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1 BACB Ethics CEUs $10 1 hr 6 min On-Demand

Ethics CEU: The Founder's Playbook: Building ABA Companies Without Burning Out

The path from clinician to business owner is one of the most consequential transitions a BCBA can make — and one of the least supported by traditional training. Most behavior analysts enter the field with deep clinical preparation and little to no business education, yet the pressures of the ABA industry increasingly push competent clinicians toward entrepreneurship.

Provider: BehaviorLive — via Motivity

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Course Description

The Founder's Playbook: Building ABA Companies Without Burning Out Presented by Dr. Sara Feldman, BCBA, PhD Most BCBAs never set out to be entrepreneurs — yet the pressures of the field often push clinicians into roles where they must balance ethical obligations with unsustainable demands. In this 1-hour CEU session, Dr. Sara Feldman shares lessons learned from founding, scaling, and exiting a multi-million-dollar ABA organization, and how those lessons now inform her work supporting providers across the country through Headstart Health. This session explores the systemic drivers of burnout, the ethical crossroads every clinician-turned-founder faces, and the strategies BCBAs can use to scale responsibly without losing sight of their values. Attendees will leave with practical tools, reflection prompts, and a clear understanding of how entrepreneurship can serve as an ethical, sustainable pathway in ABA.

What You'll Learn

  1. Identify systemic barriers in traditional ABA employment models that contribute to burnout and ethical conflict for BCBAs.
  2. Analyze common ethical dilemmas encountered in ABA business ownership, including payer demands, supervision quality, and scaling decisions.
  3. Apply at least one practical "play" from The Founder's Playbook to balance growth, compliance, and values in their own professional role.

CEU Credits Earned

Certification BodyCreditsType
BACB® 1 Ethics
COA 0

About the Instructor

SF
Sara Feldman
Ph.D.

Dr. Sara Feldman is the founder and former CEO of The Helm ABA, an organization dedicated to empowering families and schools with cutting-edge behavioral therapy for individuals with developmental disabilities. With over 15 years of experience in the autism field, Dr. Feldman began her career at an ABA center before transitioning into roles as a teacher and autism specialist in the public school system. These experiences highlighted the need for deeper collaboration with families, inspiring her to create The Helm ABA in 2015. Under her leadership, The Helm ABA has become a trusted beacon of hope, delivering exceptional care and fostering a sense of belonging for the families it serves. Dr. Feldman’s mission is to increase safety, independence, and quality of life for her clients by combining innovation with compassion. A staunch advocate for teamwork and growth, she leads her team with the belief that every challenge is an opportunity to shine.

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Clinical Disclaimer

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.

60+ Free CEUs — ethics, supervision & clinical topics