ABSTRACT
It is never too early to plan for the unexpected. We all occasionally get sick or have family emergencies, and eventually we will no longer be able, or wish to continue practicing. The ethical and clinical importance of planning for our temporary and permanent absences is often neglected. Most of us were not taught techniques for skillfully handling expected or unexpected absences. Plus, most clinicians aren’t aware that their Ethics Codes require that they have a plan in place for the disposition of their practices in the event of an unplanned absence. This chapter provides an overview about this important aspect of being a responsible group psychotherapist.
