Are you considering a career in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and wondering where to start your journey? If you are a person who genuinely cares about children, loves to have fun, and embraces teamwork, then look no further than Westside Children’s Therapy! We have job opportunities across ABA and provide on-the-job training to those who are new to the field. We also empower seasoned professionals to embrace the philosophies of Today’s ABA in our child-first clinics.
We interviewed Kaitlyn, the Regional Director of ABA, and Allison, Clinic Supervisor/Lead BCBA, to learn why Westside is such an exceptional place to work.
Here are seven reasons why you should choose Westside for your ABA career:
1. Culture – The Westside Way
We have a fun, lively, and uplifting culture, often referred to as “The Westside Way.” According to both Kaitlyn and Allison, you can sense this from the moment you step into one of Westside’s clinics.
Unlike other ABA settings, where the atmosphere can sometimes feel too serious, Westside fosters an environment where everyone is genuinely excited to be there. That includes our therapists, staff, parents, and of course, the kids that we serve.
Because kids learn primarily through play, our approach is fun and play-based, and therapists are encouraged to be creative in their approaches. Everyone on the ABA team works together to bring out the best in our clients. We offer a level of support and creativity that is hard to find in other ABA settings.
Westside is a place where children’s progress is driven by a genuine sense of joy. We’re in the business of helping kids thrive. And there is nothing more fulfilling than that!
The cherry on top of the cake is our investment in team-building activities, including holiday parties, sponsored outings, and various events. Our therapists are regularly recognized for their hard work, and success is always celebrated.
2. Westside Offers Full-Time Salaried Positions
At Westside, all full-time positions in the ABA department offer both hourly and salaried options. That means that you have the flexibility to choose which arrangement is best for you. Most of our staff choose the salaried option. If you prefer part-time work, these positions are available at an hourly rate.
As you research jobs in ABA, you will find that it’s common practice to compensate therapists on an hourly basis and only for billable time. Under that structure, if you have a client who cancels a session last minute, you won’t receive payment for that time. When a child completes their ABA program or discontinues services, you’ll need to wait for a new assignment. This can lead to income gaps and irregular scheduling.
At Westside, our full-time salaried positions give you peace of mind. Focus on your clients and career growth without worrying about ups and downs in income.
3. Career Development
At Westside, ABA employees are encouraged to pursue advancement opportunities which include Behavior Technician (BT), Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), ABA Program Coordinator, Lead RBT, Regional RBT Trainer, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), ABA Clinic Director, ABA Regional Director, and senior leadership.
RBT Training
Westside invests in its employees by providing paid RBT training. In the first month, you will receive 40 hours of training, as well as time with a dedicated RBT trainer. This leads to an RBT certification, which is fully funded by Westside. As an RBT, you can work directly with children and receive a competitive salary.
Once you are an RBT, you have plenty of options to advance your career within ABA (e.g., Program Coordinator, Lead RBT, Regional RBT Trainer, BCBA) or within the administrative areas of Westside (e.g., Family Support, Billing, Operations, Talent Acquisition).
- Program Coordinator – The Program Coordinator plans and coordinates activities for our ABA Group Programs. In this role, you’ll create fun and engaging group activities, including art projects, physical and cooperative play activities, as well as social skills activities. Bring on the creativity!
- Lead RBT – The Lead RBT supports the RBTs at their clinic. They help with maintaining the schedule, meeting with RBTs for 1:1s, collaborating with the Lead BCBA on teamwide changes and initiatives, and planning and orchestrating team outings.
- Regional RBT Trainer – The Regional RBT Trainer helps to onboard and train new ABA therapists. This includes supporting them through their first 90 days and ensuring they successfully complete their RBT certification. This is a great role for those who enjoy being a mentor!
BCBA Preparation
Are you an aspiring BCBA looking to take your career to the next level?
At Westside, we support you! All full-time RBTs who are enrolled in a Master’s program in ABA may apply to participate in the BCBA Development Program. This program supports aspiring BCBAs through a tuition stipend and acquiring the required supervision hours. We offer structured support, weekly supervisor meetings, and a comprehensive curriculum that helps prepare candidates for the BCBA exam.
If you are already a rockstar BCBA and are looking to make more impact within ABA, we offer these higher-level roles:
- ABA Clinic Director – In this role, you will oversee an entire clinic’s ABA team, providing mentorship, managing schedules, and conducting team meetings. This is a great leadership opportunity for those who still want to work with children, while also supporting their fellow ABA teammates!
- Regional ABA Director – This role oversees the region’s ABA programs while supervising, mentoring, and upholding Westside’s values. You will carry a smaller caseload, so you can also focus on helping your ABA team be the best they can be!
4. All ABA is Clinic-Based
One of the standout features of Westside is its clinic-based ABA therapy model.
Clinic-based ABA therapy, as opposed to in-home ABA, provides a consistent schedule, a safe and supportive work environment, and opportunities for collaboration. You won’t find yourself constantly on the road, navigating between different client locations. Instead, you’ll have the time and energy to take care of yourself outside of work.
Westside values a healthy work-life balance. It allows you to bring your A-game to work each day so you can focus on what truly matters: helping kids.
In addition, research shows that clinic-based ABA therapy provides children with 200% more learning per hour than home-based services. Being in a clinic allows children to learn from and interact with peers, observe and imitate each other’s behaviors, and improve their social communication skills. This collaborative and peer-focused approach benefits both the children and the therapists!
5. Manageable Caseloads
Westside is dedicated to maintaining healthy and manageable caseloads for RBTs and BCBA professionals.
- For RBTs, the goal is to ensure that they work with five or fewer children per week, with the aim of providing each child with individualized attention and quality care.
- BCBA professionals typically work with a caseload equivalent to 8-12 full-time children.
This is a significant advantage over other ABA providers, as you won’t need to constantly switch between clients. We are focused on exceptional and quality care. Our limited caseload approach allows you to build meaningful relationships with your clients.
6. Cross-Disciplinary Consultation
Westside offers an invaluable opportunity for consultation with other therapies that you might not find in other ABA settings. For instance, our RBTs can easily connect with therapists in occupational therapy, speech therapy, or physical therapy who are working with the same child.
When we come together to support children’s growth and development, we all come out on top. RBTs can learn from speech therapists on how to boost language skills. We can collaborate with occupational therapists on tackling sensory challenges.
BCBAs also support this dynamic, offering training and consultation with occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists. Their expertise in behavior analysis and intervention helps to address the broader behavioral and developmental needs of a child.
At Westside, you are never alone. If you feel stuck or need fresh ideas, you will always have peers to turn to who have your back and want to see your client succeed.
7. Mentorship
Last, but certainly not least, is our dedication to mentorship.
BCBAs mentor RBTs, while Regional Directors provide mentorship to BCBAs. This level of support sets us apart from many other ABA settings, especially in the added layer of dedicated Regional Director support for BCBAs.
In our clinic-based setting, BCBAs and RBTs have the chance to collaborate with one another. This isn’t feasible in a home-based model where you are frequently on the move and rarely have the opportunity to interact with children you aren’t directly assisting.
Mentorship is part of what makes Westside such a special place to work!
Start Your Career at Westside
Westside Children’s Therapy is a truly exceptional place to start and advance your career in ABA therapy. Our commitment to quality, consistency, mentorship, and an enjoyable work environment makes it the ideal choice for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children.
Check out our available job listings and learn more about RBT and BCBA development.
We encourage you to Contact us with any questions! Schedule a time to look at one of our clinics, and experience “The Westside Way”.
