Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Alternative career or top up job for a therapist

33 replies

GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 08:29

Inspired by another thread where people gave excellent advice on moving career. I'm a talk therapist and while I have a thriving practise I am not happy with my take home pay. I've already increased my fee. Any higher and I don't think it would be morally right to do so.

What else can I do? Either as a career or as another job to top up. Due to the concentration taken for my role once my child goes to school I can't do any more therapy but I could work as something else for one or two days.

Any ideas?

Thanks

OP posts:
TreesWelliesKnees · 21/12/2023 08:43

Is the issue your hourly rate itself? Or is it that to do more therapy hours would be too demanding mentally and emotionally? If it's the latter you could work for a training provider part time, set up and run training workshops yourself, or offer supervision? If it's the former that's more difficult, I think. I can't think of anything that would pay more per hour without requiring retraining.

Original poster
GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 09:12

Thank you for your reply.

It's the later. I have 20 slots per week which are always filled but I have 1.5 days off with my little one. So technically I could do a few more hours of therapy once little one goes to school but I'm too drained to do that because of the concentration it takes.

I don't think I've got any of the skills to be a trainer.

I have considered being a supervisor but that''s only a tiny bit more pay and even then it would cut into the time I can offer therapy. I don't think I could do 20 hours of therapy plus being a supervisor.

I have seen a lot of experienced therapist who are also supervisors who charge say £60 for 50/60 minutes of therapy and £60 for 90 minutes of supervision. That is bonkers to me, why charge less for it after all that training. I feel like many therapists are not good at maths. Hahahaha. Hence why I am asking about this here and not in forums for therapists.

OP posts:
User69371527 · 21/12/2023 09:17

The economics look pretty good to me.
20 slots a week @ £60 is £1200 gross pay a week for part time work on a full week. That’s probably £50K a year taking into account holidays and void spots.
Presumably once your little one gets their hours and then starts school you can reduce or eliminate childcare costs and you probably have low overheads.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
Original poster
GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 09:21

@User69371527 I earn around £30,000. I would like to earn £50,000. I don't think you've taken into account all the costs.

Yeah child carecare costs will go down but I will be a single parent then.

OP posts:
User69371527 · 21/12/2023 09:23

No true I haven’t deducted any expenses but I would’ve thought they’re fairly low - professional fees and your own supervision. If you pay for a therapy space could you do online instead

senua · 21/12/2023 09:25

I don't think you've taken into account all the costs.
This came up on a thread the other day. If you have membership of a professional body and CPD (full cost) but work part time (less income) then the sums start to go wrong.

User69371527 · 21/12/2023 09:25

It’s tricky as I think even £30K is good going for 20 hours work but I understand you want to increase it.
perhaps something non emotionally demanding for another 10 or so hours a week, like retail or cleaning. Would help top you up although might not be worth it if it tips you into the higher tax bracket.

User69371527 · 21/12/2023 09:26

Also if you’re going to be a single parent check entitlement to universal credit top up, I think on £30K you might get something as long as you don’t have big savings

Original poster
GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 09:26

I do one afternoon face to face where I rent a lovely serene room and the rest I work from home online or over the telephone. I am happy with that mix so I don't want to change it.

I would like some ideas on what I can do for the extra day and a half I will have but don't really think it is feasible to fill it with more client hours as I will burn the f* out.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 09:28

Yes I have done the Universal Credit calculator and know that I can claim some of that but honestly I find that a bit sole destroying. I don't want to claim it I want to earn more. I want to be a fully fledged independent professional. There must be a way to earn myself more money that does not mean I am likely to burn out.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 09:29

20 client hours is not 20 hours of work it's more like 25 to 30 hours of work. Because of the administration and the supervision and CPD I need. But that stuff I do in the evenings when I don't have to pay for childcare.

OP posts:
Brandyginger · 21/12/2023 09:30

Would it be feasible to develop the qualifications you’ve already got and over more specialised treatment at a higher rate within your part time hours.

Eg EMDR or specialist trauma therapy and charge £100 an hour?

At the most extreme in terms of time investment take 7 + years to retrain as a clinical psych and charge £130 per 50 min therapeutic hour ?

Retrain as child therapist and work with one of these fancy private holistic child practises and charge £200/ hour (voice of experience speaking here, having paid for this…) ?

WhichOneGoes · 21/12/2023 09:31

What are your qualifications exactly? Could you find a higher paying job within the NHS

senua · 21/12/2023 09:31

GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 09:28

Yes I have done the Universal Credit calculator and know that I can claim some of that but honestly I find that a bit sole destroying. I don't want to claim it I want to earn more. I want to be a fully fledged independent professional. There must be a way to earn myself more money that does not mean I am likely to burn out.

How do others manage to do it F/T?
Have you spoken to colleagues (or is there some support service from your professional body) for ideas on how to cope.

Newgirls · 21/12/2023 09:33

Sounds like you are on a good wage and in an interesting and flexible career.

what about something entirely different eg dog walking to get you outside?

mynameiscalypso · 21/12/2023 09:41

I know a couple of therapists with additional jobs. One is an English tutor, mainly in the evenings. Another does part time admin work.

cloudglazer · 21/12/2023 09:43

Oh if I knew the answer to this! I am looking at training to do meditation teaching next year. This is such a significant issue for us, I think.

Original poster
GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 09:43

@senua 20 client hours in considered full time. It's just that I condense my work into 3.5 days and I do all the admin stuff in "my" time.

OP posts:
Hopingforholidayhelp · 21/12/2023 09:44

Place marking :)

Original poster
GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 09:45

@WhichOneGoes definitely don't want to work for the NHS. I've never heard of a happy NHS therapist. I wouldn't consider working as an employee as a therapist. But I would work as an employee in another job.

I have a LEVEL 6 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.

OP posts:
cloudglazer · 21/12/2023 09:46

@senua I don't know a single therapist who works full time. By the time you have added in admin, thinking space, CPD, supervision and your own therapy, 20 hours becomes 35 easily. And it's a hard, hard job. Rewarding, but you can't just keep adding more hours or you burnout.

senua · 21/12/2023 10:10

cloudglazer · 21/12/2023 09:46

@senua I don't know a single therapist who works full time. By the time you have added in admin, thinking space, CPD, supervision and your own therapy, 20 hours becomes 35 easily. And it's a hard, hard job. Rewarding, but you can't just keep adding more hours or you burnout.

I didn't realise that. Thanks for the info.

Is group therapy an answer? Instead of £60ph for one person you have (say) £40ph for six people.

Original poster
GoldenlocksofHope · 21/12/2023 10:24

@Hopingforholidayhelp what's that? ( love your name)

OP posts:
TreesWelliesKnees · 21/12/2023 10:30

senua · 21/12/2023 09:31

How do others manage to do it F/T?
Have you spoken to colleagues (or is there some support service from your professional body) for ideas on how to cope.

Show quote history

They probably don't have kids and can spend time on self care at the weekends. Therapy is extremely demanding and you have to have time to top back up.

Seaweed42 · 21/12/2023 10:41

Have you looked into creating either live Zoom courses or online demand courses?

Have you got a very good website?

Can you write a book?

Are you specialised in any one type of therapy that you can create content from?

Some therapists branch into creating courses online or delivering group courses over Zoom.

The next best thing up from being a therapist is teaching other therapists or student therapists.