Burned Out (Series)
- The top 10 causes of BCBA burnout
- Ways for BCBAs to prevent themselves from burning out
- How can employers prevent contagious burnout
One of the largest issues that BCBAs encounter in their career is burnout. It’s a real issue that affects the individual mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Burnout doesn’t just affect the BCBA though; it has a snowball effect that impacts the clients that the BCBA supports as well as the clinic itself. Due to the high prevalence of burnout in the ABA field, we’re going to be writing a series of articles around this topic called “Burned Out”. We will be covering the top causes of BCBA burnout, methods that BCBAs can utilize to prevent burnout, and strategies employers can implement to prevent burnout among their employees.
This month we will be focused on the top 10 reasons that cause BCBA burnout. There are certainly more than 10 causes for burnout, so we welcome you to comment on additional sources of burnout you encounter in your line of work. The further this issue is brought to the surface, the better we can develop preventative measures to support the wellbeing of those working in this field. It is our hope that by providing a summary of factors causing burnout, we can get started on the work needed to resolve this stifling issue in the ABA community.
- Lack of support:
BCBAs may feel unsupported by their supervisors or colleagues, which can contribute to feelings of isolation and burnout. Lack of support can cause burnout for BCBAs in several ways.
One way is feeling isolated and unsupported in their work, leading to a sense of loneliness and disconnection. This can be particularly challenging when working with complex cases that require collaboration and consultation with colleagues. Without the support and input of other professionals, BCBAs may feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to proceed.
A lack of support can also lead to increased workload and pressure. BCBAs who do not have access to support staff or administrative resources may need to perform a wide range of tasks themselves, including documentation, billing, and scheduling. This can lead to a heavier workload, causing the BCBAs to feel that they are spread too thinly.
Finally, a lack of support can lead to a sense of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with the ABA field. BCBAs who feel unsupported and unappreciated may question their decision of entering the field or feel that their work is undervalued. This can lead to a loss of motivation and a decrease in job satisfaction, further contributing to burnout.
- High-stakes consequences:
The work of BCBAs can have significant consequences for their clients and their families. The pressure to produce positive outcomes can be intense and can lead to burnout.
The pressure to achieve positive outcomes can be overwhelming, leading to a sense of constant stress and anxiety. BCBAs may feel that their work is being evaluated solely on the basis of the outcomes they produce, rather than the effort they put in or the quality of their work. This can lead to a sense of being undervalued and underappreciated.
The consequences of failure can be severe, which can further increase the pressure on BCBAs. For example, if a behavior intervention is not successful, the consequences for the client and their family can be significant. The behavior may continue to be problematic, which can lead to further negative outcomes for the client, their family, and the behavior analyst. This can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and failure, which can further contribute to burnout.
- Work-life balance:
BCBAs may struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance, especially if they work long hours or have demanding caseloads. This can lead to feelings of exhaustion and burnout and affect the individual both physically and mentally.
A lack of balance can lead to physical exhaustion. BCBAs who work long hours or have irregular schedules may not have time to rest, exercise, or eat healthily, leading to physical exhaustion and a weakened immune system. This can further contribute to feelings of burnout.
Lack of work-life balance can also lead to emotional exhaustion. BCBAs who do not have time for personal activities or social connections may feel isolated and disconnected from others, leading to feelings of loneliness and depression. BCBAs may feel that they need to be available at all times to address any issues or concerns that arise. This can lead to long work hours, irregular schedules, and a lack of time for personal activities and self-care.
There may also be a decreased sense of meaning and purpose in one’s work a result of a lack of work-life balance. BCBAs who do not have time for personal activities or hobbies may feel that their work is all-consuming, leading to a sense of disillusionment and a decrease in job satisfaction. Over time, this can lead to exhaustion, stress, and burnout.
- Billing and insurance requirements:
BCBAs may find the administrative demands related to billing and insurance to be overwhelming, particularly if these requirements are complex or time-consuming.
The administrative burden of billing and insurance can be overwhelming. BCBAs may spend significant amounts of time dealing with paperwork, submitting claims, and communicating with insurance companies. This can take time away from providing direct services and lead to feelings of frustration and burnout.
Insurance requirements can limit the types and amount of services that BCBAs can provide. This can lead to a sense of professional dissatisfaction and limit the ability of BCBAs to provide the best possible care for their clients.
The financial pressure of billing and insurance can also contribute to burnout. BCBAs may feel pressure to bill for services, even if they are not medically necessary or may be less effective than other interventions. This can lead to a sense of ethical conflict and moral distress, further contributing to burnout.
- Client non-compliance:
BCBAs often experience frustration when their clients are non-compliant with treatment protocols. This can impact the effectiveness of treatment and contribute to feelings of hopelessness or burnout.
Non-compliance can be frustrating and demoralizing for BCBAs who are invested in their clients’ success. BCBAs may feel a sense of helplessness and frustration when they cannot achieve the desired outcomes.
When clients are not compliant, this can lead to a sense of professional inadequacy. BCBAs may feel that they are not providing effective services, even if the non-compliance is due to factors outside of their control.
Increases in stress and workload often go hand in hand with client non-compliance. BCBAs may need to spend more time developing new interventions, communicating with families, or re-evaluating their strategies, which can take a toll on their time and energy.
- Burnout contagion:
Burnout can be contagious, meaning that if other team members are experiencing burnout, it can impact the entire team. This can create a negative work environment that contributes to burnout.
When burnout is present in a team or organization, it can create a negative work environment that can be emotionally draining and demoralizing for BCBAs. This can lead to feelings of isolation and low morale.
Burnout contagion can lead to increased workload and job demands as BCBAs may need to compensate for the reduced productivity and energy of their colleagues. This can contribute to feelings of overwhelm and exhaustion.
This type of work environment can eventually lead to a sense of hopelessness and lack of agency among BCBAs. When burnout is pervasive within a workplace or team, it can be difficult for BCBAs to feel like they have the power to make positive changes or improve their situation, which leads to further feelings of burnout.
- Heavy workload:
BCBAs often work with multiple clients simultaneously, and the demands of providing effective behavior analytic services can be significant. This workload can lead to exhaustion, stress, and a lack of work-life balance.
A heavy workload can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed. When there are too many demands and not enough time or resources to meet them, BCBAs may feel like they are constantly playing catch-up, which can create a sense of pressure and anxiety.
Decreased work quality is often another symptom of a heavy workload. When BCBAs are stretched too thin, they may not be able to give each case the attention and care it deserves, which can lead to mistakes or oversights that can negatively impact outcomes. This can lead to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and you guessed it… burnout.
- Emotional strain:
BCBAs work with individuals with challenging behaviors and their families, and this can be emotionally draining. They may experience compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, or vicarious trauma, which can impact their mental health.
Emotional strain can lead to feelings of empathy fatigue or compassion fatigue. BCBAs may feel overwhelmed or emotionally drained by the constant exposure to challenging behaviors or situations, which can make it difficult to remain empathetic and compassionate. This can lead to feelings of cynicism, detachment, and burnout.
BCBAs may experience vicarious trauma or secondary traumatic stress as a result of their work, which can manifest as symptoms of anxiety or depression. This can make it difficult to cope with the demands of the job.
Decreased work satisfaction is another factor that can result from BCBAs being emotionally strained. When BCBAs feel emotionally drained or stressed, they may struggle to find joy or fulfillment in their work. This can lead to feelings of disengagement or dissatisfaction, which can contribute to burnout.
- Limited resources:
BCBAs may have limited access to resources such as funding, staff, therapy materials, and equipment, which can make it difficult to provide effective services. This can create a sense of frustration and burnout.
Limited resources can lead to feelings of frustration and stress. When BCBAs are trying to provide effective services with limited resources, it can create a sense of pressure and anxiety. This can be particularly challenging when working with individuals who have complex needs or require specialized equipment or services.
Decreased work quality can also occur as a result of limited resources. When BCBAs are working with limited resources, they may not be able to provide the level of care or support that their clients need. This can lead to negative outcomes and increased stress and burnout.
When resources are limited, BCBAs may be required to take on additional responsibilities or feel the need to purchase their own materials. This can create a sense of overwhelm and even resentment, leading to further burnout.
- Administrative tasks:
BCBAs are often required to complete administrative tasks such as documenting progress, writing reports, and attending meetings. These tasks can take up a significant amount of time and can be tedious, leading to burnout.
Administrative tasks often lead to decreased work satisfaction, especially when there is a high volume of documentation to complete. When BCBAs are spending a significant amount of time on administrative tasks, they may feel that they are not making progress or achieving meaningful outcomes on their non-administrative work. This can lead to feelings of disengagement or dissatisfaction as a clinician.
Increased workload as a result of administrative tasks can contribute to BCBA burn out, especially when combined with limited resources mentioned above. When BCBAs are responsible for both direct service provision and a plethora of administrative tasks, it can create a sense of overwhelm. This can lead to decreased job satisfaction and burnout.
It is our hope that by shining a light on these top causes of BCBA burnout, that we as a community can help our care providers by taking preventative measures to counteract some of these issues. Being burned out in this field doesn’t only affect the BCBA, but affects the larger community as well, including colleagues, clients, and their families. Due to these far reaching impacts, it is imperative that we all take time to listen and help those that are experiencing burnout.