behavioral specialist

Functional Learning Centre

One thing I really value about this team is how kind and respectful everyone is. You never feel judged, and the environment is genuinely open and inclusive. They make an effort to welcome people from all backgrounds, and that makes a big difference. The main supervisor is also very approachable and tries her best to support staff whenever she can. It’s clear the people here care about their work and about creating a positive atmosphere, which is something I deeply appreciate.

However, the training structure itself can feel overwhelming and inadequate for new employees. After only a few observations, you’re expected to start running your own sessions without much hands-on guidance. While some programs are sent via email, others are only accessible at the center, and none of them are explained thoroughly. The written descriptions are usually very short—just a few sentences—and filled with technical terms that are never clearly taught. You’re expected to figure them out on your own time or even during sessions, which is extremely difficult when you’re still learning how to manage everything. There’s no structured walkthrough or chance to ask questions in the moment unless you happen to find a senior BI who is free—which rarely happens.

Although you’re encouraged to watch recordings of other BIs’ sessions and read past feedback, there’s no designated time for this unless a client cancels or doesn’t show up. That’s the only paid opportunity you get for self-guided learning. Otherwise, you’re left trying to squeeze it into your lunch break or after hours. Even then, you still end up with lots of questions, and the only person you can reach out to is the main supervisor. While she is incredibly kind and open to questions, she’s also extremely busy. Sometimes you wait weeks for an in-person meeting, and email replies, while helpful, often aren’t enough. Over time, the pressure builds up—you feel mentally drained and discouraged from continuing to ask for help.

There’s no one whose role is specifically to guide new staff through the programs or answer questions regularly in real time. During observations, you’re mostly just watching someone else’s session while they’re focused on the child, so there’s little explanation. When they observe you, it’s the same—you’re expected to rely on your intuition rather than actual instruction. The only formal training provided is a 3-hour session on general ABA concepts, which doesn’t cover what’s actually needed to run a session successfully in this setting.

The approach seems to be: ‘watch and copy,’ followed by written feedback once you start recording your own sessions. But without clear explanations, this strategy puts a lot of mental pressure on new staff—on top of the emotional demands of working with children on the spectrum. You’re left feeling confused, unprepared, and unsupported, even if the team’s intentions are good.


That said, I really believe this can be improved. With small changes—like assigning a mentor to new staff, providing clear written and verbal explanations for programs, and offering paid time for learning—the experience could become much more manageable. 
I truly appreciate how welcoming and diverse the environment is, and I know the team genuinely wants to help. I hope this feedback can support those efforts and lead to a smoother, more supportive onboarding experience for future staff.
Despite the pressure and the steep learning curve, you end up learning a lot. It’s a valuable experience that builds your confidence and skills—after going through this, other jobs feel easier by comparison. Most importantly, it’s a rewarding role when you see the real impact you’ve made in a child’s life.

Scheduling - There is some flexibility in terms of work shifts. You can request to start early or start a bit later in the day, as long as you arrange beforehand with the management. If you are studying or a parent you can pretty arrange your days with the management, you can work part-time or full-time. 

Learning ABA - The Centre basically applies the ABA intervention so it is required to continually learn the techniques and the science behind it. It could feel overwhelming in the beginning learning and observing session all at once can be too much. It requires studying even outside your work hours  to have better grasp of ABA. Although, the Centre could do better with one on one theoretical training or a more thorough lecture especially during the earlier stages to familiarize with ABA as a whole. 

Personal Characteristics - Patience is a key to work as a BI. You will be dealing with a lot of challenges in terms of the clients behavior's, although it is a given that as a BI you will be dealing with a myriad of challenging behaviors. It could also be overwhelming to deal with some parents/guardians although it is not part of a job, you get to see them often. 
The job is not for those who simply want to work to earn a living. The job requires passion for what you do. It is for those who seek meaningful human connections. Also, if you are creative this job is for you.

Workplace Culture - Overall, the environment is a positive and supportive workplace. Senior BI's  & the Directress are very helpful, they guide and support newer BI's all throughout.  The Centre is inclusive & diverse. 

Management  - The management listens to the employees. You are heard, their approach is very personal, and they try to understand your needs. If you work here you will be in good hands.

Workplace Accessibility - The Langford Centre is very near bus stops & there is ample parking. There are cafes. a grocery, and restaurants around the area. There is a park nearby where you could go for a walk during your breaks on sunny days. 

Most Enjoyable Part of the Job - The best part of the job is seeing your clients improve and enjoy the sessions. If you love kids and like goofing around with kids, this job is for you. You also form wonderful connections with their families or guardians. 


Functional Learning Center is a great place to work at. As a Behaviour Interventionist (BI), the job can be difficult and challenging at times, but if you ask for help, you will get the most support from the supervisor. 
The job offers a lot of training. These trainings include watching self/other colleagues' tapped session, reading feedback from supervisor, and real-time observation of sessions. The center's philosophy is to learn as you go, so it can be overwhelming at the beginning. It can also be stressful in the first couple of sessions, especially when you have no prior background in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). However, ABA is a science, and once you have a basic understanding of it, the job can be easier. 
On a typical day, you will be working with 4-5 children in a one-on-one setting. Sometimes, you will be working in a group setting, but often as an assistant for those who just start the job. Most teaching is done through playing. Whether it is playing in the sand or playing with a board game, the goal of the job is to meet the behavioral targets of the child. As long as your creativity can lead you, you can teach in any possible activity. 
The most important lesson I have learned in this job is that when playing with children, it does not matter how many toys you have, but how many ways you can play with a toy. I have also learned that behaviours are malleable and that with enough motivation, anyone can learn/unlearn a behaviour.
The management of the job is not the best, because communication is three-way between families, BIs, and the center. It would be best if there is a common communication medium for the three parties to use, so everyone will be on the same page.
The most difficult part of the job is handling the challenging behaviours of your clients. As mentioned above, the supervisor is very supportive, and if you ask for help, you will get support. 
The most rewarding part of the job is when you see the children's progress. It is such an honour to celebrate the child's success with the family. Nothing can be more motivating than when a child tells you that he/she likes to play with you. 

I joined the company immediately after graduating from university, and I consider myself quite lucky to have a supportive team and supervisors. The first three months were extremely challenging for me, as it was my first real job. It required a lot of learning, including reading materials, watching videos, and reviewing feedback from my supervisors. This position requires the ability to quickly gather information, comprehend it, and implement it effectively. It can be pretty stressful and overwhelming at the beginning, though to be fair, what job isn't? Fortunately, my team and supervisors were always available to offer help and gave constructive feedback, from whom I learned a great deal. I recall an instance when I had questions about three or four kids; the Clinical Director canceled her other appointments to help me get back on track.

A typical day at work involves an average of 4 to 6 sessions, with each session lasting between 45 minutes to 2 hours. The manager is quite flexible with the schedule. They can accommodate individuals who are in school and only want to work part-time. They also encourage BIs to pursue personal development and offer them opportunities to take RBT courses.

The most enjoyable part of my job was watching the kids progress over time and sharing laughs during our sessions. However, some days can be pretty challenging. Some days, I came home after eight hours of work feeling physically and mentally drained.

Overall, I would rate the management five stars for being great and supportive. The job itself can be difficult and stressful, but it is also rewarding. I have acquired many valuable skills, particularly in understanding children and the reasons behind their behavior. I have also noticed that I have become a more creative and fun person. 

I am very grateful and really enjoyed my time at Functional Learning Centre. Let me be clear that this is not an easy job, it's tiring, demanding, and stressful at times, but it's also very rewarding and a lot of fun. The team is great, I loved all my coworkers and the bosses are sweethearts who really care about all their staff and clients. The owner offers a lot of training, so we are constantly getting feedback on our sessions and finding ways to improve. The training is also quite extensive (which is great and necessary). Breaks vary, they usually happen at different times every day and are sometimes short and sometimes long. Start and end times also vary a bit each day so you have to keep a close eye on your schedule. You will learn a lot in this position! Don't apply unless you love working with kids! You can be super creative in this job and come up will all kinds of cool activities and projects to do in your sessions. The pay is decent with chances for raises as you continue to work. There is also a big learning curve with this job (at least I found there to be one) so when you start it can feel overwhelming and very hard, but it gets easier as you become more comfortable and confident as a BI. I would definitely recommend FLC to folks looking to work in the field.

This job can be very challenging and at time stressful so a good work life balance is very important to maintain. But when you see your hard work pay off and the happiness and academic success of the children you work with, it is very rewarding. If you have questions, the team you work with is always willing to help and answers questions with a kind face and supportive advice. This job has a fun and caring workplace culture. The management is made up of a small team who are busy and have 100 things on the go. So if there is something you want or need (time off, a different availability, less breaks, more breaks, extra support, etc) you have to give them adequate notice, be clear about what you're asking for and always remind them. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The management are genuine, kind people and the clinical director is sweet and very good at what she does. I enjoyed learning from her and will take my training with me wherever I go. It is a great place to work to learn ABA and to advance in this field. 

Working at FLC has been one of the most positive highlights in my life. 
Behavioural Therapy can be a challenging position as people have to learn how to interact and adjust to a diverse special needs population. 

The training at FLC allowed me to view Autism in a humanistic, non-stigmatizing, and meaningful perspective. It also provided rationale for the work we do in both an educational and tangible manner. 
There was never a day when I didn't feel fully supported in my work. Questions, comments, or concerns were always encouraged and addressed immediately. I felt valued and invested in by my employer, co-workers, and the children's parents. 
The environment created in this position has truly allowed me to become a more understanding, patient, empathetic and analytical individual. I am grateful for developing these traits and for all of the wonderful connections I have built ; as well as the applicability of my learnings for my current career and interactions. This is the place to be!

Working in the realm of ABA is an important step in understanding how to work within an evidence-based practice environment. FLC provides an excellent jumping point into the field, and allows you to excel proportionate to the effort you put forth. ABA therapists in general deserve higher pay, but working at FLC is a good starting point. 

The work environment demands a flexible mindset, and can be taxing. It is important to stay organized and optimistic. As the administration is often very busy, it can be hard to communicate employees’ needs and wants. You will often find yourself putting in extra unpaid work with training, but the skills learned are worth the extra effort for those looking to work in the field. A clear line of communication is key. 

Overall, an incredible learning experience at a deeply involved company. 

FLC provides a supportive environment for the professional development of anyone interested in a career in behavior therapy. The staff are friendly and easy to get along with. The management is supportive and provides ongoing training.  A benefit of this job is the flexibility of the scheduling which allowed me to complete my Master's program while working. One thing to note is that the work can be challenging, especially in the beginning. FLC follows the principles of ABA which can take some time to get used to. I suggest asking management and coworkers for support when you start to help develop your ABA skills. Lastly, the work is very fulfilling. You get to contribute to the development of children and see the effects of the work you put in. 

Very rewarding work with many funny situations and visible progress in the children's learning. Great training, support and management. Fair pay and flexible hours. Would be a good fit for people who are creative, playful and not afraid to get on their knees and make sure the children are engaged. This job develops your skills in dealing with children, following comprehensive program plans, taking data and using it for future sessions and using alternate communication tools (PECS and iPad).

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