Weekly Planner

Description

I’m all for technology, and I couldn’t get by without my practice management software. But sometimes when I’m juggling what seems like 1000 balls, I want a simple hard copy snapshot to help me plan and deliver therapy without losing my way or momentum.

This one-page weekly planner does just that. When I come into the clinic to start my week, I simply print off a weekly planner (this one is also editable), write down each appointment in order, grab the files, then tick off boxes as I complete each stage of session preparation. It helps me to “batch” session planning tasks and ensures I don’t forget a step, e.g. preparing homework summaries for my Saturday morning clients. I’ve used the planner for about a year in my clinic. I’ve found that the act of filling it out:

1. “gets my head in the game” – helps shake off the Monday blues;
2. gets my creativity going, as I subconsciously start to problem-solve for the tricky session on Friday while attending to mundane worksheet printing for my Wednesday sessions;
3. gives me clear visible “tick-the-box” feedback that I’m making headway through what can sometimes seem like an endless to-do list; and
4. helps me focus on what matters most: delivering quality therapy to clients.

On Saturday afternoons, when I’ve finished my last session,  I take great joy in ticking off that final box and leaving the clinic with a sense of accomplishment. We hope you find it useful in your practice, too.