Taking Time Off In Private Practice
Taking time off in private practice can be confusing and a bit scary. Time off is unpaid and coverage is another issue. If you work with higher risk clients, finding other therapists who see your clients is important.
Ideas For Time Off
Do what works for you taking into account your vulnerabilities and commitments outside of your work.
What works for someone else, may not work for you.
Take one week off every 3 months (every financial quarter, so total of 4 weeks annually)
Take one day off every month
Take time off off during slow seasons (summer and winter, usually June, July, August, and December)
Take time off as needed listening to your body
When Do I Need To Take A Vacation?
Emotions
Feeling more irritable
Feeling less empathy at work
Feeling angry
Feeling sad
Feeling hopeless
Cognitive
Thinking more in binary ways (e.g. I hate my job, I love my job)
Ruminating and worrying about clients
Feeling mentally checked out
Disassociation
Somatic
Decline in energy
Feeling (more) tense
Feeling stuck
Feeling overwhelmed
Stomaches
Headache
Migraines
Nightmares
GI issues
Boundaries
Wanting to delay sessions
Wanting to end sessions earlier
Wanting to end sessions later
Wanting to cancel sessions or feeling relieved when a client cancels
Taking work and clients home/into personal life/other relationships
Checking email constantly
Prevention Vs. Intervention
Anticipate the future in terms of unplanned time off such as: illness, disability, accident, etc.
Have a professional will
How To Manage Worry/Stress About Taking Off Time In Private Practice
Develop relationships with other therapists who work with similar clients who can see your clients on your time off
Continue engaging in supervision and consultation to help with areas of growth
Re-Frame
Taking time off is a way for you to nurture, care, and rest. The more you are balanced and integrated, the more you can give you can give to your clients.
Holding Boundaries
Explore what taking time off means for you.
Will you be available via phone or email?
Or will you not check email or phone at call?
Tips
Assess for risk (e.g. SI, HI) and create a safety plan when taking time off
Give safety plan to client and support therapist.
Offer support and resources during your break
Groups, therapists who specialize in brief treatment, websites, videos, books
Discuss early on with clients if you plan on taking extensive time
More than 2-3 weeks
Process and explore their feelings
Find ways to save for vacation monthly
Saving a portion of your monthly income into a vacation fund
Having 2-3 months of revenue into a vacation fund
Taking the amount of weeks you want to take off, divide that by 52 weeks, and put this amount into a vacation fund (e.g. 6 weeks off, 6/52=11.5%, put 11.5% of after tax revenue into vacation fund)