A BCBA's Guide to Setting Boundaries Without Becoming a Ghost
Happy Friday, everyone!
Let’s communicate about communication.
In fact, those of you who know me might say that I over-communicate when communicating about communication…to the point that it’s dizzying.
See what I mean?
BCBA = Management
Whether we like it or not, being a BCBA means we are in a management position. We geek out over ABA, and yes, we love working with our kiddos. But the reality? We also juggle paperwork, appointments, difficult relationships, and the endless stream of messages flooding our inboxes. And that’s what burns many of us out.
Managing communication is a huge part of this job, and it’s something we have to be intentional about. You’ve probably heard me say it before: if you don’t control your day, your day will control you. If you don’t run your schedule, other people will. And that’s a surefire way to feel overwhelmed, scattered, and ineffective.
You’ve heard me talk about it before: One of the biggest mistakes BCBAs make?
Being too available.
You don’t need to answer every text, email, or chat message the second it comes in. Your company might use Teams, Slack, or some other messaging app, and if you’re not careful, it can become a black hole for your time and attention. Sitting in your inbox all day? That’s a productivity killer.
But—and this is important—there’s a fine line between setting boundaries and becoming completely unavailable. Because while filtering communication is essential, avoiding it altogether is dangerous.
Guarding against being too available should not turn into being unavailable.
Avoidance vs. Boundaries
This can get tricky.
Yes, you should limit distractions. Yes, you should protect your time. But be careful—because it’s easy to slide from boundary-setting into full-on avoidance. And avoidance can make you seem cold, dismissive, and impossible to reach. Worse, it can stress both you and your team out even more.
If people can never get a hold of you, if you’re dodging hard conversations, or if you’re micromanaging your schedule to the point where no one can interrupt you—you’re creating a whole different set of problems.
Intentional Availability: The Office Hours Approach
So, what’s the solution? Structured availability. Enter: office hours.
Think back to college. Your professors had specific times when their doors were open for questions. They had to do this because the rest of their time was spent researching complex problems in an attempt to come up with solutions. Sounds an awful lot like being a BCBA. You can do the same thing. Here’s how:
Set a time—Start or end your day with 45 minutes to an hour where people know they can reach you.
Make it clear—If you have an office, leave your door open. If you’re in a center, walk around and check in with your team.
Go virtual—If you’re home-based or always on the move, schedule Zoom or Google Meet office hours so staff can pop in and ask questions.
This method keeps you accessible without letting your entire day get hijacked by random interruptions. People know when they can reach you, and you create a predictable structure for both you and your team.
Boundaries with Purpose
Filtering your communication shouldn’t lead to unavailability—it should lead to structured and intentional availability.
Yes, protect your time. No, don’t let people run your day. But also, don’t become a ghost. Your team needs you, your clients need you, and you need to create a work environment that’s productive without being overwhelming.
And above all—remember this: you are your most important resource. If you burn out, you’re no good to anyone. So be smart about your time, set boundaries with purpose, and make yourself available without making yourself a 24/7 hotline.
Happy Friday, everyone! Let me know your thoughts—drop a comment below with your best communication tips. Let’s keep the conversation going!
Martin Myers is a BCBA with a passion for helping improve the field of ABA. He is the creator of BxMastery, with over 4,000 goal ideas, sequenced, to inspire your programming. With 10+ years of experience in the field, he’s dedicated to empowering others and fostering positive change through effective leadership and communication. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more insights and updates.