RBTea Talk Podcast

Episode 1: Severe Behaviors

AzABA’s ABA for Technicians and Trainees SIG is proud to release its very first podcast episode! Featuring 2024-2025 Interns Ryan Mott, Joshua Burnett, Naomi Neamtu, and Lizzy Wegley.

In this kickoff episode, AzABA interns share their perspectives as behavior technicians, blending research with real-world clinical experiences. The discussion focuses on:

• Importance of effective initial and ongoing training on behavior intervention plans
• Personal strategies to prevent burnout and self-advocating as an RBT
• Ethics codes most relevant to registered behavior technicians for real-life scenarios
• 1.06, 1.09, 2.03,& 2.04

Join us as we highlight the voices of emerging ABA professionals and explore practical, research-based insights for technicians and trainees.

Citation for article discussed:

Ralston, A. W., & Brown, K. (2023). Registered Behavior Technicians' Training Experiences for Severe Problem Behavior: A Survey. Behavior analysis in practice, 16(4), 1175–1190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-023-00809-w

*Disclaimer* This podcast episode does not apply toward professional development units.

Episode 2: Burnout in Behavior Technicians

Featuring Lizzy Wegley, Jessica Belokas, Jaime Neville, and Savannah Gruzd.

Burnout is a growing concern among Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) working in applied behavior analysis (ABA), particularly in roles that involve high emotional demands, complex client needs, and fast-paced service delivery. This podcast explores the common contributors to burnout experienced by RBTs, including workplace stressors such as high caseload demands, limited support, inconsistent supervision, and communication challenges within clinical teams. The episode also examines how individual differences, including personality variables such as neuroticism and extraversion, may influence how technicians experience and respond to workplace stress.

In addition to identifying contributors to burnout, the podcast highlights practical strategies that supervisors, organizations, and RBTs themselves can use to promote sustainability in the field. Listeners will learn about supportive supervision practices, individualized staff support, and methods for improving team communication to reduce workplace strain. Finally, the episode introduces self-advocacy strategies that RBTs can use to effectively communicate their needs, including requesting clarification from supervisors, discussing supervision expectations, and establishing healthy work–life boundaries.