Abundant Practice Podcast - Episode #644: Decreasing Practice Costs For Maternity Leave

Release Date: April 30, 2025

Hosts: Allison Puryear and Guest Rachel

Introduction

In Episode #644 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Puryear welcomes Rachel, a fellow therapist navigating the complexities of preparing for maternity leave. This episode delves deep into the financial and emotional challenges therapists face when taking extended time off, offering practical strategies to minimize practice costs and ensure a smooth return.

Rachel's Current Scenario

Rachel shares her journey of managing two businesses—her established therapy practice and a budding online venture focused on digital products and eBooks. With seven months of pregnancy, Rachel finds herself grappling with financial strains as her therapy practice sees a decline in clients due to neglected marketing efforts.

Rachel [03:37]: "I didn't save enough to really be able to pay myself during maternity leave, which is a bummer. [...] my finances aren't where I want them to be."

Financial Challenges During Maternity Leave

Rachel outlines the primary concern: insufficient savings to sustain her income during maternity leave. She expresses a desire to not only reduce expenses but also to recover and grow her client base post-leave.

Rachel [06:13]: "Are there any ways I'm missing on, like, really reducing business expenses for my therapy practice, like, during maternity leave and how to come back strong and be able to kind of get full quickly?"

Strategies to Reduce Practice Costs

1. Pausing or Downgrading EHR Services

Allison advises Rachel to communicate with her Electronic Health Records (EHR) provider about pausing her subscription or downgrading to a more affordable plan during her leave.

Allison [06:30]: "You could drop down to that lower level. [...] It might be worth an ask."

2. Subleasing Office Space

Rachel considers subleasing her office to offset rent costs. They discuss the complexities of finding a suitable subleaser who can meet her financial requirements without compromising the space's utility.

Rachel [11:09]: "I did want to ask about, like, pricing for a subleaser. [...] she's like, could I get, like, kind of a reduced rate for that?"

Allison [09:00]: "There are four and a half days left. [...] I would look at it, like, days per week."

3. Exploring Multiple Subleasers

To maximize rental income, Allison suggests the possibility of having multiple subleasers, thereby distributing the space's usage more efficiently.

Allison [11:23]: "Could she take that other half day? [...] It was like, yea, that's another way to cover your costs."

Emotional and Psychological Considerations

Rachel opens up about feeling shame for not being able to financially support herself during her leave, despite having a supportive partner and family savings.

Rachel [17:58]: "I feel like I need to like prove to him that my business is a good decision."

Allison provides reassurance, emphasizing that Rachel's choices are valid and that the emotional toll of balancing work and family is significant.

Allison [13:40]: "You're feeling some shame because [...] ultimately you were doing the thing that made the most sense for you given your circumstances."

Balancing Online Business and Therapy Practice

Rachel expresses concerns about managing her online business, particularly maintaining an active Instagram presence while caring for her newborn.

Rachel [24:20]: "I'm, like, thinking I'll still have time to run my online business as well, which is, like, posting on Instagram daily, which, you know, is a lot of work."

Allison advises streamlining her content creation process by focusing on easy yet impactful posts, rotating content themes, and utilizing scheduling tools to manage her workload efficiently.

Allison [25:00]: "What is the easiest version that's also impactful? [...] Just doing what you can to look at it as easy and then let it be easy."

Managing Client Relationships

Maintaining strong relationships with existing clients is crucial for a successful return. Rachel discusses her approach to informing clients about her maternity leave and ensuring continuity of care.

Rachel [23:05]: "I've got a good relationship with their parents. [...] but I'm like, yeah, how am I going to fill those daytime slots?"

Allison recommends being explicit in communications, setting clear expectations, and possibly offering workshops or additional resources to keep clients engaged during her absence.

Allison [23:13]: "Making sure that the parents are really informed about what your plan is. [...] don't have to be full immediately."

Insights and Takeaways

• Proactive Communication: Clearly inform clients and stakeholders about maternity leave plans to maintain trust and continuity.

• Cost Management: Explore all avenues to reduce business expenses, such as pausing subscriptions, subleasing space, and optimizing operational costs.

• Emotional Resilience: Acknowledge and address feelings of guilt or shame, recognizing that self-care and family time are paramount.

• Efficient Content Creation: Streamline marketing efforts by focusing on impactful and manageable content strategies.

• Community Engagement: Leverage relationships with existing clients and local communities to sustain and grow the practice post-leave.

Conclusion

Episode #644 provides a comprehensive look into the multifaceted challenges therapists face when preparing for maternity leave. Through Rachel's candid discussion and Allison's insightful guidance, listeners gain valuable strategies to manage financial pressures, maintain client relationships, and balance personal well-being with professional responsibilities. This episode underscores the importance of intentional planning and self-compassion in building a sustainable and joy-filled private practice.

Notable Quotes:

• Rachel [03:37]: "My finances aren't where I want them to be."

• Allison [06:30]: "It might be worth an ask."

• Allison [13:40]: "You were doing the thing that made the most sense for you given your circumstances."

• Allison [25:00]: "What is the easiest version that's also impactful?"

For more resources and support on building a sustainable private practice, visit AbundancePracticeBuilding.com or join the Abundance Party membership program at www.abundanceparty.com.