What do you do as an RBT who has a 1:1 client in a school setting with ASD. The function of her behavior has been documented as attention seeking after an extensive FBA. The issue is she is always talking about how she wants to commit suicide everyday, but when asked to talk about it she refuses to use any breaks/resources. This happens more than once a day, in the IEP we’re supposed to be letting the principal know and having an counselor come speak with her, but that’s several times a day and the school seems to be wondering at what point is it considered “junk” behavior that we need to ignore because her attention seeking. Also, for the first time today she told me that she hates me, that I am stupid and she does not trust me. Which is fine but it’s really troubling when it kind of takes away all of the pairing we did for the past few months. I think I may be too soft for this field. Advice? Or just relatable content.

Note: I have told the BCBA about the behavior but states to just continue letting the principal know. The issue is feeling helpless because I am being looked at as if I’m supposed to putting this type of behavior on extinction which really isn’t feasible.