ABA therapists deal with high caseloads, emotionally demanding clients, and a profession that doesn’t always make space for practitioners to ask for help. This page pulls together mental health resources specifically for applied behavior analysts, from therapists who understand the field to peer support groups and self-care tools built for behavioral health professionals.
If you work in ABA, you already know the job takes a lot out of you. Clients can be resistant. Progress is sometimes agonizingly slow. And there’s an unspoken expectation that as a mental health professional, you’re supposed to hold it together. That expectation is worth questioning.
Taking care of your own mental health isn’t a distraction from your work. It’s part of doing it well. We’ve seen this play out over and over in conversations with practitioners: the ones who build in real support for themselves tend to stay in the field longer and do better work. The resources below are organized to help you find the right kind of support, whether you’re dealing with burnout in ABA, looking for a therapist who gets what ABA work actually involves, or just trying to find peers who understand what you’re going through.
What You Might Be Dealing With
ABA practitioners experience a specific mix of stressors that don’t always map neatly onto what general mental health content covers. Before looking for support, it helps to get clear on what you’re actually dealing with.
Some of the most common struggles for people in this field include anxiety, depression, PTSD, burnout, and disrupted sleep. For those working with clients in crisis, secondary traumatic stress is also a real concern. Addiction and substance use issues affect mental health professionals at rates comparable to, and sometimes above, the general population, and the field doesn’t always make it easy to ask for help. Compulsive behaviors and general emotional exhaustion round out what behavioral health practitioners most frequently report.
The good news is that most of these challenges respond well to the same tools you’d recommend for clients: direct counseling, peer support, and building in intentional self-care. It’s also worth noting that some are questioning whether ABA degree programs should teach self-care strategies from the start, a sign that the field is increasingly taking this more seriously.
Counseling and Therapy Services
One-on-one counseling is often the fastest path to getting meaningful support. These services are either designed for therapists and clinicians specifically or make it easy to find a provider attuned to your background and needs.
Therapy for Therapists Collective
This organization connects practicing mental health clinicians with therapy services, including pro bono options. Visit their site directly to confirm current availability and structure.
A broad therapist directory that lets you filter by specialty and location. Helpful when you want to find someone with specific experience relevant to your situation: stress, burnout, trauma, and so on.
Find Treatment: An Initiative of SAMHSA
Part of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. If substance use is part of what you’re navigating, this is a thorough, well-organized starting point.
Psychology Today: Find a Therapist
One of the most widely used therapist directories in the country. Profiles include specialties, therapeutic modalities, and insurance information, which makes it easier to narrow down your options quickly.
ABA Support Groups
Sometimes what helps most isn’t professional counseling. It’s talking with people who do the same work you do. Peer support groups for therapists give you a space to process the specific pressures of working in ABA without having to explain the context from scratch.
GoodTherapy: How to Find a Peer Consultation Group
A practical guide on what to look for when you want a peer network rather than formal therapy. Worth reading if you’re not sure whether a consultation group or a support group is the right fit.
Mental Health Advocacy Organizations
These organizations have developed resources specifically aimed at mental health professionals and behavioral health practitioners. Each takes a slightly different angle on self-care and professional sustainability.
The American Counseling Association: Self-Care Resources for Counselors
The ACA is one of the largest mental health organizations in the country. Their counselor self-care hub includes articles, guides, and tools designed to help practitioners build sustainable work habits.
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists: Self-Care for Therapists
Originally designed for marriage and family therapists, but highly applicable to ABA practitioners. The resource library includes videos, instructional guides, and articles covering everything from setting boundaries to managing secondary trauma.
ICANotes: Self-Care for Behavioral Health Professionals
Because ABA fits squarely under behavioral health, this guide is especially relevant. It covers practical self-care strategies and common warning signs of burnout specific to the behavioral health context.
Texas Health & Human Services: Self-Care — The Session Focused on You
A research-backed guide from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. It directly addresses the mental health needs of behavioral health practitioners. It includes data on how common these struggles are in the field, which can be grounding if you’ve been feeling like you’re the only one dealing with this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to struggle with burnout as an ABA therapist?
Yes, and it’s more common than the field openly acknowledges. Burnout is well-documented and consistently higher than practitioners often expect, with high caseloads, emotional labor, and limited support structures all contributing. Recognizing it early and reaching out for support, whether through peer groups or direct counseling, makes a real difference.
Are there therapists who specialize in working with mental health professionals?
Yes. The Therapy for Therapists Collective is one option specifically designed for practicing clinicians. More broadly, searching for therapists with experience in occupational stress, secondary traumatic stress, or professional burnout will help you find someone who understands the specific pressures of working in behavioral health.
What’s the difference between a support group and a peer consultation group for ABA therapists?
A support group focuses on emotional processing and mutual support among colleagues. A peer consultation group is more professionally structured. Members typically meet to discuss cases, share strategies, and hold one another accountable for clinical practice. Both can be valuable, and some groups blend elements of each.
What if I’m worried about how seeking help might affect my professional standing?
It’s a concern many practitioners raise. Seeking therapy or joining a peer support group is private, and many of the most effective clinicians do it consistently. The BACB Ethics Code and other professional ethics standards actively encourage practitioners to maintain their own mental health and wellness as part of ethical practice.
Where should I start if I don’t know what kind of support I need?
Start with one of the therapist directories above and look for someone with experience in occupational stress or burnout. A few sessions of general counseling can help clarify what’s going on and what kind of ongoing support, if any, would be most useful.
Key Takeaways
- Burnout and stress are common in ABA: Anxiety, secondary traumatic stress, and emotional exhaustion are well-documented in this field. Seeking support is a sign of professional strength, not weakness.
- Therapy for Therapists Collective is a direct starting point: It connects practicing clinicians with therapy services, including pro bono options. Check their site for current availability.
- Peer support groups and consultation groups serve different needs: Support groups focus on emotional connection. Consultation groups center on clinical practice. Both are worth exploring depending on what you need.
- You don’t have to self-diagnose before reaching out: The therapist directories listed here make it easy to find someone who can help you determine which kind of support fits best.
- Caring for your own mental health is foundational: It’s not separate from doing good work in ABA. It’s what makes doing good work sustainable in the long term.
Ready to explore your next steps in ABA? Whether you’re building toward BCBA certification or comparing ABA careers and program options, we can help you find the right path.
