At Centria Autism, our behavior technicians work incredibly hard. Their days are filled with both rewarding moments and challenges. We are always looking for new ways to support our behavior technicians. At our Albuquerque Center, this is done by making sure their cup is always filled. This blog post offers a glimpse into the life of a center-based technician, highlighting how they pour into their clients and how we, as a team, pour back into them.
Whether the day starts with a nice warm cup of coffee, iced latte, or energy drink,center-based technicians want to start their day by refueling their cup. The start of their workday typically consists of greeting their clients and fellow coworkers with a hello, a fist bump, or a high five, then they are off to the hustle of their session.
Throughout their day, that “cup” is filled in many ways: hearing their client say their first word, seeing a client play a game with a peer, or their client having a day of no self-injury.
How Behavior Technicians Fill Their Cup
Technicians may be found playing a game of tag with their clients as they work on natural environment teaching. We may see them empathizing with their clients during challenging moments. Often they can be found juggling an iPad, sensory toys, and all the HRE items for their client as they run alongside them in the hall.
On the days that that cup feels hard to fill they lean on their team of BCBAs, Clinical Support Specialists, Directors, and fellow technicians to support them.
- A BCBA or director may fill that cup by answering questions, collaborating, problem solving, providing words of encouragement, and training on ways to best support each client.
- A clinical support specialist may help fill that cup by providing additional support during an interfering behavior, or providing a break when filling that cup looks like taking some deep breaths or getting some fresh air.
- A fellow technician may fill that cup by offering a warm smile, a helping hand, joining in on group duck duck goose, boogieing next to their clients during music and movement, or creating a collaborative and friendly environment
At the end of the day refreshing that cup consists of spending time with their family, receiving a big hug from their kids, eating a nice home cooked meal, exercising, watching their favorite reality tv series, playing video games, golfing, traveling, playing pickle ball, listening to music, spending time with their significant other, enjoying the outdoors, doing arts and crafts, and going to the gym.
Writing this blog has been a truly rewarding experience, not only for the insights it provides but also for the inspiration it sparked. This collaborative look into the day-to-day lives of our technicians and the ways we support one another has given us a fantastic idea: to implement a monthly “Fill Your Cup” day at our Albuquerque Center. We’re excited to dedicate a day each month to activities and initiatives specifically designed to refresh, recharge, and show appreciation for the incredible work our team does. It’s a small but meaningful way to ensure that our technicians feel genuinely valued, understood, and empowered.
We asked our Albuquerque center technicians what it means to them to work at Centria Autism. Here’s what they had to say!
About the Author
This blog was written by Francesca O’Mary, a devoted mother of two and a passionate advocate for families. Francesca is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and serves as a Director of Clinical Services in the Albuquerque, New Mexico market. As both a clinician and the parent of a child with special needs, Francesca brings a unique perspective and deep empathy to her work. She is committed to supporting families and creating environments where individuals feel genuinely valued, understood, and empowered. Although Francesca wrote the blog, she collaborated and pulled her inspiration from all the technicians at the Albuquerque Center.