Feeling overwhelmed as a BCBA? Here’s how to recognize the signs of burnout, reset your boundaries, and reclaim your balance without sacrificing client care.
When the Job Feels Like Too Much: A BCBA’s Guide to Boundaries, Balance, and Burnout
You became a BCBA because you wanted to make a difference—but somewhere between the overlapping treatment plans, supervision hours, parent sessions, and endless documentation, the work stopped feeling sustainable.
If you're reading this while half-watching a session video or trying to sneak in a note between clients, know this: you’re not alone, and it doesn’t have to feel this way forever.
Let’s talk about what happens when the job starts to feel like too much—and more importantly, how to take real steps to reset.
1. Know the Signs Before the Spiral
Burnout isn’t always dramatic. It can look like:
Dreading Monday by Friday afternoon
Constantly questioning whether you’re doing enough
Feeling guilty for taking a lunch break
Saying “yes” when you desperately want to say “no”
If this sounds familiar, you're not broken. You're burnt out. And you’re in good company.
Behavior analysts are trained to notice patterns in others. It’s time we learn to notice our own.
2. Boundaries Are Not Optional
You do not need to earn your rest.
Start with micro-boundaries:
Set a firm end-of-day time (and actually honor it)
Block your calendar for session notes (yes, like a meeting)
Don’t answer texts or emails from staff after hours unless it’s urgent
Then scale up:
Push back on unreasonable expectations
Say no to new clients if your caseload is maxed
Build white space into your schedule before you’re forced to
Boundaries are what allow you to keep doing this work long term.
3. Reclaim the Work You Love
You can love ABA and hate the systems that make it hard.
Try this:
Audit your week. What tasks feel life-giving? What drains you?
Delegate or automate anything that doesn’t require your brain
Connect with a peer for venting, problem-solving, or just laughing about that absurd thing in a session yesterday
Reignite your why. It’s still in there.
Try This Today: Write down 3 things you need to feel more balanced. Not idealistic ones. Real ones.
Maybe it’s:
A 30-minute work block for notes
A supportive Slack message to your RBT
A 10-minute walk alone
Then give yourself permission to start.
BCBA, You Are Not Alone
We are here to give you the tools, the templates, and the solidarity. At The Busy BCBA, we believe in helping you do less better.
Want support? Browse our done-for-you systems, meal plans, and parent training resources made by BCBAs who get it.
Take a breath. You’re doing great.