Planning extended leave from your practice: What psychologists and therapists need to know before going on maternity leave or other extended leave with Dr Rosie Gilderthorp and Dr Michaela Thomas

Planning extended leave from your practice: What psychologists and therapists need to know before going on maternity leave or other extended leave with Dr Rosie Gilderthorp and Dr Michaela Thomas Summary and Key Learning pointsIt is my hope that this podcast episode will be useful to any psychologist or therapist who needs to take a longer break from their practice. For me, and for Michaela, our guest today and long time friend of the podcast, we are taking breaks from our practices because of maternity leave but you could also need to take a break for other life events, maybe even something fun like travel! This episode is not intended to give you a one size fits all plan for extended leave/maternity leave. Every practice and person is different and one of the things I love most about independent practice is that you can flexibly adapt everything to suit your values and needs. Instead Michaela and I will talk you through some key points that you need to consider and we will let you in on our thinking and our plans.  So before we jump into our maternity plans I think it is important that we both introduce our businesses and say a bit about what our normal working weeks involve as that obviously has a big impact on planning a break! Michaelas’s business: The Thomas ConnectionTuesday- Friday: 3 days clinical sessions (9 clients)CEO day on Friday Afternoons focus on passive income streams and visibility including - podcasts, speaking, online course, writing, managing her team. My business: The Innovation in Mental Health Project IMHP actually has three projects within it that all contribute to the overall social enterprise. Psychology Business SchoolPsychology Business School Online Course (building thriving & fulfilling) practicesDo More Than Therapy Membership (growing and developing passive income streams to make more impact in your practice)1: 1 coaching for psychologists and therapists in independent practice In Mind ConsultingA separate company with three other incredible psychologists, Kat, Boo and Kendelle!We offer bespoke training and consultancy packages to organisations that want to improve the mental wellbeing of their teams, particularly in the wake of COVID 19 induced change, uncertainty and conflict. Dr Rosie Psychology ServicesTherapyPerinatal online coursesHypnobirthingAssociates Michaela’s maternity leave plan:Psychological flexibility is key!Saved money as a buffer of £12,000 Plan to take dividends of £1000 a month (limited company)  My maternity leave plan:3 months off (while writing a book as I can’t ever stop writing)3 months teaching PBS and DMTT only 3 months teaching + consultancyClinical work and 1:1 coaching to...