Burnout, Ethics, and the Evolution of a Values-Driven ABA Business with Liz Matthews

In this episode of In the Field: The ABA Podcast, host Allyson Wharam sits down with Liz Matthews, CEO and founder of EMG Consulting, for a raw, honest conversation about burnout, identity, and what it really means to do values-driven work in behavior analysis. From being one of the first dozen BCBAs® in Virginia to navigating insurance reform, motherhood, and personal evolution, Liz shares how reconnecting with her values—and a supportive community—helped her reshape not just her mindset, but her entire business model.This is Part 1 of a two-part series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to stay in this field and stay well.💬 Key Topics:The Early Days of ABA in Virginia: What it was like to be one of the first BCBAs® in the state, and how the field exploded post-insurance reformBurnout and Identity: Liz’s personal story of burnout while navigating motherhood, military spouse life, and professional overwhelmThe Power of Community: How connecting with values-aligned behavior analysts helped her rediscover meaning in her workBusiness Redesign from the Ground Up: The evolution of EMG Consulting—why Liz moved away from traditional models and toward individualized, flexible, equity-informed systemsDoing Better, Even When It’s Hard: Liz reflects on past practices, the importance of consent and compassionate care, and the vulnerability of realizing "we didn’t always get it right"Equity, Flexibility, and Women in Leadership: A candid conversation about parenting, caregiving, and what it means to lead from a place of reflection and purpose✨ Key Takeaways:Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse—it can look like autopilot. And it often demands a deeper look at your values.Systems can be built using the science of behavior—Liz shares how she uses assessment, feedback, and qualitative data to design a flexible, individualized workplace.Compassionate, affirming care isn’t a departure from ABA—it’s an evolved application of it.Women make up the majority of the field but are still underrepresented in leadership. That gap matters.📌 Don’t Miss:➡ Liz’s perspective on why “doing better” starts with acknowledging harm ➡ Her innovative approach to individualized job roles and benefits ➡ A heartfelt story of crying on stage at APBA—and the healing power of shared experience👀 What’s Next:In Part 2, we go even deeper: what supervision looks like at EMG, how Liz hires and retains high-quality team members, and the concrete systems she’s built that earned her company a Best Employer title in Virginia.📣 Connect with Liz:EMG Consulting: https://www.emgaba.com/LinkedIn: Elizabeth Matthews https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmmatthews/💡 Enjoyed this episode?Share it with a colleague, follow the show, or leave a review—this is how we keep real conversations like this going.Disclaimer:BCBA®, BACB® [or any other BACB® trademark used] is/are registered to the Behavior Analytic Certification Board® BACB®. This website and products are not in any way sponsored by the BACB®.All information and products are for educational purposes only.