One of the most common questions I hear from therapists: How do I start creating space in my busy schedule for intensives?

First, let’s talk about where you’re starting. Often, I see therapists are thinking about adding intensives into their schedule because they are already overbooked and feeling drained from being a trauma therapist. 

Let’s just take a moment to acknowledge that the work of being a trauma therapist is always demanding given the ever increasing need for mental health treatment, let alone being a trauma therapist during a global pandemic and ongoing collective traumas that you are parallel processing your own experience while also supporting your clients. 

Perhaps, you haven’t taken new clients in months, you have a waitlist and you would really like to be able to help people faster, but you can’t even seem to find space for new clients let alone longer sessions.

Needless to say, the idea of working less and making more money probably sounds really great. Right?! I assure you it is. 

And here’s where you might start having some thoughts like… Is that really possible? There’s a looming recession and the world is continuously on fire (some days literally, some days figuratively)... how would I fill spots for intensive sessions? I’m already exhausted, the idea of having longer sessions sounds draining not invigorating. 

From this place, it’s often really challenging to see how making big changes in your schedule and your practice is going to bring relief. I know this well, because I have been there too. I’m here to help you simplify, reduce the overwhelm and offer you some small steps to start creating big changes in your practice.

Option 1: Take a look at your current insurance panel contracts 

Do you have one (or a few) contracts that you infrequently have clients who have this insurance? Do you have one (or a few) contracts that pay the lowest reimbursement rates when compared to your other contracts? 

Consider terminating one (or a few) of these contracts. In the long run, this in itself will increase your revenue and increase the time that you have available. When you terminate one of these contracts, leave the spots open to create even just an hour of space in your schedule. 

Option 2: Re-evaluate treatment goals with your existing clients 

Do you have any clients who you have been working with for a while that are close to the end of their goals? Do you have any clients who may be able to reduce the frequency of their sessions?

This can also be a great opportunity to start practicing an intensive session with a client that you already know. Start with a 90 minute or 2 hour session to wrap up those last treatment goals. When they’re done, leave that spot open to reserve for a future intensive session. 

Now you’ve created space on your calendar, increased your confidence in doing intensives and helped your client reach their goals faster! 

Option 3: Re-arrange your schedule

We tend to get used to having the same clients at the same weekly or bi-weekly time slot. Sometimes, we even assume that clients won’t be able to come at a different time. Take a step back, zoom out, and see if there is a way to consolidate your schedule that could give you a few hours available. This can also be a great opportunity to discuss treatment goals and offer intensive sessions as an option. 

Option 4: Look further ahead

Maybe this week and next week are already full. When does your schedule start to have space where you can block out 2 or 3 hours for an intensive session? Block that time off and commit to only scheduling an intensive session during that time. This goes along with re-arranging your schedule too. Once you block off a future intensive session, then you can see where to fill in around it.