Smart Goals for Therapists, Counselors, and Psychologists

Being a therapist, counselor, or psychologist is an incredibly rewarding career, but also has its challenges. Setting smart goals for your practice can help you stay motivated and compassionate, while balancing your own self-care and wellbeing.

Here are some areas to consider when setting both short and long-term goals:

Self-Care

Take time for yourself each day – even 15 minutes of meditation or reading can help
Set boundaries around work hours and avoid overextending yourself
Make time for family, friends, hobbies – things that nourish you

Professional Development

Commit to ongoing training in areas that interest you
Consider specializing in a niche area or new therapy approaches
Stay up to date with latest research and best practices

Compassion for Clients

Make empathy, active listening, and care central to your work
Check in regularly about how you feel towards clients
If struggling with difficult emotions about a client, talk with a colleague

Work-Life Balance

Set goals around how many clients to see each week based on your bandwidth
Schedule breaks between sessions to reground yourself
Have coverage options for when you go on vacation or need time away

Mindfulness and Presence

Commit to a daily mindfulness practice, even if short
Notice when your mind wanders in session and gently return focus to the client
Limit distractions and multi-tasking to be fully present with each client

FAQ

What are some good self-care goals for therapists?

Some examples are: take daily walks for stress relief, set a regular meditation practice, limit working hours, make time for hobbies and friends, and commit to healthy eating and exercise habits.

What types of professional development can help prevent burnout?

Ongoing training, specializing in specific modalities, trying new approaches, staying connected with colleagues, getting consultation around challenging cases, and staying current on research are all ways to keep growing professionally and prevent burnout.

How can I maintain empathy and compassion for clients over time?

Check in regularly with yourself about your feelings towards clients to catch negative emotions early. Seek peer support if struggling with a client. Practice self-care and maintain healthy boundaries. Remember your commitment to compassion.

Why is work-life balance important?

Seeing many clients with emotional struggles can be draining without breaks. Making time for yourself and things unrelated to work helps prevent exhaustion and overextension. Boundaries allow you to be fully present for clients during sessions.

How can mindfulness help me be a better therapist?

A personal mindfulness practice enhances therapeutic presence, attention, empathy and compassion. Noticing when your mind wanders and gently refocusing during sessions allows for deeper client connection. Limiting multitasking also supports presence.