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Life as a provider

Why the 30 minutes after your last telehealth session are so valuable

Check in with yourself to see how the day has affected you — and take the time you need to recover.

Practicing telehealth can provide the opportunity to help more clients, such as folks who might not be able to get to your office for an in-person appointment. And it goes without saying that telehealth can be convenient for you as a provider, too — for one thing, you don’t have to deal with a pesky commute, which can save valuable time in your workday.

One potential problem of practicing therapy out of your home? It can be really tough to transition from seeing clients all day to engaging with the demands of your own life.

Even though your work is rewarding, as with any caregiving career, it can also be demanding. “The work therapists do is often very heavy and emotionally draining,” says Natalia Tague, a licensed counselor in Virginia. “You’re constantly taking things in from clients, many of whom might be sharing traumatic experiences with you.” 

If you don’t carve out distinct time, it might feel overwhelming or even undoable to hop straight into dinner plans, taking care of your kids, or having a conversation with your roommate. You might notice yourself feeling strained in these areas, or even more vulnerable to work-related burnout.

Give yourself a 30-minute reset

To help yourself transition from work to your personal life, Tague recommends taking thirty minutes or so to reset.

“Sometimes you just need to take a breather so you can actually be present for your life and loved ones instead of trying to push through it and get rest later,” she says. 

How you use that time is ultimately up to you: You could go for a walk outside, do a quick mindfulness meditation, or eat a nourishing snack and take a few deep breaths before finishing that day’s notes. You could even get out your journal and process the harder parts of your day. 

The important thing, Tague says, is that you check in with yourself to see how the day has affected you and take the time you need to recover.

Sometimes, you may find you want to cancel that night’s plans with friends or order take-out instead of cooking. Other times, social time may be just what the doctor ordered. Either way: A little personal time — even just 15 minutes — at the end of your day can go a long way in helping you thrive in your role as a therapist and all the other important areas of your life.

Headway is a free service that makes it easier and more profitable for therapists and psychiatrists to accept insurance.

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