5 WAYS TO TACKLE ISOLATION WITH AN ONLINE PRIVATE PRACTICE | EP 120
Do you sometimes feel lonely working as a therapist? Do you have an online practice, and sometimes wish you could chat with a colleague between sessions to let off some steam or to get an ethical second opinion? How do you deal with isolation as an online therapist?
Working as a therapist can be an isolating experience in and of itself, since you can’t talk about the details of your work with friends or family. If you work from home like me, then I’m sure that you know that the isolation can be two-fold!
In this episode, I share with you some tips that I have figured out to help myself – and you – enjoy your work as a therapist while still making time for life beyond it. If you are stuck trying to choose between how to handle the challenge, I invite you to listen in!
Jane is an all-in-one health and wellness practice management platform designed to be helpful to you, no matter how or where you practice. Available online and on any device, Jane offers branded online booking, beautiful scheduling, insurance management, customizable charting, online intake forms, patient reminders, integrated payment processing, online appointments (telehealth) and more! Use the code FEARLESS at signup to receive your first month completely free!
In This Episode
- Be intentional
- Get out of your apartment
- Create peer-to-peer consultations
- Meet with your assistants
- Make time for a weekly activity
Be intentional
‘You have to be intentional. You have to take action. You have to put yourself out there. As much as it can be oh-so-cozy to just curl up on your couch and just watch TV every night, that is not going to be healthy in the long-run.’ – Julia Smith
Between your work days and work weeks, it can be so tempting to just unwind alone at home, without having to exert yourself further by going outdoors and trying something new after a potentially challenging or long day.
However, don’t isolate yourself further just because you may be nervous about going outdoors. Find hobbies that you enjoy that get you outside of your home – and that are separate from therapy – so that you can unwind and relax in the company of like-minded people while doing something that you enjoy.
‘For me I love music, so I make sure to go to music events a couple of times here and there just to get out of the apartment.’ – Julia Smith
Get out of your apartment
Sure, you can enjoy hosting friends at your home. However, if you also work from home and then you socialize at home, there is very little variation in your routine, and you may begin to feel a bit suffocated!
‘Make sure to get out of the apartment and hang out with friends in cafes or restaurants or just walk outside with them!’ – Julia Smith
This is even more important if you live alone at home, because staying connected with your friends and with your personal life beyond just working from home is important.
Create peer-to-peer consultations
If you have associates in your Canadian private practice, make sure to schedule a monthly peer-to-peer meeting so that you can consult together to stay connected and on the same page about the practice, and as well as about what’s happening in your lives.
Connect with your team to talk about client cases or maybe have some fun! Having and maintaining relationships with other therapists can help to ease that isolation since they know what it feels like to work in the profession.
‘The key of the game to tackling isolation is to stay connected to your friends, your family, [and] to your community.’ – Julia Smith
Meet with your assistants
If you have a virtual assistant, schedule a 30-minute meeting weekly with them.
This is not only important to discuss business issues, but also to stay connected to your staff so that you don’t pass one another by like ships in the night.
Make time for a weekly activity
Something that I do which I love is going to the gym in the afternoon. It’s a lovely way to get out of the apartment, exercise, and to be around other people!
‘Now that I work online I really have to set intentions to connect with other people … And just getting out in the world!’ – Julia Smith
No matter which one you choose, there will be challenges, so you just need to figure out which challenge is the one that you feel most comfortable to work with so that you can make the most of your obligations while enjoying yourself.
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 119: What I Learned from Going to the CCPA Conference | FP 119
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)
Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn
About Julia
Julia Smith, MEd, RCT, CCC is a registered Counselling Therapist who owns a group private practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is also the owner of Fearless Practice Consulting and hosts the Fearless Practice podcast. Through the Fearless Practice podcast, she provides invaluable insights and practical advice on starting and growing a successful Canadian private practice. Julia’s wealth of knowledge also extends beyond the podcast, as she provides personalized one-on-one consulting to therapists who are feeling burnt out and overwhelmed with their solo or group private practices. With Julia’s expertise, therapists can confidently navigate the complexities of owning a private practice and find work life – balance.
Julia also has written articles for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy association. You can learn more at www.ccpa-accp.ca/blog/.
