Supporting RBTs Through Breaks and Burnout Prevention

RBT Recharge: Break Strategies to Prevent Burnout

Host: Matt Harrington

1. Introduction

Matt discusses Nasi et al. (2024), “Everyone Needs to Take Breaks,” a qualitative study on RBTs' experiences with breaks at work. Drawing on personal and professional experience, he emphasizes the clinical and ethical importance of supporting breaks for RBTs.

2. Why Breaks Matter

Clinical Necessity vs. Luxury

• Breaks improve emotional regulation, physical recovery, and care quality.
• Personal anecdote: decompressing with pizza after tough sessions helped restore energy.

Organizational and Ethical Stakes

• Client outcomes suffer when RBTs are burnt out.
• Break support reduces turnover and improves business sustainability.

3. Study Summary – Nasi et al. (2024)

• Participants: 15 RBTs from various settings
• Method: Burnout screener + Zoom interviews
• Analysis: Thematic coding, participant validation

4. Key Themes & Findings

1. Breaks Improve Care: Mental clarity, better engagement, fewer behaviors.
2. Guilt and Hero Mindset: RBTs felt pressure to skip breaks to support teams or clients.
3. Break Conditions Vary: Inadequate break rooms, hiding in cars, lack of scheduling.
4. Systemic Barriers: Low staffing, poor planning, legal noncompliance in some settings.
5. Culture Matters: Where leadership models break-taking, burnout is lower.

5. Implications for Supervisors & Leaders

• Audit Break Policies: Exceed legal minimums, set clear schedules.
• Create Break Spaces: Comfortable environments, stipends for home-based care.
• Cross-Train for Coverage: Use OBM to support floating coverage systems.
• Challenge Hero Narratives: Normalize and model break-taking.
• Monitor Burnout: Use burnout screeners and track performance patterns.
• Apply PDCHS: Plan, implement, measure, refine, and sustain break policies.

6. Research & Resources

• Nasi, F., Smith, J., & Shapiro, D. (2024). Everyone Needs to Take Breaks. Behavior Analysis and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1001/bap.2024.0010
• Miltenberger (2012). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures.
• Austin & Carr (2000). Organizational Behavior Management in ABA Staff Training.

7. Weekly Action Steps

1. Post local labor break laws in staff areas.
2. Host a 15-min break discussion in your next team meeting.
3. Normalize breaks—share "break selfies" internally.
4. Pilot an RBT coverage system for one day and review data.
5. Update your clinic’s policy to include required break protections.

8. Final Thoughts

Breaks are a clinical and ethical necessity. Investing in structured break systems is an investment in RBT well-being, client progress, and business viability. Let’s make rest a standard, not a struggle.

If this episode was helpful, leave a review, share with colleagues, and tag @TheBehavioristBookClub when you implement these strategies.