registered behavior technician

board certified behavior analyst

behavior technician

occupational therapist

licensed clinical social worker

The Hope Source

I've only been working at The Hope Source for a couple months, but I truly enjoy it. Working with the kids 1-on-1 is very rewarding, and even on tough days, you leave with a sense of fulfillment. Everyone on staff (including management) cares deeply about each and every client, and their improvement throughout their time at The Hope Source is not only documented, but visible. So far I've experienced a great sense of morale and friendliness among staff, and if you ever feel lost or confused, there are always people around you who are willing to help.

I noticed among these reviews that past employees did not like how many client changes there are. I was nervous about this aspect of the job before I started, but now I understand the reasoning for it. Generally, we switch clients every 3 months or so. This allows plenty of time to bond with your client before you switch again. The Hope Source is trying to teach the kids how to socialize, become more confident with new situations and new people, and learn to accept change, which a lot of kids with ASD really struggle with. 

The routine switching of guides ultimately ends up being very rewarding for the clients, because then when they walk through the halls, they pass 3 or 4 guides who have all worked with them before and who they have already paired with. This makes them more confident as they go about the building (some clients are so intimidated by seeing other people that they are afraid to leave their therapy space). It's so sweet to be walking down the hall with your client and pass other employees who know them and genuinely greet them, as opposed to walking down the hall with your client who is ONLY comfortable with you and who is terrified just to walk around the building. The routine switching of clients / guides not only makes clients feel more at home in our building, but also with social situations in general. 

While the switches might feel overwhelming at first, it only takes a day or two to become familiar with your new client's goals, behaviors, and preferred activities. There's literally a binder for each kid which spells it all out for you. 

I also noticed a lot of these reviews stating that management is not helpful and even manipulative, which has not been my experience at all. The BCBAs are almost always on the floor with us, and are always nearby if you need help. I have never felt intimidated to ask them questions, and they are never condescending or judgmental about it. If you're struggling to come up with engagements to do with your client, the BCBAs are always willing to help. I had a random (temporary) client switch this week just because a lot of guides and clients are out sick, and when my supervisor saw me at the end of the day she asked me how it went and I felt that I could speak to her honestly about it. She then emphasized that I can always come to her if I need anything. I'm really not sure why so many past employees wrote that they felt unsupported.

The first two weeks of training can be brutal, just because you have to sit at a desk for 7 hours straight, but the training staff all have great senses of humor and really want to get to know you as a person, which makes it a lot more bearable. I also felt like training prepared me for the job very well, as they are always taking you on observations so you can see how guides and clients interact and get the jist of the atmosphere.

Sometimes I wish the pay was higher, but it's definitely sustainable and they give you paid time off for holidays which is great. You generally start at $17 / hour if you're not RBT certified, but once you get your license (which they help train you for) you get bumped up to $18 automatically. 

This is my first experience in ABA, so maybe I'm biased, but this is one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in working 1-on-1 with kids on the spectrum.

I worked there for over 2 years. At first, middle and upper management were great. They were very helpful and willing to teach you.  But as time moved on, they started micromanaging us and became short tempered. 

At first I enjoyed the job because I was able to connect with my clients, see improvements, and learn more about ABA.  But slowly I started to notice how tired the other staff members looked.  People were getting burned out and there did not seem to be any accommodation for it, just penelization. You were considered a veteran if you stayed more than 4 months. They would have a training class of 15 people and we were lucky if 3 of them stayed for a few months. 

One thing I noticed was how they paired clients and guides after training. Clients who were more flexible were usually put with new guides and they changed guides every 3 to 4 months. Clients who were less flexible tend to be with their guide longer, 6 months up to a year. It felt like once you really got to know your client and see progress, you were moved.  Sometimes you were told ahead of time. Some of the times it would be a surprise and you didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to your client. 

The kids were categorized in three groups according to age, the littles, middles and bigs. It was possible to move around and get to know coworkers and clients from different sections. However the sections existed in a sort of bubble and most people would not know what was going on in the other sections. I felt like upper management liked keeping all the sections in their own bubble so information about firings, incidents, COVID management, etc was not common knowledge. 

Some people had clients with challenging behaviors. At first the BCBAs would give suggestions on what to do. But if the challenging behaviors continued the BCBAs and middle management basically told you to figure it out. If you could not figure it out, you would be written up. 

So go work there if you want to learn about ABA and work with the clientele. It's a great learning opportunity and the kids and coworkers are mostly fantastic. But I would recommend you only stay until middle management becomes less helpful. 


While I admire the approach of this clinic I think it’s unfair to call it ABA. The project model is great for a school side but as a basis of ABA it’s a little odd to me. I had a hard time understand how data was measurable. You do not track frequency, duration, latency, or intensity of behaviors. Also was never taught about replacement behaviors to teach the kids. The treatment plans and BIPs are a little vague. You can see they took into account of the function in each behavior but there was little evidence to combat maladaptive behaviors. 

For example a child that has SIB not being taught functional communication or giving alternatives for SIB. 

I struggled to figure out how the kids in the program were decreasing socially significant behaviors. The whole model is based around using social interaction as the main reinforcement. While yes this works for some kids, it doesn’t work for all. I truly admire the no tech and lack of tangible objects like food to use as reinforcement but there has to be a better way. 


I also felt that the goals for the kids were very hard to follow. I could run a program one way and another tech run it differently. While be trauma informed which is great, I feel the programming lacks actually helping these kids in the way they need to function in society. Was also told my the ceo that they do not take high needs cases. In this field you’ll see a broad spectrum of people with different needs. If your model doesn’t cover every person in the spectrum and help them with functional skills how can it be billed and marked as ABA? 


They also have a 10-15 minute pod pow wow at the end of the shift to check paper data. But the checkers were fellow techs and not the ba who wrote the programs. Which I think would leave to inaccuracy in the data being take.  The goals are very vague and I’ve seen similar goals for 13 year olds ran for 3 year olds in other programs. Which these kids are in no way developmentally on the same page as the 3 year olds. 

I began a position at the hope source looking for a kinder, more natural and meaningful way of providing ABA services. While I do feel like the training I received was beneficial and it did help expand my skill set, the issues with the company as a whole make working here unsustainable. 

Expectations are unclear and management does little to provide helpful feedback, resorting instead to immediate, harsh punishment. Your every move will be documented instead of addressing potential performance issues when they arise. There is a definite “big brother” atmosphere, and multiple colleagues reported feeling constantly watched. Members of management are extremely close and defensive of the each other. Unfortunately, after choosing to leave the company I had to seek out mental health services because of the lasting anxiety I was left with.

As far as therapy goes, there is a strong emphasis on being trauma informed, which I loved. I also enjoyed working on socioemotional skills with the learners and watching them progress. However, all the goals that are targeted were developed by the CEO, leading to inconsistency and confusion when it comes to implementation. I often witnessed BCBAs debating how goals should be run, leading to major treatment integrity issues. Additionally, there is no Wi-Fi in the building, forcing clinical staff members to do all administrative work in a closed office. While I was attempting to look through data and behavior intervention plans, I would constantly find that things were not up to date, sometimes by years. 

In conclusion, while there are some definite pros, the overall atmosphere and issues on the clinical side makes the environment intolerable. I would consider seeking out other assent-based providers.

The best part about this job was the clients and the guides. I also loved their naturalistic therapy, but besides that it isn't a good place to work at.

Upper management will give you a lot of false promises and tell you what they want you to hear. Unfortunately their follow through on their promises and plans never happen. 

The turn over here is ridiculous and they say other places are worse. I've not seen turn over this bad at other companies. Employees have left on breaks and never came back if that tells you anything. They will have days they are so short that they have to keep clients in education all day as they have no guides to work with those kids. That's after they have used all of the art, rec, music, mental health and BAs being sub guides. They went 6 months without special groups due to staffing being so bad. With this in mind they have brought in over 20 new clients making staffing even harder. 

Once a month they have a meeting handing out pens and candy for attendance and employee of the month trying to raise employees spirits. The sad thing is the ones who actually deserve employee of the mouth will never get nominated as it's just a popularity thing and if you joined a friend click. The guides are very clicky and there are definitely clicks through the building. 

Do you want good PTO? It won't be here. You get 5 days of PTO and sick days. Plus two holiday pre plan breaks. That sounds good but there are a ton of hoops to go through to use it. They have multiple black out days and if your off you get points and can't use PTO on that day. It doesn't matter if your really sick. Also due to poor staffing they deny a lot of PTO requests as they don't have the staff coverage. If you take off when it's denied you get points. Too much red tape to have time off. 

Overall this place has great potential, but until upper management listen to their staff it won't get better. 


This is my first time working in ABA and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to start than The Hope Source. 
Compared to traditional ABA, this center takes a more naturalistic approach to therapy. As an RBT at The Hope Source, you have plenty of opportunities to use the natural environment to your advantage when helping your clients reach their goals/benchmarks. Plus, seeing your clients grow and succeed is truly rewarding.
The Hope Source provides a very comprehensive training, lasting about 3 weeks. The clinical team leading the training sessions does an amazing job at teaching the principles of ABA for both new and experienced RBTs. Each day I left with a brand new depth of knowledge. Training sessions also include time to shadow clients so you are able to get the feel of the job, especially the week before you take on your client. This gives you plenty of time to get to know his/her interests, behaviors, etc.
Supervisors and BCBAs are very easy to talk to when you need clarification and/or support. However, you have to remember that they are busy people too, so sometimes you might not get a quick answer. The good thing is that at the end of the day, once your clients go home, you have plenty of time to plan your next day and ask questions.
My best advice is to take every opportunity to learn and adapt. One day you might have amazing sessions; other days might be very difficult. It’s important to not take things personally and take every chance you get to learn and try new things. 


Working at The Hope Source has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I'm thrilled to share why. From the moment I joined the team, I was impressed by the organization's innovative and creative approach to supporting our clients. The trauma-responsive methods we employ not only benefit those we serve but also deeply enrich the experiences of our staff members.

One of the standout features of working at The Hope Source is the generous time-off policy and the implementation of a point system for attendance. This demonstrates a genuine commitment to the well-being of employees, recognizing the importance of work-life balance. Additionally, the clear pathway to advancement and the monetary increases tied to our RBT leveling system provide tangible opportunities for growth and development within the organization.

Although the HR team may be relatively new, their dedication to fairness and kindness is evident in every interaction. They've seamlessly integrated the values instilled by our directors, fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for all staff members.

In summary, if you're looking for a place where you can learn, grow, and thrive, The Hope Source is undoubtedly the best choice in Indianapolis. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a dynamic and impactful team, and I look forward to continuing my journey of personal and professional development here.

I have worked at The Hope Source for a year now as a BCBA. I have worked at different centers throughout my career but I have never been anywhere that takes the quality-of-life, well-being, and happiness of their clients so seriously. Everyday it is a joy to come into work and see clients engaging with their guides in new and creative ways. Our guides have the freedom of being creative with what they do each day while having the support of the entire training team and clinical staff. I get to go with guides and clients on meaningful outings into the community, collaborate with everyone in the child’s life (teacher, OT, speech, mental health, art therapy, and music therapy are all in house), help them achieve their behavior management goals, and I also get to see the positive impact it has on the client’s self-confidence , independence, and ability to engage and interact with others. Kids grow up at The Hope Source (ages 5-22) and have a safe place to come everyday where they can be surrounded by people who are there to help them succeed. The Hope Source has a huge work family (over 100 and counting) and there will always be differences in opinion and personalities. At the end of the day, we all respect each other because we are all in it together for these kids. The bottom line is, if I had a child with Autism, I would want them to go here. I can’t say that about any of the past 4 companies I have worked for. I have finally found my forever work family!

The Hope Source has promise- the naturalistic approach to ABA really does rock, especially coming from a DTT background. HOWEVER, there is just way too many changes within a given month that the vision gets blurred, fuzzy, complicated and overwhelming. Never get too comfortable with your role, clients, duties, rules, expectations because as soon as you do...CHANGE!  

Change within a company is great if it means that it can grow and move the company as a whole forward, but I never think that these changes are fully thought out. Morale is low, and HR and upper management need to really take these reviews into consideration. Your guides that work here, especially the ones who have been here for over a year love working here and working with these amazing clients, but you have to look at why there's such a high turnover rate. 

As a behavioral analysis company, they really should look into some type of intervention method to increase employee morale and loyalty. You're slacking big time. Appreciate your guides. Give them breaks when they need it. Find more affordable insurance rates. Stop changing things every month without input from the team of guides who show up for you. Staffing is in crisis..do better!

I would encourage anyone considering The Hope Source as a place of employment to do your research before accepting a position.  The reviews (even the deleted ones) don't lie.  Unfortunately The Hope Source has no hope for those seeking long term careers in a professional work environment. The staff turn over rate is at an all time high, which has lead to the hiring of staff that are less than qualified  and then placed in an under supported environment.  It's a vicious cycle that leads to staff burn out with watered down therapy implementation and ultimately the clients served are the ones who pay the price.  The overall culture is very political and sprinkled with favoritism and nepotism. It's definitely all about "who you know" that will lead staff up the promotion ladder, not work ethic or skill levels. One of the key points mentioned during the hiring process is the "collaboration" among a diverse staff with a wide skill set.  Unfortunately, most staff on the clinical level are far under utilized.  They are there for billing purposes, but minimal opportunities beyond that to truly collaborate. Any staff that attempt to share thoughts, concerns or opinions very regularly are quickly pushed out the door or ostracized.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Registered behavior technician 8 salaries reported	$21.13 per hour
Board certified behavior analyst 5 salaries reported	$81,300 per year
Behavior technician 4 salaries reported	$20.13 per hour
Occupational therapist 3 salaries reported	$84,000 per year
Licensed clinical social worker 1 salary reported	$50.00 per hour

Working at The Hope Source: Company Overview and Reviews

The Hope Source

The Hope Source Ratings

Popular jobs at The Hope Source

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected