This September marks my sixth year in my Online Counselling practice [wondering where the time has gone]. It seemed like a good time to review the past six years and to give some thought to the cycles of client activity in my practice.<\/p>\n
I will admit to being a number nerd. I started keeping track of the number of client sessions per month as I was curious to see if there was a regular pattern.\u00a0 Were some months consistently busier each year?\u00a0 And was it similar to my f2f counselling practice?<\/p>\n
Definite patterns have emerged and there are some similarities to the rhythm of my f2f counselling practice.\u00a0 Some surprises too!\u00a0 All I have is speculations as to the whys and wherefores so if any of you have any data, thoughts, comments, or research on this topic please share. I am curious too as to whether you notice similar patterns for your practice.<\/p>\n
January \u2013Starts slow but then picks up.\u00a0 Is it new year\u2019s resolutions kicking in?\u00a0 Or the holidays were worse than expected?\u00a0 Or the bills have piled up from the holiday season?<\/p>\n
February –\u00a0 One third more client activity on average than January. It\u2019s still winter? No long weekend in sight?<\/p>\n
March \u2013 stays at the same level as February.\u00a0 Will winter never end?<\/p>\n
April \u2013 A large dip in client numbers. Spring brings new hope?<\/p>\n
May \u2013 Fewer than April.\u00a0 Nicer weather?<\/p>\n
June \u2013 Fewer than May [sensing a downward slide?].\u00a0 School is winding down and summer is winding up so client\u2019s focus is elsewhere?<\/p>\n
July and August \u2013 in my f2f practice these months are the slowest for me.\u00a0 Not so for my online counselling. July has become steadily busier over the years and August has consistently been one of my busiest months. This may be because other counsellors are on holidays or it could be that clients have time to do this type of counselling in the summer or\u2026?<\/p>\n
September \u2013 the start of a new school year always feels like the Real New Year to me.\u00a0 New resolutions, goals, hopes and dreams.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s the same for clients too.\u00a0 Certainly the numbers of clients has increased each September for the past six years.\u00a0 My busiest month ever was a September.\u00a0 Yours too?<\/p>\n
October \u2013 a little slower.\u00a0 Is it because the resolutions are wearing off or\u2026?<\/p>\n
November \u2013 busier again.\u00a0 Maybe because the days are shorter and the pressure of December holiday season is building.<\/p>\n
December \u2013 busy, busy, busy (mostly stress management and family conflict resolution) \u2013 right up until mid-month and then it drops off until\u2026the cycle starts all over again.<\/p>\n
My busiest times of year are February, March, July, August, September and December.<\/p>\n
What about you?<\/p>\n
The opinions expressed in this blogpost are personal.<\/p>\n
Dawn Schell, MA, CCC is an affiliate of Worldwide Therapy Online Inc.<\/p>\n