Therapeutic Wills: 6 Simple Steps to Get It Done
Learn how to create therapeutic wills in 6 easy steps to ensure client security, GDPR compliance, and ethical standards. From conducting a data audit to choosing the right executor, this guide helps maintain boundaries and reduce chaos during distress.
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Therapeutic wills: 6 simple steps to get it done Sally Openshaw
Rationale for doing one Provides greater client security Complies with GDPR data management Complies with ethical and professional requirements Helpful to family members to leave this to someone else to sort out Maintains a boundary between work and home Provides a clear plan for closing your therapeutic estate Reduces chaos at a time of distress
Step 1: Data audit Identify all the information that will need to be managed Locate the spare keys to allow access to filing cabinets Provide names used on paper filing systems to help locate material Provide computer passwords for access Identify where old notes are stored for safe, confidential destruction Identify current client records for contacting Guide around telephone records in diary that need removing Remember files on laptop eg case studies and other data.
Test run data recovery and destruction plan Your systems are familiar to you but not to another person coming in To test that the guidance notes makes sense, test run them by asking another person to try to find everything using your notes Identify confidential material from general material to destroy Research and name local and reliable systems for destroying personal data
Step 2: Choosing someone to be your therapeutic executor What qualities do you want this person to have? Efficient with time Small business management experience Personable with understanding of relational attachment Known to my own family for access issues Trustworthy and willing to follow instruction Local - know other providers for referral onwards Distant easier to close it down Capacity to hold a therapeutic space with understanding of concepts of shock and loss
Therapist or not? Therapist ability to risk assess Risk to open us cases not close down Risk of additional case load without sufficient resource Responsibility to pick up not referral onwards Ethical dilemma for therapist Client expectation help me, work with me Manage loss reaction in clients
Step 3: Legal considerations Therapeutic will - linkage to general will but is a public document so confidentiality vital to consider Codicil linked to my normal will Enduring Power of attorney limited to counselling business Dispersion of assets in accordance to your wishes Self-employed business to close down Limited company or community interest closure Linkage to accountant to complete financial closure Client property being stored by you - agreement re management
Step 4: Letting people know Immediate need of current clients due that week Removal of other commitments using diary if available Past clients or clients on hold Use of standard letters to contacts GP responsibility as chorographer of care Client letter with some explanation (agreed with family) Local newspaper story Obit in professional bodies
Step 5: Removing any online and local profile Google search you own name Identify all the reference that come forward Systematically inform and remove them all Consider local reference points Alter answer machine recording to provide revised information Standard online response to email inquiries
Step 6: Writing your orbitotomy Pre-request someone who knows you well professionally Note any wishes of thanks or appreciation Guidance of most appropriate location for obit Reference back to family members for agreement on what to say Dispersion of assets in accordance to your wishes
Practicalities Monthly client summary sheet not opened unless needed Yearly contact sheet updated as required Financial allocation for executor from business to carry out these essential duties Accountant, lawyer all provided with executor details Supervisor linkage to be agreed
Suspicion around death Link to supervisor and peer groups re concern about clients Delay destruction of client or supervision notes Linkage of clients taken to supervision on monthly summary
Conclusions Logical process to follow Test run it Change you mind if circumstance alter Keep it up to date not shut in a drawer Expect it to be helpful but not perfect Let your clients know by including a comment in your contract with them as it is an extension of confidentiality
