) and I had the honor of working with an amazing SLPA during my tenure at that company. Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA’s) have a stigma about not being able to work with others or sometimes look down on other fields. But you can learn so much if you keep an open mind. Recognize some of these other specialties are outside of our scope, but there is so much they do that we can incorporate into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). But also collaborate with those in our field! We all have so much experience among us that there is a wealth of knowledge in our field. Collaborate with your Registered Behavior Technicians)! Just because you’re a BCBA, don’t think you’re automatically better than your RBTs. Listen to their input, they see a lot of what’s happening as they’re working more with the client.
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I think so often we want to look at the end goal that we lose sight of what’s most important. We want to ensure we do X, Y, and Z but is it in the best interest of the client? I remember coming into the field and compliance was priority as well as decreasing stereotypy. If the behavior is not harming the clients we work with or others, is it a priority? So many clients engage in some self-stimulating behavior that could be helping them regulate. Who are we to tell them they need to stop or do something else because it looks different? We also need to help shift this perspective to caregivers and stakeholders as well and why client advocacy is important.
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It’s so important to celebrate the small wins. Yes, a goal might be the client says 2-word requests. But if they were to spontaneously point and look and approximate a word? That’s still a win. I think also helping caregivers and stakeholders understand this too. Whenever a meeting takes place, yes we may discuss what are some focus areas to work on. But what about sharing some positives that took place within the past week or since the last time you met? In a field where burnout is so prevalent, we have to take the chance to celebrate the small wins wherever we see them.
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It’s so important to remember what makes our science the science that it is. One philosophical assumption that always stands out to me is Parsimony. Is there an easier explanation for something? Is this something that will resolve on its own without the need to make extensive protocols? And yes all 7 dimensions are important, but in practice, is what we’re doing effective? Are our results generalizable? We need to ask ourselves these questions constantly. What is the point of making an effective intervention RBTs, BCaBAs, and BCBAs if it’s not feasible for stakeholders and caregivers to implement in the long term?
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If we feel stuck, just remember how Skinner stated how the learner is always right. What we’ve created might be sound but when it’s implemented it doesn’t go according to plan. The clients may not learn as quickly or a protocol doesn’t seem to be working. We have to remember that behavior goes where reinforcement flows. You might have to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. It is never the learners fault and we can always modify something or change something to possibly see the results we want to see.
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I know I alluded to wondering how my first clients would be or how services would be different had they had the BCBA I am now, but that does no service to them or those I have the potential to help now. No one is perfect and everyone continues to learn and grow. Be aware this train of thought is good because it means you want to continue to grow and do better but do not dwell on what could have been. Continue to take that drive and channel it to continuing to learn and to grow in your skills and don’t stop wanting better for yourself, your client, and even on a larger scale- our field.
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It is crucial that we are always leading with compassion and empathy. This is not only for our client but also to their families and the community as well. We want to be aware of any differences we may have with our clients and families and are operating in a way that we provide a safe space for all. We want to ensure we are always of consent and assent and honoring that at all times. It’s important to take the perspectives of others and be able to see things through others' eyes. We have to check ourselves and make sure we remain humble. We are service providers. We are SERVING the population we work with. We have to make sure others feel comfortable with us and trust us. And know that it’s something that is built, not something that is automatically earned. The same goes with professionals within our field. We have to check our egos if we want to continue to grow and to advance our field.
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It’s in our Code of Ethics! “Behavior analysts work to maximize benefits and do no harm”. Our field has grown so much from the BACB’s inception to when I started in 2013. And even from 2013 to now, there has been even more growth in our field in terms of the number of certifications AND how ABA is viewed. It’s so important that we recognize the harm our field has done, denounce the trauma that it has induced, and actively work to continue to be better. We should always be asking ourselves if what we’re doing can possibly bring harm to our clients or any stakeholders. If the answer is yes, what are we doing to rectify the situation and move forward what can be done in an ethical way?
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We cannot do what it is that we do without making sure we are taking care of ourselves. If your own environment is not supporting you in a way that you can grow and succeed, don’t be afraid to leave. Our field is so understaffed and in combination with the levels of burnout our field sees, it’s scary to think about. Much like various aspects of our lives, we have to make sure we pace ourselves. It is so important to send boundaries as needed. Not working excessive hours. Not taking on a caseload where you may not see clients equally. Tell yourself and give yourself the grace to say “no”. It’s so important to make sure that you are able to replenish your energy and enjoy your time off so you can come back to this job and show up as the best person possible for the population we serve.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on if I missed anything or what you think about these tips to current RBTs, BCaBAs, and BCBAs! Or even if I got something wrong! Our field has come such a long way and I know it can continue to evolve into something even bigger and better if we allow ourselves the chance to grow and to listen and learn from others. We have a responsibility to continue to want to do better and actually take the steps to be better.
If you enjoyed this and want to hear my colleagues and I dive a bit deeper on this topic, check out our episode on Joyscape Therapy’s YouTube Channel. You can purchase the episode on our website if you need the CEU certificate for recertification!
YouTube Channel Link: https://youtu.be/fjklM8obJn8
