Communication Drives Collaboration in ABA Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a rewarding career for each individual practitioner, but we all know it takes a village.

You might spend your days in different homes, schools, or telehealth sessions, often working alone without much face-to-face contact with colleagues. That routine independence can make it hard to connect and collaborate with others.

At Brighter Strides ABA, you are never isolated on an island. Our culture is built around vibrant, ongoing communication, so you can always reach out, no matter where, when, or how you deliver care. Recently, one of our BCBAs was stumped with a client’s potty training. Within minutes of sharing some case details on the Microsoft Teams chat, another therapist offered an idea, and just a few weeks later, a real breakthrough happened. The colleague’s insight made all the difference.

When we bounce ideas off each other and pool our collective wisdom, children make faster progress, families feel supported, and our therapists feel truly connected, knowing colleagues have their back.

Collaboration Starts with Communication

When it’s easy to ask questions and workshop solutions together, everyone benefits. It makes tough days feel lighter and sparks those “aha” moments that move a child forward.

Collaboration like this always starts with open communication—teaming up works best when everyone is talking and listening to each other.

We’ve built our entire workflow around communication. Teams are empowered to meet, share, and collaborate in ways that feel seamless and supportive. These include:

• Team meetings. When you’re in the zone working on a case, it can be tough to step back and see the full picture. Team meetings bring BCBAs and RBTs together to share insights and talk through challenges and possible strategies. Sometimes a colleague’s simple suggestion unlocks a stuck case or reveals an approach that has worked for others, but may be new to you.
• Group chats. Our Teams chats are buzzing all week. When struggling with a tough behavior, therapists will post things like, “Has anyone dealt with this before?” In response, they will get practical tips from others who’ve navigated similar challenges. Clinicians also jump on just to share breakthroughs or swap stories. That camaraderie helps keep burnout at bay.
• Smaller group forums. These spaces allow senior BCBAs and specialized teams to check in more frequently, not just on clinical cases, but on team management, professional development, and other aspects of building a strong therapeutic organization.
• Operational touchpoints. We intentionally keep our back-office team small so every therapist has easy, direct access to support and no one feels lost in the shuffle. Coordinators check in regularly and want to hear feedback. When someone flags an issue, big or small, we take it seriously and make sure it’s handled.
• Company events. Our summer gatherings, group outings, and holiday celebrations give regional teams a chance to relax, have fun, and get to know each other outside of work. Whether it’s a picnic or a themed party, these moments build trust and belonging. Collaboration feels natural when team members are genuinely friends.

The Power of the Group Chat

If there’s a beating heart to our collaboration efforts, it’s our Microsoft Teams group chats. These dynamic forums are where therapists can actively seek input and offer insights learned from their experience. We have two main channels in each region: one for all BCBAs and another for our broader clinical team.

The conversations usually center around specific behaviors or situations. Maybe someone’s having difficulty getting to the next step with a child, or there’s been a change—like starting school—that’s resulted in new behaviors or old behaviors resurfacing. You’ll see posts asking, “Has anyone else dealt with this? Any ideas or things we can try?”

For our new team members, especially those in home-based or telehealth roles, these group chats offer the sense of community and support that’s rare elsewhere. One of our newest practitioners, working mostly telehealth, told us she’d “never experienced a culture like this before.” She was amazed at how open people were to questions and how happy colleagues were to jump in with advice or encouragement. Even without daily face-to-face interaction, she never felt alone.

Our group chats aren’t just for tough cases though—we celebrate successes too.

I recently spoke with a parent who was singing the praises of their BCBA, talking about how amazing the communication was and how they went above and beyond. I couldn’t wait to share that feedback with the BCBA because it’s important to let people know when they’re doing great work. When you feel part of something larger than your individual caseload, that sense of connection directly combats the isolation and burnout many in this field know too well.

BCBAs and RBTs Working Together 

Ask anyone here, and they’ll tell you—real progress happens when BCBAs and RBTs work together. We know this because we see it every day. Yes, BCBAs design the treatment plans and steer the direction of cases, but it’s the RBTs who are facilitating every session, picking up on subtle day-to-day changes.

At Brighter Strides, we don’t believe in top-down communication. We count on RBTs to jump in and say, “I noticed something new in the last couple of sessions,” or, “What if we tried this tweak?” We encourage RBTs to speak up with their ideas, and BCBAs to take those ideas seriously. Everyone has ideas that deserve to be heard and considered, regardless of their role. Our practice is an ongoing conversation rooted in open communication between everyone involved in a child’s care.

When people in both BCBA and RBT roles bring their ideas to the table, the children benefit. I’ve heard from many families whose child got a creative solution because their care team worked together to try different things. And when someone has a win, it is shared on the group chat. The celebration belongs to the whole team.

Hiring Team Players

A collaborative culture doesn’t just happen; it starts with the people we hire. Of course, qualifications and clinical experience matter, but we’re also looking for team players—people who ask questions, listen well, and genuinely want to work alongside others. There’s no perfect checklist for finding that special spark, but we do our best to get a sense of each candidate’s mindset by asking things like: What draws them to ABA therapy? How do they describe their relationships with previous colleagues and supervisors? Is someone changing jobs because they want more connection and support?

In interviews, we pose real-life scenarios and see how candidates would tackle them. Does the candidate approach others for advice and idea-sharing, or try to solve everything on their own? Answers like, “I’d troubleshoot with a colleague,” or “I’d get the team’s input,” always stand out. This shows a natural openness to learning from others and sharing ideas, which means they’ll likely thrive in our collaboration-driven culture.

We also know not everyone is super outgoing from day one, and that’s okay. Some new hires need a little time to ease in and feel comfortable speaking up. Our clinical directors and operations coordinators make a point of checking in with newcomers, offering regular feedback and encouragement.

Over time, with support, we’ve watched even quieter team members grow into confident voices within the group. Nobody has to force it—our culture gives people room to find their place, in their own way.

When Communication Works Well, Collaboration Follows

Maintaining our communication-first culture front and center is a top priority as we grow into new regions. From your very first day, we want you to know that your voice matters. The best ideas, the biggest breakthroughs, and the strongest teams grow from people who feel heard and included.

When communication is flowing, it’s so much easier to swap advice and advance together as a high-performing team. You can lean on colleagues for encouragement and pick up new strategies along the way. Tough days become much more manageable through support that is both accessible and encouraging.

At Brighter Strides, we’ve seen again and again that lasting progress happens when everyone stays connected. And it’s not only life-changing for the kids we care for—that sense of connection also empowers the therapists who are part of each journey.

Does this sound like the kind of company you’ve been searching for?

Explore job openings at Brighter Strides and join a team where communication drives collaboration, and that collaboration creates meaningful change in the lives of children and families.