Posted 1 week ago Author: 3 Pie Squared Marketing Team

It’s Time to Get Real: ABA Business Owner Burnout

Burnout in ABA practices isn’t just for RBTs or clinicians—it’s something that hits ABA business owners just as hard, if not harder. In this blog, inspired by the latest episode of 3 Pie Squared – ABA Business Leaders, we’re getting honest about the toll leadership can take and why it’s time to stop normalizing burnout as just “part of the job.”

Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor

April and Stephen from 3 Pie Squared have been through the trenches—growing a seven-figure ABA practice, supporting hundreds of ABA startups, and now helping leaders like you build sustainable organizations. In this conversation, they challenge the culture of hustle that often leads to ABA business owner burnout.

They reflect on how burnout often creeps in silently—masked as productivity, ambition, or commitment—and how easy it is to confuse being busy with being effective. April shares personal stories of sacrificing self-care for inbox zero and Stephen opens up about the hidden mental load that even a reduced workload can’t eliminate.

Defining Burnout in the ABA Field

Using the World Health Organization's definition, burnout is more than just fatigue. It's a response to chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. It shows up as:

Emotional exhaustion

Increased cynicism or detachment from work

Reduced professional efficacy

For ABA practice owners, burnout can present uniquely. It's not always long hours—it’s the invisible weight of payroll anxiety, the emotional toll of leadership, or the constant pivoting through growth phases.

Is It Really Burnout—or Something Else?

A major theme of the episode is recognizing that we may misuse the term "burnout" to describe general overwhelm, sadness, or even depression. Stephen questions whether what we’re calling burnout is actually a broader societal issue, fed by lack of community, unrealistic expectations, and hyperconnectivity through our devices.

The takeaway? Clarity matters. The more clearly we understand what we’re feeling, the better we can address it—and support our teams too.

Leadership and Burnout Culture

April brings up an important point: are ABA leaders inadvertently passing burnout down to their teams? By treating burnout as expected or even admirable, we may be sending signals that exhaustion equals excellence. This isn’t just unhealthy—it’s unsustainable.

By shifting the culture to prioritize transparency, self-awareness, and ABA practice management strategies that support work-life balance, we can start leading differently—and more ethically.

What Can ABA Business Owners Do?

Here are some actionable strategies to combat burnout as a leader:

Implement clear boundaries around work hours and availability.

Build supportive systems like regular check-ins to monitor staff well-being.

Audit your practice’s internal culture to see where burnout may be modeled or reinforced.

Define burnout for yourself and your team, and encourage honest discussions about it.

Seek help when needed. There’s no shame in reaching out for support—personally or professionally.