An ABA therapist’s work is incredibly rewarding.
That was clear at a recent graduation ceremony, where a formerly nonverbal child led a speech and dance for the group. After, the child’s parents shared how each and every clinician had an effect on that child.
But that rewarding work can come with heavy caseloads, burnout risks, and the day-to-day unpredictability of client needs. Studies show that up to three-quarters of Applied Behavioral Therapy (ABA) practitioners leave their positions each year, and just as many experience burnout.
At Brighter Strides ABA, our culture is the foundation of the therapies we provide and informs how employees connect and collaborate. Rather than accepting burnout as inevitable, we’ve built a culture that our team describes as “warmth.” Warmth captures our family-focused culture, supporting coworkers who are passionate about the work they do and empowering them to deliver the best care for children.
Brighter Strides’ Culture, Defined
Our culture is defined by three values: caring, passion, and family.
Caring is at the core. Therapists are encouraged to show up with empathy for clients and for one another. This care manifests in small gestures — checking in on a coworker’s week, celebrating milestones, or sharing challenges.
Passion drives progress. Employees aren’t satisfied with simply doing their jobs. They look for new strategies, creative approaches, and ways to elevate a child’s growth even in the face of setbacks. Passion is what carries therapists through the inevitable hard days.
Family ties it all together. Brighter Strides is a place where colleagues become lifelong friends, mentors, and confidants. We actively foster this sense of belonging, ensuring that every employee feels valued and connected.
Culture in Action
A strong culture requires participation. At Brighter Strides, we proactively build a participatory culture with intention. For example, we host seasonal events, not just for staff but for the children and families they serve. At our Ashburn center, Paw Patrol characters visited alongside the local fire department. Our Herndon location hosted a DJ foam party and ice cream celebration. The rest of the year brings Halloween and holiday-themed festivities, with staff joining in by dressing up to keep the environment light, fun, and inclusive.
Similarly, the widespread support of the nonverbal child at graduation showed how much our clinicians care. There were tears in the eyes of the BCBA and RBT who worked with the child and saw him go from non-verbal to being a great influence on other children within social skills groups.
Culture’s Impact on Connection and Collaboration
The ripple effect of Brighter Strides’ culture is clear: when therapists feel supported, children benefit. Leadership sets the tone by making themselves accessible — every concern, no matter how small, is taken seriously and addressed personally by directors and clinical supervisors.
This top-down commitment creates a workplace where therapists feel valued, spurring them to invest more energy, creativity, and passion into their sessions.
At the core of a supportive culture is connection and collaboration. If therapists don’t feel connected to one another, to their colleagues, to their mentor, collaboration will suffer — or worse, become nonexistent.
Connection
A sense of community and connection is prioritized among our therapists. For example, BCBAs gather every 8–10 weeks for outings like bowling, Topgolf, axe throwing, or boat rides. These get-togethers create friendships and peer networks that provide support and avenues of communication.
Inside the clinics, support is equally tangible. Whether it’s a mentor, senior staff, or a clinical director, someone is always available for a conversation or to discuss a case. Sometimes, employees need guidance and advice; other times, they just need to vent. Our senior staff members regularly reach out to employees to check in, see what’s happening, and make sure their clinicians have the tools they need to do their jobs to the best of their ability.
Collaboration
Collaboration is woven into Brighter Strides’ daily operations. From day one, new employees are paired with mentors — senior BCBAs, assistant clinical directors, or experienced technicians — to help guide them through clinical challenges. Staff can schedule a meeting via Calendly and discuss specific behaviors, strategies, or client needs.
Beyond mentorship, Brighter Strides holds bi-weekly meetings that start with updates and tips but evolve into an open forum. Here, therapists share creative interventions, parent-training strategies, and success stories that others can apply in working with their own clients. For quick collaboration, a Teams chat provides a space where staff in different environments can brainstorm solutions in real time.
Bi-annual performance reviews are also conducted so staff have the opportunity to share feedback and shape the organization’s support systems, ensuring Brighter Strides continuously adapts to the evolving needs of its employees.
Hiring with Culture in Mind
It takes more than policies to build a great culture — you need the right people. But finding culture-fit isn’t black and white.
At Brighter Strides, we look for passion and empathy in candidates. We look for someone who can engage with a child, someone who has the ability to create warmth and build a child’s self-esteem.
We look for someone with discipline who can be as consistent as possible to provide the steady, consistent progress that is so important for our families. We look for someone passionate about helping others and who wants to develop in the field.
To determine culture fit, our interview questions often explore a candidate’s background in working with neurodivergent children and in special education. But we’re looking for a passionate personality.
Once hired, new technicians begin with a 40-hour Relias training course, supplemented by in-person orientation and live modules. Training includes shadowing lead technicians, role-playing real ABA scenarios, and learning the clinical data platform so employees feel prepared and supported from day one.
We also believe in continuing education and career progression. Brighter Strides opens doors for growth and makes sure every team member can plan for what’s next. For example, many RBTs start with no prior ABA experience but grow into lead technicians, trainers, and can eventually pursue coursework to become BCBAs. BCBAs are promoted to senior roles, center directors, and even clinical directors. This internal mobility not only strengthens the organization but also provides therapists with a clear sense of purpose and long-term opportunity.
A supportive culture helps staff get through a tough day and believe that tomorrow will be better. This perspective sustains passion and resilience — qualities that directly translate to better care for children.
Building More Than a Workplace
In ABA therapy, culture is the foundation that sustains a therapist’s ability to do life-changing, meaningful work. Brighter Strides demonstrates that when a company invests in its culture, it builds a community where therapists thrive and children flourish. Moments like the child performing at his graduation exemplify how culture, connection, and collaboration can create brighter futures together.
By prioritizing culture, we’ve achieved retention rates far above industry averages. Take a look at our excellent Indeed rating and the purpose-filled, culture-strong reviews from our team.
We believe in therapy that’s personal, positive, and truly supportive for every practitioner and every child. If you’re eager to make a difference, we’d love to meet you.
