Understanding the Role of BCBAs in Behavioral Health

An Interview with Behavioral Health Allies Lead BCBA, Kathy Stegman

Every member of our staff and every individual we serve are important to us at Behavioral Health Allies (BHA). That’s part of what makes this such a special place. People matter here. But it’s not just that they matter – it’s important to understand why they are essential to what we do. Everyone has a role to play in the work that happens here.

Let’s take BCBAs, for example. Chances are, most people don’t even know what the acronym means. A BCBA is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. They have to achieve a certain level of education then be certified through an accrediting board and maintain state licensure to work in their field, which is called applied behavior analysis (ABA).

While their work is most associated with treating children or adults who are on the Autism spectrum or have developmental disabilities—both of which are often accompanied by serious behavioral challenges—ABA therapy is also used in diverse areas, including athletics and sports training, eating disorders, traumatic brain injury therapy and even within the workplace through Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), to improve employee performance and workplace efficiency.

A BCBA’s job, to put it simply, is to help address behavioral challenges.

Kathy Stegman is a Lead BCBA for Community Living at BHA. Because the field is relatively new, not many people know much about it. She encourages people to learn more about ABA and what BCBAs do. In its short history, the field has accomplished unprecedented success in modifying behaviors that until recently made parents and caregivers feel hopeless.

“I say it’s ‘new’ in the sense that my mother is a nurse, and her profession has been around for hundreds of years,” Stegman explains. “My dad is a professional harvester, and the field of farming goes back even further. I have a friend who is a musician, and his field probably goes all the way back to the very first humans. Being a BCBA is kind of like being an astronaut. We haven’t had BCBAs or astronauts around that long.”

It started in the 1950s and 1960s when scientists began to explore applying scientific methods to the study of human behavior. Scientists had explored physics and biology, even psychology, but what about studying the science of behavior, specifically behavior modification? Some say B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) was the father of this new science that came to be known as ABA.

Others argue that Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), who came before, had a more formative role. Pavlov’s dog became a well-known icon, serving as an example of classical conditioning, a term he developed to describe the learning patterns he observed in his research. In fact, Kathy named her own dog Pavlov in honor of the groundbreaking scientist who was a Russian physiologist and Nobel Prize winner.

But whoever is credited with its founding, ABA delivered profound results, and as people became educated and trained in the field, experts emerged and became in demand. The flagship journal for the field of ABA was started in 1969, and certification of ABA experts followed.

Since its inception, ABA has undergone significant shifts in methodology and reputation. The current approach to ABA therapy takes a compassionate approach to the emotional needs and personal experiences of each individual. This shift in the field has included a merge between behavioral and mental health, fostering not just external behavior change but internal healing and growth as well. At BHA, our trauma-informed ABA moves beyond behavior change, offering a more compassionate and holistic approach that values the person as a whole and ensures that therapies are not only effective but also kind, patient, and respectful of the emotional lives of those we serve.

Stegman is a lead behavior analyst at BHA, and she supervises clinicians who are fully certified as BCBAs – or working towards it as part of their supported professional development at BHA in the Community Living division. 

Stegman’s domain at BHA includes the residential homes – known as Community Living – where individuals with Autism or developmental disabilities live together. BHA does not house residents in institutional settings, but rather in real houses located in neighborhoods and communities. The residents under the care of Stegman and her specially trained team are 11-12 years of age and older. 

“There are many BCBAs who enjoy working with young children, but I love working with older children and adults,” Stegman says. “Most BCBAs have a preference or natural affinity to the type of work they do, and BHA respects that.”

There is some crossover with teenagers that attend BHA’s K-12 Academy and live in BHA community homes. In those cases, BCBAs collaborate, and that is one of Stegman’s favorite parts of working in a place like BHA.

“We really push a collaborative approach,” Stegman explains. “We have a once-a-month meeting where clinicians brainstorm. That’s something I haven’t seen in many other places.”

Stegman also was invited to sit on an exclusive statewide committee – the ABA Task Force for the State of Missouri – the “experts among experts.” They problem solve and brainstorm together. It’s a prestigious role, but Stegman values it because it’s an important tool that can improve her field.

So, what factors make someone a good BCBA? Stegman believes it’s a good career choice for those that like science but also like to help – who want to operate in the real world but with a scientific approach. 

“It’s a great field,” Stegman says. “With great earning potential, an increasing number of openings, and with the nationwide shortages, a good BCBA will never have to worry about finding a job.” In 2023, there was a 40.7% increase in job postings for BCBAs in the state of Missouri, and a 14% increase overall across the U.S. 

While there may be a shortage of BCBAs nationwide, BHA has a lot to offer BCBAs and has an advantage over other behavioral health providers. They also have a new recruiter. With competitive salaries, great benefits, flexibility, and an appealing collaborative approach and a mission and values-based team culture, BHA offers positions with purpose – and a unique tiered bonus plan for 2P Professionals like BCBAs. BHA puts great importance on finding and keeping good BCBAs, in large part because they realize the importance of their role and value their expertise. 

Stegman believes it’s important to teach clinicians how to practice good self-care, prevent burnout, and even modify caseloads if something gets too difficult. The importance of a good mentor or leader cannot be overstated.

That brings us to another part of her job she loves – teaching new clinicians. 

Stegman was a BCBA long before she moved to Kansas City to work with BHA nine years ago, so she has a wealth of experience and expertise to share with more junior BCBAs or those receiving supervision at BHA to obtain their certification. That’s another advantage BHA offers – the supervision and training. Stegman says BHA encourages professional development and growth and supports it financially for its employees.

What does Stegman look for when hiring a BCBA? Flexibility is important, as is a willingness to learn new things. 

For example, many BCBAs come from early intervention programs working with children, but adults call for a different approach, and there’s a learning curve when you move from one to the other. Fortunately, BHA offers BCBA roles working with both children and adults – as well as working in residential, early intervention, and school settings.

“We learn from each other,” Stegman says. “My direct reports teach me new things daily. Many BCBAs have worked with lots of red tape and didn’t get buy-in from leadership. When you have ideas and they don’t get heard or instituted, it can be frustrating.” 

But Stegman says BHA lets BCBAs do their jobs and has more systems in place to support ABA. 

Currently, in the field, many BCBAs have a consultant role, working with contracted residential companies, but here, BCBAs are part of the same company and share the same goals, even with non-clinicians – and Stegman believes this collaborative team approach is better, not only for BCBAs but for the individuals they serve.

“At BHA, everything we need is here.”