In this episode of the Colleague Down the Hall podcast, Ashley Comegys joins me for an insightful conversation about the logistics, challenges, and emotional aspects of taking maternity leave while working in private practice. We dive into the challenges, necessary preparations, and flexibility required to balance professional and personal life during this time of life. Ashley emphasizes the importance of preparing clients, the personal and professional adjustments needed, and the supportive aspects of private practice in accommodating maternity leave, while also touching on the broader societal issues and pressures faced by working mothers in the United States. 

 

“I think it's one of those things you were talking about like there's a lot of fear with taking leave. And I think the financial piece is a part of that. But we can make informed choices; let's actually crunch the numbers. What do I have to cover business-wise? What are the expenses I need to cover family-wise? What does it look like to be able to save that? Are there things that I can put on pause if I'm in private practice? When I went on maternity leave, I put my EHR on a lower tier because I didn't need all of the things when I was on leave, but I still wanted to have it all maintained so I dropped it down two tiers and saved money that way. I can still do this and not feel I'm beholden to going back before I really feel ready, but being able to make a decision that's informed. Information is power, it’s cliche but it really is.”- Ashley 

 

Key takeaways:

 

***Experiences and Challenges: Ashley shares her experiences and insights into the difficulties and decisions women face when planning maternity leave. This includes the financial implications, emotional challenges, and the balance of personal and professional responsibilities.

 

***Flexibility of Private Practice: Both speakers discuss the flexibility that private practice offers compared to traditional employment, such as the ability to adjust schedules and the challenges of not having paid leave. They emphasize the importance of planning and preparing for maternity leave, including saving money and adjusting expectations.

 

***Client Management: The conversation delves into how to communicate with clients about maternity leave, manage their expectations, and ensure continuity of care. This includes planning for coverage, discussing availability, and dealing with client reactions and needs.

 

***Postpartum Realities: Ashley highlights the realities of postpartum life, including dealing with sleep deprivation, postpartum anxiety, and the physical and emotional recovery process. She stresses the importance of giving oneself permission to take the necessary time off and being flexible with return dates.

 

***Support Systems: The need for support systems, including discussions with partners about shared responsibilities and planning for childcare, is emphasized. The speakers also discuss the broader societal context of maternity leave in the United States and the support (or lack thereof) for new mothers.

 

***Personal Assessment and Timing: The speaker shares their experience of needing to assess their readiness to return to work, considering personal challenges like stress and exhaustion. They highlight the importance of waiting until mentally prepared to re-engage with clients.

 

***Client Reassurance: It’s important to reassure clients of the intention to return while being honest about potential delays or changes. This transparency helps maintain trust and manage client concerns effectively.

 

***Use of Scripts: The speaker advocates for using prepared scripts to communicate with clients about sensitive topics, including maternity leave. Practicing these scripts can reduce anxiety and ensure clear, confident communication.

 

About the Guest:

 

Ashley Comegys is a licensed clinical social worker with a multi-state online therapy practice that helps women with anxiety navigate life transitions, and specializes with working with women in the perinatal period as well as military spouses. 

 

Outside of the therapy room she is passionate about empowering other women and mom clinicians to build their own online therapy practices, so they can have the time freedom, flexibility and autonomy. Ashley also has her own podcast called Raised to Empower, that helps challenge listeners to break free of mindsets and oppressive systems that often hold us back from stepping out and creating the practices of our dreams. 

 

Outside of work Ashley can be usually found chasing around her two wild boys and baby girl, or binging trashy reality TV shows.

 

Connect with Ashley:

 

Raised to Empower:  https://www.raisedtoempower.com

Maternity Leave Blueprint:  https://bit.ly/maternityleaveblueprint

Instagram: @RaisedtoEmpower

 

Connect with Jeanene:

 

*Get your free Four Keys to Private Practice Peace of Mind workbook: https://collaboasis.com/4keysworkbook

*Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

*Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

*Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/