When the Therapist Needs Time Off: How to Prep Your Practice For Leave
What would happen to your clients, your income, and your practice if you needed to step away from work for a few months?
Whether it’s an unexpected illness, a planned surgery, maternity leave, a family crisis, or burnout, taking time off as a therapist can be overwhelming to think about and even harder to plan for.
But there are some very practical, not-overwhelming things you can do today to protect yourself, your clients, and your income. I can teach you how.
Preparing For Leave: What Every Therapist Should Do Ahead of Time
Tuesday, August 26, 6-7:30pm PST
Online & FREE!
Hi, I’m Laurel!
Why I’m Qualified to Teach This:
In December 2024, I had to take a sudden, unexpected five month medical leave. I had two associates, a full caseload, and a thriving private practice. Overnight, I had to hand everything off. Because of key decisions I’d made years earlier, I was able to focus on my recovery instead of worrying about money, my employees, or my clients.
Going on emergency medical leave is intense and traumatic. But things could have been so much worse if I hadn’t prepared.
I’m doing great now. I’ve transitioned back to work without any financial wreckage. I’m doing what I love without added professional trauma.
As a group practice owner, supervisor, and therapist who’s supported clients and colleagues through maternity leave, medical leave, and burnout recovery, I’m here to help you make sure you’re ready for the expected and the unexpected.
Leave Prep Webinar Details:
You’ll walk away with tools to protect your income, support your clients, and create a plan for leave that’s ethical, sustainable, and doesn’t rely on pushing through when you’re already at your limit.
🧰 You’ll Learn:
What types of disability and leave insurance are available and how to make sure you’re eligible
How to save proactively without sacrificing your current income
Why the structure of your business matters when it comes to taking paid leave
What to include in a professional will and leave transition plan
How to talk to clients and supervisees about your leave
How your professional network can support you and how to build it now
The emotional realities of stepping away and returning to clinical work
🧑⚕️🤰 Who This Is For:
Therapists and group practice owners preparing for parental leave, surgery, or a major life event
Therapists who might someday have an illness, injury, family emergency, or burnout (AKA everyone!)
Anyone who wants to protect their practice
✅ Participants Will Walk Away With:
A leave-prep checklist covering legal, financial, and clinical essentials
Guidance on insurance and pay structures to support paid leave
Tips for building a strong professional safety net before you need it
Reassurance that it is possible to step away from work and come back stronger
FAQ: When the Therapist Needs Time Off
Q: Who is this webinar for?
This webinar is designed for solo therapists and group practice owners who want to be better prepared for taking leave. That could mean maternity or parental leave, family crisis, medical leave, surgery recovery, disability, or any extended absence from work. You can be just starting out or in an established practice.
If you’re an employee in a group practice or agency, some of the content may not apply, but a lot of it will be helpful.
Q: Is this only for people who are already planning a leave?
Not at all. This workshop is for anyone who might need to take leave at some point, which is all of us. Think of it as a professional safety plan. The earlier you start planning, the easier it is to implement when you actually need it.
Q: Will you be offering CEUs?
No, the focus is business-oriented rather than clinical.
Q: What if I’m a prelicensed therapist or associate?
You are absolutely welcome! This workshop will give you a strong foundation to advocate for yourself, understand your options, and make smart decisions for your future career.
Q: What kinds of leave will this cover?
We’ll cover both planned and unplanned leave scenarios, including:
Parental or maternity leave
Medical or mental health leave
Leave following injury, surgery, or diagnosis
Disability (short-term and long-term)
Burnout-related breaks
Q: If I already have a professional will and savings plan, will this still be helpful?
Yes. Even if you have some systems in place, you’ll likely leave with new ideas, updated resources, and clarity on your next steps. Also, good for you for having those things ready!
Q: Will there be a recording? 🎥
Yes, all registered participants will receive access to the recording, so if you can’t attend live, you won’t miss out.
Q: Will you recommend specific services or companies?
Yes, I’ll share what worked for me and others such as insurance providers, business structure consultants, and payroll services. Any recommendations are purely from personal and professional experience. I don’t have affiliate relationships with any of the services I recommend. I may receive small referral bonuses if you end up using some of the services I recommend, but I would still recommend them without these referral bonuses.
Q: How long is the webinar?
The webinar will run approximately 60 minutes, with an added 30 minutes for Q&A at the end. A downloadable checklist and worksheet will also be provided.
Q: Is this just for California therapists?
While some examples will be based on California-specific resources, most of the content is widely applicable to therapists across the country. If you’re outside California, you’ll leave with specific things to research in your own state.
Q: Why is this webinar free? Are you selling something?
This webinar is free because I feel a strong ethical imperative to make this information available to as many therapists as possible. I was incredibly grateful that my medical leave didn’t create a bigger disaster in my life than it did. I know things could have been so much worse if I hadn’t prepared. I don’t want any therapist to experience preventable professional trauma or financial impact.
At the end of this webinar I will be inviting participants to join a paid coaching group to implement the strategies I will present in this webinar. You’ll have plenty to start with even if you don’t opt to join the coaching group.
Q: Will participants be on camera? 🎥
Nope, this will be presented in webinar format. Join from your couch, your bed, your treadmill, your dinner table, or anywhere else you’re comfortable and able to focus. Feel free to stretch, eat dinner, cuddle your cat, nurse your baby, or fold your laundry while you tune in.
Q: I’m not a therapist, but I do similar private practice one-to-one client work. Will this webinar apply to me?
Absolutely. Please join us.