Your Professional Will

Last year, I planned to update my professional will with new members for my Emergency Response Team; these are the people who would manage my business affairs if I became seriously ill or in the event of my death. I procrastinated and in March this item was still on my “To-Do” list when the Coronavirus hit, the pandemic made me realize how suddenly things could change and that I needed to be prepared. I contacted two friends/colleagues and asked them if they were willing to assume responsibility for my practice in the event of my death or if I got sick and could no longer care for my clients. Both people I called readily agreed and said they felt honored to be asked.

Creating a professional will is simple, the challenging part for me was calling my friends and requesting their assistance. I know it’s a big responsibility and sometimes it’s hard for me to ask for help.

When you feel ready to prepare your professional will, ask at least two people to serve on your Emergency Response team. Their primary responsibility is to inform your clients of your illness or death and provide them with referrals. They would need access to your client data. If you use paper files, I recommend creating a list of your active clients and filing it with your professional will. I maintain electronic records and my brother is my delegate for my password management software; he will coordinate the process of providing my colleagues with access to my records and managing any outstanding financial issues if I am temporarily disabled and in the event of my death.

As therapists we have an ethical responsibility to our clients and our colleagues to keep our business affairs organized. I know it is not pleasant to think about the possibility of becoming seriously ill or our inevitable death, it’s comforting for me to know that my affairs are in order.

You can find professional will templates online and I’ve included this link to CAMFT’s Professional Will Template. 

Maria Gray, LMFT, NMP, CGP, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Century City, where she specializes in trauma and addictions and leads groups. She enjoys working with adults who grew up around mentally ill or addictive family members. To learn more, go to www.mariagray.net.