behavioral therapist

registered behavior technician

board certified behavior analyst

behavior technician

speech language pathologist

Project HOPE Foundation

As an RBT at Project hope foundation you provide 1 on 1 ABA therapy services to autistic clients. The work is very meaningful and you can tell that everyone in the company truly cares about the clients. 

PHF provides RBT training and certification which makes the job entry level if you are willing to go through the 2 weeks of training and learn. 

However management at Project Hope is inconsistent and unclear.  The training targets the principles of ABA and how to run therapy sessions and follow BIP plans, however other things about the facility that are not apart of the RBT exam are not included at all.  Some of the things not communicated are expectations of what to do during non billable appointments, managing the clinic and knowing where to return supplies, and managing client pick ups and drop offs. All of these things are seemingly small however not knowing the rules of any of these scenarios which are never explained are considered grounds for punishment or even termination.

Scheduling changes could be and frequently were communicated within as little as 15 minutes giving RBTs no time to read the behavior intervention plan or targeted behaviors before going into a session. The expectation was RBTS to be able to go into a session and run a productive therapy session with a client they have never met who has a personalized behavior intervention plan they never read with no warning. This meant that super important things like antecedent modifications responding to the functions of the behavior were easily missed and it was relatively common for therapist to get injured during fill ins or need behavioral assistance as the clients behavior had begun to become unsafe.  Some RBTS were even put with teenage clients that show agressive and self injurious behaviors with no safety care training or training on their indepdent BIP. 

In addition despite the RBT code of ethics requiring that RBTs voice any questions or concerns about clients as well as continue our education and maintaining supervision directly asking questions and voicing concerns is seen as argumentative and not acceptable. This made it difficult for RBTS to effectively work in their scope of competency because the offensiveness of implying inconsistentcy in expectations and data took precedent over ensuring quality therapy services were provided. Conflicting objectives definitions, programs with missing SD's, and programs that did not have an accurate way to fill in prompts could all be considered innapropriate to ask about despite needing that clarification to run the programs effectively and ethically. 

During my time at Project Hope I overheard conversations by other RBT's daily about feeling frustrated with management and payment and HR concerns. Many other therapist told me they were also unaware of the expectations of these procedures until they were forced into them. Some days I asked other RBT'S how they were trained to run a program that was missing an SD in our data collection system and they responded that they made something up. At first I didnt realize why they would do something so blatantly against the goal as an RBT when they could just ask for clarification but now I understand it was out of fear of punishment for being too argumentative. Many therapist complained about getting fill ins with behaviors or programs they were never trained on and how difficult it had been to keep the clients safe with no background information. I overheard coworkers complain about being denied or warned about taking unpaid time off for being sick, despite not wanting to get our disabled clients sick.  Often times when asking the lead therapist questions about the daily functions of the facility they would respond things along the lines of "I dont know they dont tell us anything" or  "I am going to quit my job". 

The most frustrating part of this job though was that they choose who was punished for situations and who was let off. It was so frustrating to watch therapist complain about their job in secret, in front of clients but not infront of BCBAs. They allowed some RBTs to discuss things like alcohol and drug abuse in front of children but also requested to other RBTS they dont talk about feeling sick or struggling with money pubicly. Some RBTs had days where they went hours at a time without a single client and got paid to sit on their phones without completing admin tasks, while other RBTS and especially new ones were often put into fill ins with behaviors and programs they had never been trained on back to back.  

I worked at Project Hope for almost five and a half years. I worked all across the spectrum of positions: I was a line therapist, teacher's assistant, and a lead teacher. I always felt well supported by expert supervisors - clinically speaking, it doesn't get much better than Project HOPE.

In my five years there, I saw consistent and drastic improvement in compensation, benefits, and overall supports for employees who were not supervisors. The management typically responded very well to employee feedback when presented in official company surveys. In those surveys, I always felt heard and supported. The vast majority of the people that I worked with were compassionate, caring, and experts in the field. Company decisions were always well thought out and planned.

There are, of course, things that HOPE can improve on. Namely, in my experience, they were consistent implementation of company policies, and better responses to grievances made by nonsupervisory staff. In some cases, employees would be fired for completely unjust reasons, while others would consistently fail to meet company standards and would remain employed for a surprising amount of time - it all simply depended on which supervisor said employee had. I'd like to reiterate that the vast majority of supervisors are qualified and excellent at their jobs, but a handful that I, or someone I knew, had terrible experiences with.

There were times when I, or one of my colleagues, would express a grievance or concern that would go either unheard or unaddressed. It lead to a lot of turnover for a while. I don't know where some of those specific issues stand now, as I don't work there anymore, but based on past experience, I would expect HOPE to have found solutions to them by now. While sometimes these solutions take time, I always found that the concerns I had were addressed.

When I found a new career path, I had an exit interview in which I expressed both the positives and the negatives of my time with HOPE, and I felt that I was being heard. I strongly feel that HOPE is always looking towards how they can improve the company both for the clients they serve and for their employees. While the ABA field turned out not to be the field I stayed in, I am proud to say I worked for HOPE, I was proud of the work I did, and I had some of the best supervisors and bosses I've ever worked with. Like all companies, there will be things that don't work for everyone, but in general I felt that HOPE was a fantastic company to work for. I look fondly at my time there, despite it being at times a very exhausting and challenging job. I always felt supported in my roles, and I was challenged to do my best work.

Thank you, Project HOPE, for being a company of integrity and grit! The work you do for your clients is so important and appreciated, and as a former employee, I am very grateful for the time I spent there.

Days are stressful, but that's just the nature of the job. The company provides tremendous training for it's employees and really wants to help people succeed. If the therapists are succeeding, then the children are growing. 

All clients differ and usually your day will be filled with doing work with the kids, then a break for reinforcement.. Rinse repeat.

Some of the negatives though are that the pay is not great at all for the amount of stress you could go through. Also each client has their own supervisor. Most workers have three clients. So you could potentially be communicating with three different supervisors.. Can be a good or bad thing. Most supervisors at Hope are absolutely fantastic. Some... Don't show up to help you or provide any feedback. It's rare, but that shouldn't deter anyone from working here. If you can get over the low pay and love what you do, this is THE company to work for imo. 

Depending on your schedule, you can be placed in different locations. For example, 8am-12 could be at Woodruff, while 12:30-3 could be in Greenville. And your "lunch break" from 12-12:30... Yeah that was used as driving time to get to your next client. Get used to scarfing down a snack if you have a weird drive time on your break. 
(not always the case though. Usually therapist can eat with the clients if the children are eating... But it just depends on the kid/scenario entirely). 

If a client cancels, schedules will try to give you a random kiddo that needs someone for that time slot... Working with a random kid for one day, can be stressful since you literally know nothing about them and the entire session could seem pointless for the child).
You can also be called in when you THINK you won't be working. For example, you have a client from 8am-noon. They cancel the day before. Scheduling doesn't email to inform you of any fill-ins for that day. Great! You stay up late because according to your schedule, you have 8-noon off now. 7:30am rolls around and you get a phone call from schedules saying that you are now supposed to be at work with X random kiddo at 8am. And you're not allowed to decline technically or you can get written up. So you are on call. For 10-12 dollars an hour. 

The most enjoyable part of the job is helping kids. Honestly, seeing them improve over time is a great feeling. 
Hardest parts are the random call ins, pay, and general stress.

Project HOPE has great ideas and amazing founders but, from my experience, the Spartanburg clinic does not follow those values. The other techs are genuinely so nice and supportive, I wish I could say the same for the management there. The management is bias and does not listen to their employees concerns or ideas. If they do not believe you fit their own standard, they will target you until they can move you out. There was many of times that my concerns as a tech was not heard nor did they give me fair representation. Many of the behavioral plans do not get updated like they should and the leads do not get the support they deserve. The workplace is always changing but we never had employee meetings to where we were told the changes and how to implement those changes. It was the wild west half the time and most information the techs get were through the grapevine. Every one was clueless about what management was doing and we were never taught how to work with said changes. The worst part is that they would punish you for not understanding how to implement their changes, even though they never spoke to us or trained us how to. All of the techs never had enough support and would be injured daily without concern from our higher ups. And if you reported those injuries, you would be punish for too many reports.
Overall, the techs do not have the support of their BCBAs and are not treated the way they should be in this environment. This company has such promise, it is a shame this clinic does not follow up to its standards.

A typical day involves working closely with children who require patience, structure, and emotional awareness. The work itself is meaningful and can be rewarding, especially when you see progress in clients. I learned a lot about behavior management, adaptability, and the importance of consistency in care. The kids are very sweet. 

However, the overall experience is heavily impacted by management and workplace culture. There appears to be a lack of clear communication and consistent support for staff, particularly when it comes to training, expectations, and workload distribution. Concerns are not always addressed in a direct or constructive way, which can create confusion and frustration. And speaking up for yourself will not make a situation better. It actually makes it worse. They will push people out if you don’t comply to what they want you to do. 

The hardest part of the job is the emotional and physical demand combined with limited support and unclear expectations. This can lead to burnout over time. There are certain employees that they give substitute sessions  to constantly & burn them out. And then there are RBTs that get to sit around all day on admin time and get paid the same as someone working with a challenging client. The most enjoyable part is building relationships with the clients and witnessing their growth, which makes the work feel purposeful despite the challenges. 

I have worked at Project Hope for many years now and can say that it is an amazing organization that is truly decidated to changing lives. I personally feel so lucky to be able to have a part in the impact this organization makes on the lives of both clients and families. Project Hope has worked hard to create a great culture that really values compassion, positivity, and communication. I have noticed the only people who dislike this job are those who do not share its values. In my time at Hope the organization has gone through many changes, all for the better and most at the request of employees. If you able to speak honestly, professionally, and constructively to anyone in a supervisor or leadership position about concerns you have you will be listened to. I have seen first hand how Project Hope takes action to make changes and ensure employees needs are being met and concerns are addressed. The best and most rewarding part of working at Hope is the clients you work with. Being able to be silly and play games while teaching valuable life skills at the same time makes for a truly unique and special job. The staff at Hope is amazing. I constantly receive so much kindness and supportivness from my coworkers, and a few of them have become some of my closest friends. Overall, I love Project Hope Foundation and would recommend it to anyone who wants to make a difference while also feeling valued as an employee.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
The clients! Some days are really stressful especially when working with 4 different clients in one day. But the days when certain clients are reaching goals it’s amazing.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
It’s definitely some of the other coworkers and supervisors. The scheduling person i worked under wasn’t very nice, on top of that they have so many random rules that aren’t explained. It’s over a very very stressful job. It’s mentally exhausting. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The branch I worked at there was a lot of rude coworkers. The supervisor I had wasn’t nice to me when I voiced issues. The HR department wasn’t helpful at all. They act like it’s a family like environment and it’s not. I’ve heard racist comments, overall you’re on your own and they don’t care. There’s no culture… it’s all bull when it comes down to it. You think it’ll be amazing but no one cares about anything.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You race to your job and start immediately. Then you barely stop all day. You get a 30 min lunch which isn’t enough time to eat and then race back. It’s basically a non stop play session with the clients. Sounds fun except the behaviors and overall issues that happen with coworkers and superiors make it very difficult.

I love the mission of Project Hope Foundation. I loved working with the kids and felt very fulfilled when I was able to see progress in the children I worked with. The staff was supportive and I learned a lot in my time there.
However, the pay is quite low, even with having a degree. 
Also, hours were very unpredictable. That was mainly what I disliked about working there. Some times I would have big gaps of time in between clients (as in several hours). And often times, I was asked last minute to come in early to fill in for another therapist. Some weeks, I'd get barely 20 hours while other weeks I'd end up having 40+ because I would fill in for other therapists. So hours were very unpredictable and that is the main reason I left. 
Overall, it's a great company with amazing people. The work is very fulfilling and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the kids. It's a great experience for learning and growing. However, pay should really be more for the amount of work. And schedules need to be more predictable. 

The individuals served are wonderful and the main reason employees show up every day. They genuinely bring joy to the staff. Being able to build close connections with the kids and their families, and seeing the progress you help these sweet kids make makes the tough job worth doing. Lack of special education knowledge and support make it extremely difficult in academic settings, and the school setting would benefit greatly from a special education expert in a leadership role that can help drive curriculum and instruction, along with proper behavioral supports to make a classroom setting successful. There is also, at times, too much focus on the Autism diagnosis as the cause of behaviors, and a lack of focus, understanding, and action plans regarding other behavior causing factors such as mental health concerns and trauma. Some supervisors are extremely supportive of their staff while others want to be blindly followed without question or push back from their employees, regardless of how knowledgeable said team member is. 

When I first started working for the company, I thought it was the best company in the world, but over time I started to see the cliques that were forming and realized that the company had their picks on who they felt were the “It Employees”. I hardly got overlaps from my supervisors, and I never felt supported. I also learned the hard lesson that, your colleagues are not your friends. Many Therapists were going to supervisors trying to get others in trouble by gossiping, and instead of the supervisor hearing both sides, they would believe the person that came to them. Unfortunately everyone was out for themselves and many people were being fired without warnings or write ups prior. It was very disheartening especially because they care more about the money than the clients. I worked there for over 3 years, and I feel that I as well as others were disposable to them, but I guess that’s with any company. I appreciate the experience I received from the clients, but I would never recommend anyone to work there. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Behavioral therapist 70 salaries reported	$19.25 per hour
Registered behavior technician 17 salaries reported	$21.06 per hour
Board certified behavior analyst 23 salaries reported	$85,500 per year
Behavior technician 17 salaries reported	$26.00 per hour
Speech language pathologist 3 salaries reported	$76,650 per year

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