Helping Clients Stay Engaged in Therapy Over the Summer
Private Practice

Helping Clients Stay Engaged in Therapy Over the Summer

GLPG2 min read

Summer brings longer days, vacations, schedule shifts, and often, a dip in therapy attendance. While it’s normal for routines to change during the warmer months, inconsistent attendance can slow progress for clients and disrupt the rhythm of your practice. Fortunately, a few small adjustments can go a long way in helping clients stay engaged.

Talk About Summer Vacation Early

Bring up summer plans well before the season hits full swing. Ask clients what changes they expect in their schedules and talk about how that might affect therapy. Framing the conversation as part of their care helps normalize the idea that consistency matters even if it looks a little different in the summer.

For example, you could say:

“Summer tends to throw routines off a bit. Let’s look ahead and figure out how to keep therapy working for you, even with some time away.”

Offer Flexibility Without Losing Momentum

Some clients may juggle shifting schedules or changing routines. Offer flexible options that support their continued progress:

  • Switch to telehealth if they need something more convenient
  • Adjust session times to accommodate summer camps, family schedules, or later evenings
  • Book sessions in advance to give them something on the calendar before their schedule fills up

Even if they skip a week or two, having a plan makes it easier for them to return without losing steam.

Remind Clients of Their Goals

When therapy starts to feel like just another thing to do, it helps to revisit the “why.” Briefly checking in on goals can re-energize clients and remind them what they’re working toward. If summer slows things down, you might ask:

“Do you want to keep the same pace over the summer, or shift our focus a bit while still staying connected?”

This lets them feel some ownership while keeping them in the therapeutic process.

Make Room for Summer-Specific Themes

Therapy can feel more relevant when it connects with what’s happening in real time. Summer brings its own challenges and opportunities: increased social events, parenting stress, body image concerns, or changes in routines. Naming those in session keeps things timely and engaging.

Try:

  • “How are you feeling about seeing more family this summer?”
  • “What’s it like being out of your usual structure right now?”

This keeps the work connected to their day-to-day experiences.

Use Tools That Make Rescheduling Easy

When things inevitably shift, make it simple to adjust appointments. If you’re part of a network like Great Lakes Psychology Group, you may already have tools in place to help:

Keeping things easy on the client side makes it more likely they’ll follow through.

Normalize the Ups and Downs

Finally, acknowledge that some drop-off is normal. The goal isn’t to push consistency at all costs, but to help clients stay connected in a way that works for them. Even a check-in every few weeks can be helpful if that’s all summer allows.

Let clients know:

“It’s okay if things get off track for a bit. The important thing is that we stay in touch and pick back up when you’re ready.”

Consistency Looks Different for Everyone

Summer doesn’t have to mean losing progress. With a little foresight, some flexible options, and open communication, you can help clients stay supported even when their schedules shift.