Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a rewarding career in the field of Behavioral Analysis, centered on making a real, lasting difference for children and their families.
At Optimal Beginnings, we understand that the impact of a BCBA goes far beyond what families may see in a typical session. Families may catch glimpses – engaging with their children in sessions or offering guidance during meetings – but the full scope of a BCBA’s role is so much more.
Curious about what it’s like to be part of this inspiring environment? We sat down with Maggie, one of our passionate BCBAs in our Virginia office, to get a closer look at her motivations, her daily routine, and the incredible impact she creates for our clients and families.
Follow along to learn what a week in her role looks like.
Why Become a BCBA?
For Maggie, deciding to pursue a certification as a BCBA was simple: “I saw how I could make a difference in kids’ and their families’ lives by teaching new skills and promoting independence for both.”
So, how does a BCBA create this impact?
At Optimal Beginnings, being a BCBA means being part of a strong, supportive team dedicated to the progress of both the clients and the staff.
As a BCBA, the role begins with conducting assessments for each client and analyzing the results to understand their unique needs. Based on that understanding, a personalized program is created to help the client gain essential skills that promote independence.
BCBA’s are also responsible for providing supervision and training to the RBTs, ensuring they have the skills to work directly with clients and teach those skills effectively.
The support doesn’t stop there – BCBAs work closely with families to help them incorporate these skills at home so clients can generalize what they’ve learned in therapy to other settings.
On the outside, that might sound inspiring, but the true impact goes beyond what it might seem.
The fulfillment comes from seeing the lasting change that happens when a child reaches a new milestone and the family gains confidence in their child’s abilities.
Maggie reflects on one of her most memorable experiences as a BCBA: “Watching my first client graduate from ABA stood out to me the most, because I saw all the hard work the client and family put in and how that hard work taught them the skills they needed to be independent.”
What Does a BCBA’s Week Look Like at OB?
A BCBA’s week at Optimal Beginnings brings a balance of hands-on client work, staff training, and family collaboration. Maggie plays a vital role as a BCBA, ensuring our clients’ progress while working closely with staff and families to provide support and guidance. Here’s what a typical week for Maggie might entail as one of our BCBAs:
• Morning Team Meetings
Maggie often begins her days by meeting with RBTs, Administration, and Speech Pathologists to address any questions or concerns they may have or provide updates to the team. These meetings ensure everyone is aligned and prepared for the day ahead.
• Client Programming Time
Maggie also has time in her schedule dedicated to reviewing and adjusting client programming. This includes updating goals, refining strategies, and ensuring the treatment plan evolves with the client’s progress.
The Speech Therapists work closely with the BCBA’s to ensure that the programs both for Speech and for Behavior are supportive of the client’s needs and are conducted in the best way for the client.
• On the Floor with Clients
BCBAs at OB spend time working RBTs with client needs such as observing sessions and activities, like art, music, library time, or dramatic play – which also happens to be Maggie’s favorite part!
• Staff Support and Check-Ins
Some days, Maggie schedules meetings with the staff to discuss client progress, provide guidance, and answer any questions they may have about implementation.
• Parent Meetings
On other days, she collaborates with parents to answer questions, offer strategies, and address concerns about challenging behaviors or skill-building. These sessions often focus on supporting the family’s efforts to promote independence at home.
• Collaborative Team Meetings
OB values a strong team-led environment, so collaborative meetings with other members of the BCBA and administration team are a must! These meetings ensure that everyone is aligned in our approach and that we’re all working together for the best outcomes for our clients and families.
What Can Clients Expect in Their First Year Working with a BCBA?
In the first year of working with a BCBA at Optimal Beginnings, parents can expect a personalized, collaborative approach to their child’s progress.
They’ll receive a copy of the behavior plan outlining targeted behaviors to reduce and new skills to teach. The families then meet with the BCBA on a weekly-basis to discuss how they can help support the family by providing opportunities for independence for the client, which in turn allows for independence for the family as well.
This partnership fosters both client independence and the family’s confidence, ensuring that the growth achieved in therapy is sustainable across all environments.
Building Independence, Together
If you’re thinking about becoming a BCBA, Optimal Beginnings offers opportunities for growth and making a real difference.
BCBA students can gain supervision hours, and gain experience towards earning their certification. Staff are also encouraged to follow new interests by changing their job within the company from clinical staff to management and administration and even into psychology.
If you’re ready to make an impact like this, or if you’re curious about the BCBA role and how it can transform lives, we’d love to connect. Reach out with your questions or explore the opportunities at Optimal Beginnings.
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Optimal Beginnings empowers families to help children with autism thrive through compassionate, integrated therapies tailored to real-world success.
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