As a therapist, there are many boundaries in place between us and our clients. But what about between us and our employers/coworkers? Or between us and ourselves? The fact is, being a therapist is not sustainable without all of the above.
Whether you work for someone else, or for yourself, these are important considerations when rationing your time and energy. In either case, no one will create these boundaries for you. It has to come from you.
Types of clients you will (or won’t) see
Client work will burn you out more quickly when it’s not a good fit. This work already takes effort, but it takes even more when you’re trying to force it. Get clear about what presenting problems, ages, diagnoses, and populations you work best with - as well as the ones you don’t. There may not be much room at an agency to dictate this, but it’s worth a try. If you’re in solo practice, it’s key to have a screening process to make sure you get the right clients. It’s for their own good, as well as yours.
Work schedule
Pay attention to when you feel most alert, when you start to fade, and when you’re absolutely done. There’s no point to seeing clients at a time of day when you feel exhausted or useless. Create boundaries around when you start your day, when you take breaks, and when you finish for the day. (And don’t forget lunch!) If you’re able, you may even switch up what days of the week you work (i.e. 4 instead of 5, or taking a day off in the middle instead of the weekend).
Time set aside for administrative tasks
Everyone’s strategy for admin tasks is different, but many people don’t have one at all. This stuff piles up pretty quickly and (surprise) can lead to burnout. Per my point above, notice when you’re more likely to do tasks like phone calls, notes, answering emails, etc. Create time in your schedule to do those things - in the morning, between clients, or at the end of the day. Time blocks toward the end of the week are your backup in case they don’t get done sooner. I’d suggest not working through your lunch if possible, but this can be a last resort if needed.
Number of clients you’ll see in a day, and in a week
This one was hard to enforce when I worked for someone else, and is a big reason why I started my practice. I figured out pretty early that I don’t do well seeing more than 5 a day. But since I had a quota to meet, it wasn’t up to me. The weekly quota was also overwhelming, so I set a much more reasonable number for myself when I went private practice. Pay attention to how you feel on different days, and note how many people you saw that day. Patterns will start to emerge.
Maximum number of clients you’ll see back to back
This was also one I had no control over at an agency. No matter what I do, I’m miserable if I see more than 3 people in a row. Even with 10-15 mins in between, I just can’t do it without feeling drained. But I did it for a long time because I had to. Not anymore though. I’d rather see less people and do better work than get more people in the door just for the hell of it. Your stamina may be different than mine (and other people you know), which is okay. Just please know that it’s valid and worth honoring.
Time off per year
Working for someone else involves them dictating how much time off you get. The only thing you can control is how and when you use it, and making sure it’s respected. Do not allow guilt tripping or shaming to take place when you need/want time off. If you work for yourself, you have to be intentional about taking regular breaks and giving yourself a breather for holidays. Don’t just do it ‘as needed’ when you feel like crap - plan ahead! It helps to look forward to something. And you’ll enjoy it more if you’re not just “recovering” the whole time.
Not working during off hours, vacations, or while sick
Do not go near emails or voicemails when you’re off work. When you leave work for the day (or the room you do telehealth in), leave it all behind. Be mindful of your thoughts during off hours or vacation/sick time, and make sure it’s about you for once. Even if others try to test this, redirect them and assert yourself. Not everything is an emergency - and if it is, there are people who can help with that who aren’t you. Use time off wisely now, so that you don’t burn out and need even more time off later.
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Depending on the nature of your role, you may not be able to implement all of these. My advice is to try as many of these as you can with what you have. You may get pushback, which is normal. How your employer responds to boundaries is helpful information to have. It’s up to you what limits you’re willing to compromise on, and how much pushback you’re able to put up with. If you’re self-employed, these are ideally boundaries you’ll set up front, not after you’ve already burnt yourself out. They still work in that case, there’s just more clean-up involved.
If you need help with these boundaries or aren’t sure where to start, feel free to reach out. You’ve got this!