The best way to create your own Professional Will system, as I describe in detail in my e-book, The Psychotherapist’s Professional Will: Managing Planned and Unplanned Absence, is to put together a trusted group of colleagues who want to be on each other’s Emergency Response Team, or ERT. These handpicked therapists will help you and your patients when you are unavailable. It is best if your group orders copies of the e-book and agrees to meet regularly to cheer each other on in the process.
If you are already part of a consultation group, you might want to schedule time during your meetings to work on your professional will with them. Or, pick colleagues to simply get started thinking about taking the first steps to form a small group.
My 6-hour online Law and Ethics course,“Your Professional Will: The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself” and the e-book, each include suggestions for how to do this.
You can start now by finding a few colleagues you trust and respect, to begin talking with about doing your own professional wills.
For therapists who don’t have a group of colleagues whose treatment values are compatible, my book includes suggestions for how to select your Emergency Response Team, ERT. It also outlines essential qualities for selecting your Bridge Therapist, the person who will serve as the main contact person and coordinator of your ERT when you are unavailable. For now, start thinking of colleagues you would be comfortable inviting to work with you on your professional will.