The ABA workforce crisis is well documented in terms of turnover rates, recruitment challenges, and the growing gap between demand for services and the supply of qualified practitioners. What receives less attention is the psychological toll that toxic work environments inflict on behavior analysts and the lasting effects those experiences carry into subsequent employment.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Behavioral Talent Consulting
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Join Free →Upon starting Gateway ABA Therapy LLC in 2020, in the midst of a Global Pandemic, we weren't exactly sure what we were getting ourselves into. The only thing we knew was that we wanted to provide high-quality, trauma-assumed, compassionate ABA services to all clients and their families AND to give our staff a place where they are valued and respected. What we didn't expect was the number of employees we brought on that would self-report and demonstrate P.T.S.D. responses from their previous work environments. It soon became part of our mission to support our staff through the process of grief and providing that supportive environment to help them come out on the other side as a stronger individual. During this presentation, we will share our personal experiences in handling these barriers and the impact that this issue can have on your businesses greatest assets - your people! Help your staff recover and THRIVE after a toxic workplace experience.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Ethics |
Melissa Rigby, M.S., BCBA, LABA (MA), is the Co-Founder, Owner, and CEO of Gateway ABA Therapy LLC, a BCBA owned and operated organization located in South Coast Massachusetts, that got its start in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic, dedicated to fulfilling its mission, vision, and values each and every day. Melissa first started in the field of ABA as a parent whose child was receiving services for ADHD and the therapist was utilizing principles of ABA. It was here that Melissa fell in love with the science of behavior analysis. Melissa went on to work as a Behavior Technician and completed her Master’s of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University in 2017 where she later earned her Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst shortly after. Her experience spans across in-home, school-based, clinic-based, and community-based services across ages infant to adulthood. Although she loves working as a clinician, she is deeply passionate about OBM (Organizational Behavior Management) and bringing this area of ABA into the workplace to create effective systems of processes and a positive work environment for all!Melissa spent most of her childhood in a dance studio as a competitive dancer, where she developed a passion for music and movement and the power of those in life. She enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. At home, Melissa is the mother to 5 sons and her significant other. Although free-time is nearly non-existent, she loves the beach, sunsets, and star gazing!
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
244 research articles with practitioner takeaways
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
233 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.