May 15

May 15 How Much Time Off Is Enough for a Sensitive Therapist?

After needing a 5-week sabbatical last year to replenish my therapist battery, I decided to do something different at the beginning of this year. I mapped out ALL the days I wanted to take off for the full calendar year and put the dates into Simple Practice. My goal was to have enough space for holidays, birthdays, family gatherings, staycations, and travel while also giving my clients a snapshot of the year ahead. All in all, the grand total was nine full weeks of vacation time which was the same as the previous year just spread out from May to December.

You may be thinking nine weeks off is significant and it is, but honestly there was a small voice inside me that wanted a full 10 weeks so I could also have a break between January and May. That small voice was replaced by thoughts you may have had yourself when considering how much time to take away from your clients… Isn’t it greedy, selfish, irresponsible?

You Need Time For You

In my previous career, I never took more than 2-3 weeks off per year so it’s taken a while to accept that I need a significant amount of vacations compared to what I used to have (and what most people are able to access). But, as I’ve said before, being a therapist is not equal to other professions. This role requires more of you - mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Sitting all day while holding space for clients’ deepest wounds and hopes is meaningful yet exhausting work. You need time to step out of your therapist role and fully immerse back in yourself.

Although I originally ignored my intuition, I eventually added that 10th week off and gave myself a much-needed Spring staycation. I remembered that it doesn’t matter how much time off other people are taking or what the general therapist community says I should be doing, I need to make decisions that are right for me and my practice. Otherwise, the burnout is just around the corner.

How much time off is enough? How much time off is too much?

It truly depends on what you need and how your practice is set up. I’m grateful to be at a place in my practice where all my clients are weekly and I’m not actively dealing with crises, which creates space for time off on a regular basis. My clients typically welcome a week off here and there to integrate and reflect. And if something comes up while I’m away, I also have a really reliable and stellar cover therapist who my clients have become familiar with.

Don’t be fooled by looking at the numbers or looking outward to what every other therapist is doing when deciding how much time off is appropriate. Instead check in with what you’re feeling and needing. On paper, my nine weeks off sounded luxurious but in reality - I needed more time to maintain a sustainable practice and work-life balance. It’s okay to need more time. Listen to your inner voice that is helping you recognize when you’re tired, burned out, overwhelmed, or you just need some time to nurture yourself.

Is Your Time Off Actually Replenishing?

It’s also important to consider what you’re using the time off for. For instance, taking two weeks off over the holidays or a week off in the summer to spend time with extended family is often not replenishing. Even if you feel nourished by the experience, you’ll most likely feel some level of overstimulation or fatigue. When you’re highly sensitive you need more time to process, reflect, and recharge since you take in so much information from your environment and are wired to process everything in detail. Getting downtime is even more important for highly sensitive therapists (HSTs) who hold so many different client stories throughout the week. This is why it’s important to measure time off by your energy levels, not the number of days.

How much time off is enough? However much time you need to keep the work sustainable. You can build your practice around your bandwidth, keeping in mind your vacation needs as you screen clients, set fees, and write out your informed consent. Some therapists take a week off every month, some a month off every year. You choose what works for you. When will your next day off be?

Six Simple Steps to Six Weeks Vacation

Getting the time off you need each year often feels impossible because of the double whammy of:

Paying for trips and holiday plans…
While also NOT GETTING PAID because you’re not seeing clients

If you're...

Overworked, overwhelmed, and burned out in your practice.
Going long stretches without taking any or enough time off to feel your best.
Feel jealous or resentful when clients talk about their vacations because you can’t afford to take a break.

Watch the Six Simple Steps to Six Weeks Vacation workshop.

This workshop will…

Help you prioritize your well-being by taking the paid time off you truly need.
Take breaks from clinical work without the stress of lost income.
Have enough money set aside to take exciting trips with family and friends.
Create a life where there is no financial anxiety if you are sick or just need a day off.

Includes an in-depth workbook with a vacation fund calculator and tutorial video so you know just how much to set aside each week to take the vacation, holiday, and sick time you need every year!

Ready to take more time off without worrying about lost income? Sign up here.