How to Take a Break as a Therapist
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Quick Overview: How to Take a Break as a Therapist
Taking a break as a therapist is a key part of preventing therapist burnout, protecting your mental health, and sustaining a successful private practice.
A sustainable private practice depends on your ability to rest, reset, and keep showing up long-term.
To take a break without hurting your practice, therapists need clear boundaries, reliable systems, and crisis plans.
Using practice management software like SimplePractice, automated client messaging, and online scheduling allows you to step away without client communication piling up.
Setting vacation policies, out-of-office messages, and emergency resources ensures clients remain supported while you rest.
Real private practice self-care means being fully off duty. Turning off work notifications, closing your laptop, and creating space to relax helps your nervous system actually recover.
Finally, planning a lighter workload when you return prevents burnout from immediately returning.
It can be easy to get stuck in “always-on” mode when you run your own private practice. Even on your day off, you may receive crisis calls from clients and more. But taking a break isn’t merely an option; it is a necessity. Over time, being constantly available leads to therapist burnout, emotional exhaustion, and lower-quality care.
You’ve probably heard the saying, or perhaps even used it with clients, that “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” As a therapist, you are constantly giving insight, guidance, and empathy. But to continue giving your best, you must refill your own cup: you must take care of yourself. And that may involve taking a break from your practice.
So, how to take a break as a therapist? This will look differently for each person, but what it does involve is shifting your mindset to see that self-care is important and even necessary, establishing boundaries for work-life balance, and utilizing systems that will help you actually disconnect from work.
How to Take a Break as a Therapist Without Hurting Your Practice
Here are five steps to taking a break the right way.
Step 1: Redefine What A “Break” Really Is
When I say break, I am not implying the small breaks we have throughout the work day for a quick snack or reprieve, nor the times when we’re clocked out yet are still following up with emails or checking EHR.
Taking a break also doesn’t mean setting aside a day for your self-care, yet still checking emails because your notifications keep alerting you.
I am suggesting a dedicated time carved out completely for yourself, for your personal care and growth. This is a time when you are completely away from your practice. You aren’t answering crisis calls or following up with clients. You are dedicating this time to yourself and what you need.
“Rest isn’t optional. It’s a necessity. It’s the foundation of good practice. ”
Step 2: Set Boundaries With Both Clients and Yourself
Establishing a therapist work-life balance requires setting healthy boundaries with yourself and your clients. Oftentimes, this can lead to feelings of guilt. As a caring professional, your instincts and desires are to help others, and taking a break seems counterintuitive. But recognizing the importance of setting boundaries and doing so is crucial to maintaining your own well-being and providing the best care for your clients.
It’s important that your clients see you practice self-care and establish healthy boundaries. By prioritizing your own self-care, you are showing your clients the importance of prioritizing their own well-being and that it is possible to maintain a healthy work-life balance, even in a demanding career field.
What are some ways to establish healthy boundaries?
Communicating vacation policies in your intake paperwork
Adding clear OOO messages to your voicemail
Scheduling vacation weeks in your calendar.
Using automated systems (client portal messages, payment reminders, etc.).
Using therapist marketing automations (consider outsourcing content creation to Priceless Copy).
Step 3: Create Systems That Let You Actually Disconnect
Running a sustainable private practice is not only about self-discipline and self-care, it also involves utilizing systems, tools or applications that will optimize your private practice time management, streamline your practice, and improve client outcomes, all the while allowing you to disconnect. Here are some things that can help:
A Good Practice Management System
SimplePractice is a helpful practice management tool that supports a sustainable private practice by improving time management, streamlining workflows, and helping you stay connected to clients without burning out.
You can utilize SimplePractice to:
Set up automated text or email reminders for upcoming appointments.
Set up automated responses to common inquiries from clients.
Use digital intake forms to make new client onboarding easy.
Allow clients to book appointments online.
A Crisis Protocol
If you are in private practice, it will be necessary to have an emergency contact and referral system for clients who are in crisis. You can arrange for other therapists to be backups for emergencies.
Beyond that, it’s important to have crisis plans for clients. That way, they have the information they need to access services in a crisis.
Also, provide referrals to crisis hotlines, emergency services, and other appropriate resources during intake or very early in treatment.
Marketing Automation
You can also consider using therapist marketing automations to streamline your marketing efforts, save time, and improve your client engagement and online presence. That allows you to rest as you can spend less time on things like creating Instagram Reels.
Letting someone else (us) do all of the marketing heavy lifting (e.g., content marketing, social media, SEO, website design) can keep your practice thriving. So, you can take a break without losing momentum.
Step 4: Practice Mental Detachment
Taking a break will look different for each person. Whether it’s reading a book, journaling, or going out and connecting with friends and loved ones, make sure to practice psychological detachment from work, too. Mentally disengage from work and put aside those work thoughts and emotions when you’re clocked out. What might help is incorporating a physical routine to signal the end of work, such as closing your laptop and storing it out of sight. Or even a simple act such as lighting up a candle to signify your “me” time.
And if you find yourself replaying client sessions in your mind or thinking about anything work-related, jot a quick note if you need to, then gently redirect yourself to the present. Remind yourself that this is a needed and well-deserved time for you to recharge.
Step 5: Re-Entry Matters Too
Easing back to work with a lighter workload can be very helpful for many people. You can create a re-entry plan that includes a lighter day of work, such as catching up on emails, paperwork, or tackling smaller tasks.
You Are Allowed to Rest as a Therapist
Taking a break from your practice is a part of work. You deserve a break, just like you would likely have if you worked for an agency. It’s important to carve that time out for yourself. A rested therapist shows up with presence, empathy, and compassion, and that no amount of productivity can replace.
FAQs
Can a therapist take a sabbatical?
A sabbatical is a planned period of extended time of work. These can be great to restore mental health and prevent burnout. When handled correctly, they can be very helpful for therapists.
How do I tell clients I am taking time off?
Explain in a professional manner that you are taking some time off. Provide the dates and crisis information should they need it while you are away. You do not need to explain why you are taking off or justify your break.
How often should therapists take vacations?
This varies from therapist to therapist but typically taking at least one longer vacation or break a year is beneficial, as well as shorter ones throughout the year.
