How Can Therapists Take a Real Vacation?

Curt and Katie chat about how therapists can take extended time away from their therapy practices. We talk about how to budget time and money for vacation as well as what therapists need to have covered when they’re gone. We also look at how to mitigate foreseeable risk and manage continuity of care.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists can get time away from work

We’ve heard too many people talking about the challenges of taking time off when you’re working as a therapist.

How can therapists budget for time off?

·      Determining fees based on time you’re actually working (i.e., charging more or determining number of weekly sessions based on when you can be away)

·      Scheduling based on diminishing the number of actual missed sessions (i.e., scheduling vacations when your clients are on vacation and/or taking long weekends and moving clients within the week to take partial weeks off)

What do therapists need to cover when they go on vacation?

·      Clinical coverage within your practice or with colleagues

·      Identify when you’re on-call and how you navigate that within your vacation

·      Supervision coverage planning

·      Understanding when you can respond to clients or supervisees (i.e., being in wise mind)

·      Safety planning with clients, including coverage plan and/or when you’re available

How can therapists mitigate the clinical risks for taking longer vacations?

·      Determining when you should stop taking new clients before a longer vacation

·      Teaching your clients to be okay without you

·      Flexibility on when you take time away and how to take time away from the office

·      Planning for foreseeable risks

·      Homework or other resources

What does a hybrid work vacation look like?

·      Virtual work as needed

·      Creating times/spaces for clinical sessions and follow up

·      Make sure you have sufficient wifi or cell reception and privacy

·      It’s important to make sure you get downtime and aren’t constantly working

Why is it important to take time off when you’re a therapist?

·      Getting rejuvenated and living life

·      Working to prevent burnout

·      Renewed sense of energy within the profession

·      Our job is to talk about pain and suffering and there is so much pain and suffering in the world, so it is important to get restorative breaks

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/