General Admissions & OTCAS Hate RBT, is OT for me?

[960538]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm a new Registered Behavior Technician, and was previously thinking of applying to OT school next year. I've been working with clients for a few months now, but feel so unhappy. I'm not sure if its due to the lack of support, or that my supervisor isn't very friendly so her comments always make me like I'm bad at my job, or not having the necessary tools to do the best job I can do...regardless, I'm feeling lost and re-considering OT.

I understand OT and RBT's serve different purposes, but aren't they similar enough?

Can anybody provide some advice?

 

[aspiringot96]

I'm a new Registered Behavior Technician, and was previously thinking of applying to OT school next year. I've been working with clients for a few months now, but feel so unhappy. I'm not sure if its due to the lack of support, or that my supervisor isn't very friendly so her comments always make me like I'm bad at my job, or not having the necessary tools to do the best job I can do...regardless, I'm feeling lost and re-considering OT.

I understand OT and RBT's serve different purposes, but aren't they similar enough?

Can anybody provide some advice?

I used to work as an ABA therapist and I completely hated it but I don't think they are similar. You become an RBT through very vague training while OT is something that's so much more. You invest 2-3 years of your life to become an OT... and you involve so much human anatomy and whatnot. I think it's just so different. You should shadow OTs to learn the scope.

 

[beestrng]

I'm a new Registered Behavior Technician, and was previously thinking of applying to OT school next year. I've been working with clients for a few months now, but feel so unhappy. I'm not sure if its due to the lack of support, or that my supervisor isn't very friendly so her comments always make me like I'm bad at my job, or not having the necessary tools to do the best job I can do...regardless, I'm feeling lost and re-considering OT.

I understand OT and RBT's serve different purposes, but aren't they similar enough?

Can anybody provide some advice?

If you consider becoming an OT, you probably will not be working in mental health. Less than 3% of OT/COTAs work in mental health from the 2010 AOTA workforce study.

Supervisors can suck in OT too. They will probably suck a lot during level II fieldwork.

I recommend shadowing a rehab tech, COTA or OT to check out what they do irl. As you are an RBT, you can compare it better than most of us.

Better professions for mental health are nursing, counselors, psychologists, etc. Pretty much everybody who is not an OT lol.

 

[preot93]

Hi! I am currently an RBT, too, but fortunately my experience has been mostly positive. I do feel that I have learned skills that will help me be a good OT, but I don't think they are the jobs are the same. I love my kids and feel like I do have the resources and support from supervisors/coworkers. It may be different for you, too, depending on what setting you work in. I mostly work in schools and at home with learners with high-functioning autism - working on increasing independence, tolerating non-preferred activities, and managing problem behavior. My supervisors often try to convince me to pursue a career in ABA, but I've always felt like OT is a better fit for me. I like that I would have the opportunity to work with different populations/needs and have more autonomy. I do feel like I have the opportunity now to contribute ideas, but I am not writing my own treatment plans. I want more of a leadership role. In addition, I can't say I always agree with all the principles of ABA. I do think that it works for a lot of kids, but nothing is one size fits all. I am glad I got this experience before going to OT school, though. Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[960538]

I used to work as an ABA therapist and I completely hated it but I don't think they are similar. You become an RBT through very vague training while OT is something that's so much more. You invest 2-3 years of your life to become an OT... and you involve so much human anatomy and whatnot. I think it's just so different. You should shadow OTs to learn the scope.

Why did you hate it?

Thanks for your thoughts everybody!

 

[OT545454]

Hey I have worked as an ABA/RBT for close to two years. The team you work with (BCBA, other ABA's) is super important to the workplace dynamic and it can impact how you much you like the job. With that being said, if you wanted to work in pedes as an OT then you might want to reconsider OT. A lot of OT jobs in pedes are in mental health. There is some overlap with OT and ABA but the entire therapeutic approach to the job is different and you will be working on different things with the kids.. However, you will see all of the same behaviors you see now as an RBT. So if you don't like the job because of the coworkers than that is different than not liking the job because of what you do on a day to day. If you struggle with dealing with aggression, SIB's, stimming, and all around behaviors you might see on a day to day then OT in pedes might not be for you. BUT there are plenty of jobs in OT that have nothing to do with pedes or mental health so don't give up.