Helping clinicians beat burnout & bulletproof their bag—1 journal entry at a time.
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Dr. Latisha Webb
Journal Entry 11— It’s another Sunday at 940 am. What’s up with that?
I want to say I write my journal entries are every Sunday because it is my dedicated time to write.
I would be lying though. It’s not just a quiet rainy Sunday morning. — It’s Father’s Day. Hubby and I are in Montgomery County, about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia. We stayed up here for a family Father’s Day celebration. I’m stoked because I intentionally ensured my time and energy were free and clear to enjoy this weekend. See, I missed 15 hours of billing last week due to 1. Addressing some spiritual and psychological challenges 2. Attending two important meetings associated with the Mayor’s office As you all know, I cannot ever sabotage my silver ever again. So, I worked my butt off at the end of the week to ensure I met my weekly minimum income. Thus, I booked client appointments up until 8 pm on Thursday to bulletproof my bag.
On Friday, I took some clients to the library as a positive reward for finishing the school year on a good note. Although, I am laying here enjoying my quiet time, I am thinking about an incident that happened on Friday with one of those clients….
Intrusive Thoughts
Yep! As peaceful as I am, thoughts around this one session refuse to quiet down.
Why didn’t you just get her something to eat? She said she was hungry when she greeted you? What’s $5? You could have brought a $5 Meal Deal from Wendy’s. You rode right past Wendy’s anyway. What if she was really hungry? Do you not feed a child? What if mom was banking on you feeding her because you fed her during the last session? You must set a boundary with your clients. Kids need to know they can’t expect things from others adults or that people are going to always spend money. What you do for your clients is out of the kindness of your heart?
As I shared my convicted heart with my husband, he reminded me,
“Bulletproof your bag. Spending $5 today will bring in more money tomorrow.”
He also said, “If you have to spend $5 to make $20 to retain your client, then do that.” Here’s how I can bulletproof my bag next time. Consider the scenario of providing a $5 Wendy's meal deal to clients during community-based sessions, specifically excluding those held in homes or schools. For children 12 and younger, the location of community-based sessions needs to consider safety, age-appropriateness, and accessibility. Here are some suitable locations: Libraries Community centers Schools (outside of school hours) Parks and recreation facilities Playgrounds Churches or religious centers with youth programs Family resource centers Youth organizations (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs) Childcare centers or preschools (outside of operational hours): Here's how to navigate them using the B.E.A.T. Burnout framework:
The B.E.A.T. Burnout Framework
B – Boundaries that Build 🔥Clear Expectations: You must establish clear guidelines about meal consumption at the beginning of the therapeutic relationship through policies and best practices. For example, "Meals are to be eaten before or after the session, not during, to minimize distractions." 🔥Consistent Enforcement: Apply this rule consistently, even if a client insists on eating during the session. Explain that this boundary maintains focus and ensures effective therapy time. 🔥Address Potential Disruptions: Inform parents and clients about the policy. For example, "While we offer a meal, eating during the session can disrupt the flow. We encourage consuming it before or after to maximize our time together." E – Energy Alignment 🔥Designated Meal Times: Schedule specific times before or after sessions for meals. This creates a predictable routine and minimizes disruptions to the session itself. 🔥Transition Time: Factor in transition time between mealtime and the session to avoid rushing. This also allows clients to settle and focus. 🔥Minimize Distractions: Explain to clients the importance of a focused environment. For example, “While the meal is available, consuming it outside the session helps us maintain our focus and make the most of our time." A – Assets in Action 🔥Marketing: Highlight the meal offering as a unique benefit. For example, “When we conduct sessions in the community, such as the Free Public Library, we offer a convenient meals before and/or after each session." However, be mindful of ethical considerations and avoid using it as the primary selling point. 🔥Community Partnerships: Explore potential partnerships with local restaurants or food banks for healthier meal options. This could enhance your practice's image and contribute to the community. 🔥Client Feedback: Solicit feedback on meal preferences to cater to different dietary needs and preferences. T – Time that Pays You Back 🔥Streamlined Process: Already have a restaurant in mind as you map out your sessions in the community. Make sure you pick places that meet your budget requirements. For example, create a system for ordering and distributing meals efficiently. This might involve pre-ordering or designating a specific staff member to handle meal distribution. 🔥Clear Communication: Include meal information in intake forms and session reminders. This reduces questions and confusion 🔥Focus on Therapeutic Goals: By managing meal logistics effectively, you free up time and energy to concentrate on providing quality therapy.
How This Journal Entry Helped Me Beat Burnout
There is one main takeaway
Small investments can yield significant returns.
If you are like me and are you ready to B.E.A.T. Burnout & Bulletproof Your Bag?
I gotchu…😘
🛡️ Bulletproof Your Bag
Here’s this week’s tip on how to keep your green in your jeans.👖
If you have never created policy for your clinical practice, consider setting boundaries in the beginning with clients and making an operational expense budget.
🤲This ensures smallest of gestures yield bigger returns.
Not just for you, but your clients as well.
B.E.A.T. Burnout | Bulletproof Your Bag | Build Your Bank
Behavioral Health Clinician & Coach
What's Next
There are 3 things that I will ask you after each journal entry
1.—Find and follow me on Threads so we can connect.
2.—Let’s practice what we preach and engage in some form of self-care. If you love journaling or coloring, then you can purchase one of my products from Amazon.