As a BCBA, one of the most common questions I hear from families is: “Is this behavior?”,“Is this a speech delay?”,“Is this sensory?”. And the honest answer, most of the time, is: it’s connected. One of the biggest misconceptions we see is the idea that behavior, communication, and emotional regulation are separate systems. In reality, they are deeply intertwined. When one area is struggling, the others are almost always involved.

Burnout is more than feeling tired. It’s a state of emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and increased detachment from work. For ABA professionals, it is important to be mindful of the signs of burnout which can show up as: