Compassionate Behavior: Unfiltered

The dirty secret no one in ABA wants to say out loud? Billable hours are running the show. In this unapologetically disruptive episode, we expose the uncomfortable truth about how the relentless push for ABA billable hours is reshaping the quality of care. When productivity quotas outweigh client progress, supervision gets rushed, treatment becomes templated, burnout spikes, and ethical gray zones start to feel routine. We dig into how financial incentives are influencing clinical decisions and what it means for BCBAs, RBTs, families, and most importantly, clients. At what point does the focus shift from meaningful outcomes to better invoices? Is there something you would like us to talk about or would you like to come talk with us?  Email us at: compassionatebx@gmail.com  

This is the final episode in our three-part series on trauma-informed care in Applied Behavior Analysis, and we’re ending it by saying the quiet parts out loud. We challenge the belief that trauma-informed care is optional, incompatible with behavior analysis, or something we’re already doing by default, and we name the real issues: power, consent, safety, flexibility, and the impact of our choices on the people we serve. This episode offers concrete, usable strategies for those who are ready to move beyond compliance-driven models and toward care that centers dignity and humanity. This isn’t a tidy wrap-up or a feel-good finale, it’s a line in the sand and an invitation to do better, on purpose.   Do you have a question, comment, or a topic you would like us to discuss? Would you like to come talk with us? Send us an email at: compassionatebx@gmail.com   You can also find us on the web at: www.compassionatebx.com   Resources from this episode:  Blossom Behavioral Services TECA Assessment

  This follow-up episode continues the trauma-informed care conversation by centering accountability, power, and what actually needs to change inside ABA, not just what sounds good on paper. We’re joined by Leslie Birdwhistell, LCSW and BCBA, a fierce advocate for affirming, accessible care. Leslie is also the founder of My ABA Tutor, an online program that supports caregivers in using practical ABA strategies to foster early language development. Together, we explore where trauma-informed care collides with Applied Behavior Analysis and what it truly takes to support people with trauma histories without hiding behind ethics codes or claims of “effectiveness.” We break down what trauma-informed care looks like in real practice, challenge persistent myths about ABA in trauma contexts, and have an honest conversation about why working in isolation from mental health professionals puts clients at risk. This episode delivers hard truths, practical strategies, and a reframed way of thinking about power, safety, and real empowerment in the environments we create.   Do you have a question, comment, or a topic you would like us to discuss? Would you like to come talk with us? Send us an email at: compassionatebx@gmail.com You can also find us on the web at: www.compassionatebx.com  

Trauma-informed care isn’t treated like a buzzword or a checkbox here. It’s messy. It challenges power, routines, and the way “best practice” has been used without asking who gets hurt along the way. What does it really mean to work with behavior when someone’s history includes fear, loss, or chronic stress? What has the field gotten wrong—and what has to change? This first episode about trauma informed care is for listeners who can handle discomfort, who are willing to unlearn, and who believe ethical care starts with listening, not control. No polished answers. Just real talk, accountability, and a push toward doing better.   Do you have a comment, feedback, or a topic you would like us to discuss? Email us at: compassionatebx@gmail.com  

In this raw and unfiltered episode, we dive deep into why disseminating Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) matters now more than ever. Stripping away the jargon and polished talking points, we explore the real-world impact ABA can have—and the real challenges that come with sharing it responsibly. From confronting misconceptions to owning the mistakes and missteps within the field, this conversation doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable. Instead, it leans into it. This episode is for anyone who believes that meaningful change starts with honest dialogue and that the science of behavior can only move forward if we’re brave enough to talk about it openly. Raw. Real. Necessary. This is ABA without the filter.   Have a comment, feedback, or a topic you would like us to discuss?  Email us at: compassionatebx@gmail.com