Running your own business requires patience and persistence but not only that, it requires you to be great at time management and prioritization. Chances are, if you are beginning your practice you already have other means for income in another job or career. You may also be juggling family and caregiver issues. Learning how to be effective at prioritizing and time management will give you the skills to become a great therapist without you losing your cool or experiencing burnout. It is important to note that you need to establish limits and boundaries for yourself. Failure to acknowledge this can lead to high expectations and perfectionism with resultant burnout. Let’s face it, you cannot be in all places and do everything at any given time. You should give the most time to the most pressing of issues and realize that you are human. For example, I may prioritize attending a workshop over researching for my next website blog post. I have to admit, I wasn’t always the best at time management. You would think as a registered nurse I had mastered time management…but this didn’t translate to counselling in the beginning for me. I sometimes got overwhelmed with the amount of things I needed to do to market myself or expand in my practice and expertise. That’s when I started to turn towards a to-do list. I’m not a to-do list type of person in my personal life but I have used one frequently for my practice. Checking off items on my to-do list gave me a great sense of accomplishment. My to-do list is always full as I am ambitious; however, I have realized the need to put self-care first so I don’t burnout as a counsellor. I don’t berate myself if I don’t meet a deadline I’ve set for myself as tomorrow is another day. You may even use your calendar or agenda to map out some key items you’d like to accomplish that day.  Another great tip is to have an effective work space in order to accomplish more. I personally use my office more as it forces me to work; whereas my home office is subject to distractions. Your ability to block out or limit distractions is essential to getting more work done. You may find it beneficial to turn off your phone and make specific time allotments to work on your career development. Give yourself more time to work on higher priorities. Time management also translates to the counselling sessions themselves. It is important that you have some time between clients, especially if some cases are emotionally draining. Having at least 10 minutes between clients allows you to prepare for the next client.

If you are still struggling with time management, I suggest seeking online resources and/or books to assist you. Remember not to overextend yourself. You need to take care of yourself so that you can effectively counsel your clients.

Andrea Cashman is a private practice counsellor who has founded Holistic Counselling Services for individual clients seeking therapy in Ottawa, ON. She also practices at the Ottawa Hospital as a registered nurse. Feel free to comment below or contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at www.holisticcounsellingservices.ca

The first part of this topic introduced the concept of stabilization as it relates to office space, and looked at how light and natural elements can be used as a therapeutic tool.  This post will discuss how sounds contributes to a  stabilized environment.

Sound

Depending on your office set-up, you may need more sound buffers than others.  If you share a space with other professionals and are close to a waiting/reception area, you will want to create a soundscape that allows your sessions to not be overheard as well as preventing outside noise from disrupting you and your clients.  Both scenarios prevent stabilization.

Music

Music playing in the waiting area can do wonders to cut back on sound pollution.  Keep in mind the environment you wish to create when choosing the tunes.  Most likely, heavy rock will not be appropriate (but you never know!).  Jazz, spa/nature sounds, classical music, instrumental versions of popular songs are popular waiting area soundtracks that may work for you and your space.

I also like to have natural sound CDs playing on low in my therapy room.  Not only does it help buffer sound, I find it really creates a calmer atmosphere in my office, setting the tone for sessions.  Currently, rain sounds are my personal favourite.

Water Features

Outside my office, there is a water fountain hanging on the wall.  This creates a solid sounding babble, which adds to the soundscape I strive to create.  Not only is it practical—the fountain acts as a sound barrier, it is soothing.  A word of advice: if you are putting a fountain in your office, go for one designed for interior spaces.  The one outside my office is meant for gardens and, therefore, was too loud (the opposite of being stabilizing!) in my therapy room.

White Noise Machines

This is one piece of equipment I currently do not have, although one is on order.  You can buy a machine that only offers white noise, or a go for a model with other options as well (such as rainforest sounds, waves, et cetera).  I lean towards the models with more options.  As well as acting as a sound buffer, white noise machines can be incredibly soothing!

This concludes the posts on stabilization in therapy, and how the space in which we conduct sessions is a vital tool.  If you have questions or comments, I would love to hear from you!  Email me at [email protected] and we can chat more!

Being a child therapist comes with a lot of stuff: art supplies, toys, sand and water tables are common tools of the trade.  As with any tools, they can get pricey.  While I would love to have tons of fantasy figurines, artisan puppets, and professional-grade art supplies, these are not in the budget.  However, with a bit of creativity and some effort, child therapists can have an office brimming with these tools at a reasonable cost.

Plan Out Your Space:

This means, before buying supplies and toys, pause and think, “What do I need and what do I have room for?” You may be surprised at how much stuff you can pass on.  What are the bare bones you need for your work?  Go with that and build up.  In my practice, the essentials are: a dollhouse and dolls/figurines, miniature vehicles, a selection of stuffed animals (which can double as puppets), play-doh and clay, paint and paint brushes, baby dolls, some building toys (like lego), and a sand table.  Everything else, though wonderful, is the icing on the cake.  Keep in mind also what your space can actually hold.  I have passed some excellent deals because I simply have no room.

Dollar Stores, DIY and Second Hand (Or, Even Better…Free!)

Guess what? Your dollhouse doesn’t have to be a deluxe model with multiple rooms.  A simple one from a dollar store will do nicely.  You could always make one from old boxes or bookcases that you have lying around, saving money and reusing! On the topic of DIY, if you don’t feel comfortable tackling a project ask around for help.  My dad’s friend teaches a carpentry class and as a project, they made my sand tray: complete with lid and rolling table (with storage!) A few gift certificates as a thank you were much more economical than buying it new.

Thrift stores, yard sales, and kijiji are treasure troves for supplies.  A two-dollar palette of watercolours will work just as well in a session as a twelve dollar one, while some elbow grease and cleaner makes used items sparkly again (I highly recommend magic erasers).  Additionally, a trip through the washer and dryer helps restore second hand stuffed toys to their former glory.

The best price is most definitely free! It also doesn’t hurt to tell friends and family you are on the look out for certain items, maybe they (or someone they know) are purging old toys, etc.  Look around you for supplies in the recycling bin and in nature.  Beach comb some seashells and rocks for your sand tray—it won’t cost you a dime and you’ll likely have fun doing it.

So You Don’t Have “It All”…Don’t Stress!

You know what the amazing thing about working with kids is?  They are, by nature, creative.  So, if your client NEEDS a bridge to go in the sand tray, she’ll likely find something to stand in for one (such as sheet of paper), or ask for your aid. They are only limited by their imaginations, not by your supply of tools!