Therapists—You’re Working for FREE. And It’s Costing You THOUSANDS
You’re working for free more than you realize. And it’s draining your energy, your bank account, and your ability to create a sustainable career.
How many hours per week do you spend on unpaid work: client emails, documentation, staff meetings, emotional labor outside of sessions?
If you actually charged for all of this, how much more would you be making?
Let’s break it down.
Where You’re Secretly Working for Free
Most therapists don’t even realize how much extra, unpaid work they do. It’s just… expected. But expectation doesn’t pay the bills.
1. Client Emails & Admin Work
- Responding to long client emails with detailed advice? Unpaid.
- Scheduling, rescheduling, and sending reminders? Unpaid.
- Chasing down late payments or insurance issues? Unpaid.
Those "quick" emails add up. If you spend just 30 minutes per day on admin, that’s 2.5 hours per week; over 10 hours per month that you’re not getting paid for.
2. Documentation & Notes
- Writing notes after every session? Unpaid.
- Reviewing client history before a session? Unpaid.
- Updating treatment plans? Unpaid.
Some therapists spend an extra 5-10 hours per week on documentation alone. That’s a full day’s worth of work with zero compensation!
3. Mandatory Staff Meetings & Consultations
- Weekly staff meetings at your agency? Unpaid.
- Required supervision hours that you’re not compensated for? Unpaid.
- Consulting with other professionals about a client? Unpaid.
Agencies and group practices often require these meetings but don’t compensate therapists for them. And if you’re in private practice, these extras still take up valuable billable hours.
4. Emotional Labor & Unpaid Overages
- Clients running over session time?
- Answering texts & DMs between sessions?
- Holding space for everyone else… but not getting paid for it?
You wouldn’t tell your clients to work extra hours for free. So why are you doing it?
The Hidden Cost of Overworking for Free
It’s not just about money. It’s about your energy, time, and professional worth.
- Burnout & Exhaustion: Working unpaid hours can make you feel resentful, drained, and disconnected from your work.
- Devaluing Your Own Time: If you don’t value your time, no one else will.
- Keeping Yourself Stuck: Every unpaid hour keeps you in survival mode, unable to scale or work less.
This is why so many therapists feel trapped in their careers. They think they need more clients to make more money,when really, they just need to stop giving away their time for free.
How to Stop Working for Free & Start Earning What You Deserve
1. Start Charging for What You’re Already Doing
- Administrative Fees: If you spend time on client admin, build it into your pricing.
- Late Fees & No-Show Policies: Stop letting unpaid time steal your energy.
- Consultation Fees: If other professionals need your expertise, charge for it.
2. Set Clear Boundaries
- No more “just this once” overages. Your time is valuable.
- Use templates for emails instead of crafting custom responses for free.
- Automate scheduling & payments so you’re not chasing unpaid invoices.
3. Raise Your Rates (Without Guilt)
- You deserve to be paid well for your expertise.
- The best therapists aren’t the cheapest; they’re the ones who take care of themselves so they can take care of clients.
- Raising rates doesn’t make you unethical—burning out and undercharging does.
4. Build Scalable Income (So You’re Not Trapped in 1:1 Work Forever)
- Courses & Workshops: Teach once, get paid repeatedly.
- Group Programs: More impact, less time.
- Consulting or Speaking: Use your expertise in higher-paying spaces.
You don’t have to work more hours to earn more. You just need a different strategy.
You Are Not Just Overworked—You’re Underpaid. And That Stops Now.
Therapists, your time is valuable. Your energy is valuable.
It’s time to start charging for it.
Comment on what you will do to increase the value of your time and energy if you’re DONE working for free & ready to reclaim your time.
Share with other therapists (actually ANYONE) who need to hear this.
And if you want to break free from the burnout cycle, check out my free guide to managing burnout.
Work less. Earn more. Feel alive again. Because you deserve it.
Your Next Step: Charting a New Course
You are not meant to be a burned-out deckhand rowing yourself into exhaustion. You are meant to be the frickin’ captain of your career.
So here’s my question: If burnout wasn’t a constant threat, what would your dream work-life look like?
If you’re ready to stop “just pushing through” and start building a career that actually supports YOU, I have a map that I will share with you.
Join the rebellion (aka my Facebook group) and start your burnout-free career today!
Or, if you’re ready to reclaim your purpose and feel excited about your work again, download my free guide to managing burnout and take the first step toward burnout-proofing your career!
The first step is always the hardest but also the most powerful. Which are you ready to take?