The RBT Technician Meetup: There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Kid: The Foundation of Applying Compassion in Teaching Cooperation over compliance

Presented by BCBA Shayna Gaunt

Earn 1 QABA-ABAT, 1 BACB PDU

RBTs are the backbone of our field – and yet, so often, they are asked to manage challenging behavior while navigating burnout, limited support, and the pressure to “get compliance.” This powerful, practical webinar invites you to pause, reset, and reconnect with the why behind your work. There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Kid challenges the idea that learners are “giving us a hard time” and reframes behavior as communication from a child who may be having a hard time. Through real-life examples, relatable scenarios, and easy-to-apply strategies, you’ll learn how to approach challenging behavior through a compassionate, relationship-based lens – without abandoning goals or expectations. This session emphasizes cooperation over compliance, helping you build trust, safety, and buy-in while reducing escalation and frustration. You’ll walk away with concrete tools for deciding what a learner needs in the moment, responding with empathy, and creating sessions rooted in dignity, joy, and connection. If you’re feeling stretched thin – or simply want to be a stronger, more compassionate practitioner –
this session is for you.