Clinical Continuity Toolkit for Therapists
What would happen to your clients if you suddenly became unable to practise?
For therapists working independently, remotely or internationally, there may be no colleague on hand to recognise that something has happened, contact clients or put continuity arrangements into action.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit provides a practical, structured way to prepare for unexpected illness, incapacity or death, helping you protect client confidentiality, reduce disruption and ensure that someone you trust knows what needs to happen next.
For therapists working independently, remotely or internationally, there may be no colleague on hand to recognise that something has happened, contact clients or put continuity arrangements into action.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit provides a practical, structured way to prepare for unexpected illness, incapacity or death, helping you protect client confidentiality, reduce disruption and ensure that someone you trust knows what needs to happen next.
Why This Work Matters
Therapists are accustomed to helping clients navigate uncertainty, loss and unexpected change. Yet we may be less prepared for the possibility that we ourselves become suddenly unavailable.
For therapists working independently, remotely or across international borders, the practical challenges can be particularly significant. There may be no colleague nearby to recognise that something has happened, access essential information or coordinate an appropriate response.
Having a Clinical Will is an important starting point, but a document alone is not enough. Effective continuity planning also requires clear arrangements for who will act, how they will obtain the information they need, and what they should do.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit helps you turn these responsibilities into practical, documented arrangements, supporting client welfare, confidentiality and appropriate communication if your practice is unexpectedly interrupted.
For therapists working independently, remotely or across international borders, the practical challenges can be particularly significant. There may be no colleague nearby to recognise that something has happened, access essential information or coordinate an appropriate response.
Having a Clinical Will is an important starting point, but a document alone is not enough. Effective continuity planning also requires clear arrangements for who will act, how they will obtain the information they need, and what they should do.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit helps you turn these responsibilities into practical, documented arrangements, supporting client welfare, confidentiality and appropriate communication if your practice is unexpectedly interrupted.
What's Included in the Clinical Continuity Toolkit
A Complete, Practical Continuity Planning System
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit is a structured, self-directed resource containing 13 documents organised into nine sections. It takes you from initial planning through to establishing practical arrangements that can be activated if you become unexpectedly unable to practise.
Rather than providing only a Clinical Will template, the toolkit helps you document how your practice operates, establish secure information access arrangements, prepare an operational handover for your nominated Clinical Executor, and plan appropriate communication with clients.
The resources include step-by-step guidance, worked examples, adaptable templates and alternatives for digital and paper record-keeping.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit is a structured, self-directed resource containing 13 documents organised into nine sections. It takes you from initial planning through to establishing practical arrangements that can be activated if you become unexpectedly unable to practise.
Rather than providing only a Clinical Will template, the toolkit helps you document how your practice operates, establish secure information access arrangements, prepare an operational handover for your nominated Clinical Executor, and plan appropriate communication with clients.
The resources include step-by-step guidance, worked examples, adaptable templates and alternatives for digital and paper record-keeping.
What Therapists Are Saying
The executor’s role is very clear, and I think it's great that you've also outlined what falls outside it. This keeps it clear and lessens what could be a daunting and overwhelming situation." - Feedback from a practicing therapist
Introductory price: £69 / 79 €
Available until 12:00 noon CET on 3rd November 2026.
Standard price thereafter: £89 / 99 €
Your toolkit includes thirteen documents, organised into nine sections:
You do not need to complete all thirteen documents. The toolkit includes alternative options for different ways of managing your records and information.
Begin with the Workbook, which guides you through the process and helps you prepare the information needed for your Clinical Continuity Handover.
Available until 12:00 noon CET on 3rd November 2026.
Standard price thereafter: £89 / 99 €
Your toolkit includes thirteen documents, organised into nine sections:
- Clinical Continuity Workbook: Step-by-step guidance for developing your arrangements, including detachable Continuity Arrangements sheets.
- Clinical Continuity in Practice: Worked examples to help you understand how arrangements operate.
- Clinical Continuity Will: An adaptable document setting out your wishes and instructions.
- Secure Information Arrangements: Digital setup guidance and alternative digital or paper records.
- Clinical Continuity Handover: An operational document for your nominated Clinical Executor.
- Communication Templates: Prepared wording for appropriate communications following unexpected practice interruption.
- Role-Specific Instructions: Guidance for your Activator, Digital Keyholder or Paper Custodian, as appropriate.
- Emergency Contact Card: A concise reference for activating your continuity arrangements.
- Annual Review Checklist: A practical way to keep your arrangements current.
You do not need to complete all thirteen documents. The toolkit includes alternative options for different ways of managing your records and information.
Begin with the Workbook, which guides you through the process and helps you prepare the information needed for your Clinical Continuity Handover.
About the Toolkit's Creator
I'm Laura Harley, a BACP-accredited therapist, author and former IT consultant with extensive experience in information security and data management.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than a decade working at IBM. I hold a degree in IT and have substantial professional training and experience in data security, systems and the practical management of sensitive information.
My therapeutic work includes grief, loss, client death and the impact of unexpected endings in therapy. I'm also the author of Confidential Grief: A Therapist's Guide to Client Suicide, Death, and the Impact on Practice.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit brings these areas of experience together: professional responsibility, information security and the practical realities of maintaining continuity when a therapist can no longer work.
As a British-accredited therapist practising from France, I also understand the particular considerations involved in independent, remote and international practice.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than a decade working at IBM. I hold a degree in IT and have substantial professional training and experience in data security, systems and the practical management of sensitive information.
My therapeutic work includes grief, loss, client death and the impact of unexpected endings in therapy. I'm also the author of Confidential Grief: A Therapist's Guide to Client Suicide, Death, and the Impact on Practice.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit brings these areas of experience together: professional responsibility, information security and the practical realities of maintaining continuity when a therapist can no longer work.
As a British-accredited therapist practising from France, I also understand the particular considerations involved in independent, remote and international practice.
Developed Through Professional and Personal Experience
My understanding of clinical continuity is not purely theoretical. When serious illness unexpectedly interrupted my own practice, I experienced first-hand the importance of having someone who could step in, access the right information and protect clients from unnecessary uncertainty and disruption.
That experience highlighted the difference between having a Clinical Will and having practical arrangements that another person can actually implement.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit was developed to bridge that gap. It combines clinical considerations with the practical realities of information security, access arrangements, communication and operational handover.
The aim is not to anticipate every possible circumstance, but to make reasonable, considered preparations that support client welfare and confidentiality when the unexpected happens.
That experience highlighted the difference between having a Clinical Will and having practical arrangements that another person can actually implement.
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit was developed to bridge that gap. It combines clinical considerations with the practical realities of information security, access arrangements, communication and operational handover.
The aim is not to anticipate every possible circumstance, but to make reasonable, considered preparations that support client welfare and confidentiality when the unexpected happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a clinical will?
Professional requirements vary depending on your professional body, insurer and country of practice. However, having arrangements in place for unexpected incapacity or death is an important part of protecting client welfare and maintaining professional responsibility.
A Clinical Will documents your intentions, but effective continuity planning also requires practical arrangements for accessing essential information, contacting clients and coordinating an appropriate response. The toolkit helps you prepare both.
Can I nominate my own Clinical Executor?
Yes. You can nominate a trusted professional colleague who is willing and appropriately qualified to undertake the role.
Your Clinical Executor should understand what is being asked of them and agree to the responsibility in advance.
The toolkit helps you document their role, establish practical arrangements for accessing essential information, and prepare a clear operational handover so they know what to do if your continuity arrangements need to be activated.
Can my supervisor act as my Clinical Executor?
Yes, provided your supervisor is willing to accept the role and is appropriately qualified to undertake the responsibilities involved.
However, supervision does not automatically include responsibility for implementing a Clinical Will. The appointment should be explicitly agreed, with clear instructions and appropriate arrangements for accessing essential information.
The toolkit helps you document these arrangements so that your nominated Clinical Executor understands what would be expected of them.
Does the toolkit provide legal advice?
No. The Clinical Continuity Toolkit is a practical planning resource, not a legal advice service.
It is designed to be adaptable to different professional and geographical contexts, including independent, remote and international practice.
You remain responsible for ensuring that your arrangements comply with the laws, professional requirements, data protection obligations and insurance conditions applicable to your own practice. Where necessary, you should seek appropriate specialist advice.
Professional requirements vary depending on your professional body, insurer and country of practice. However, having arrangements in place for unexpected incapacity or death is an important part of protecting client welfare and maintaining professional responsibility.
A Clinical Will documents your intentions, but effective continuity planning also requires practical arrangements for accessing essential information, contacting clients and coordinating an appropriate response. The toolkit helps you prepare both.
Can I nominate my own Clinical Executor?
Yes. You can nominate a trusted professional colleague who is willing and appropriately qualified to undertake the role.
Your Clinical Executor should understand what is being asked of them and agree to the responsibility in advance.
The toolkit helps you document their role, establish practical arrangements for accessing essential information, and prepare a clear operational handover so they know what to do if your continuity arrangements need to be activated.
Can my supervisor act as my Clinical Executor?
Yes, provided your supervisor is willing to accept the role and is appropriately qualified to undertake the responsibilities involved.
However, supervision does not automatically include responsibility for implementing a Clinical Will. The appointment should be explicitly agreed, with clear instructions and appropriate arrangements for accessing essential information.
The toolkit helps you document these arrangements so that your nominated Clinical Executor understands what would be expected of them.
Does the toolkit provide legal advice?
No. The Clinical Continuity Toolkit is a practical planning resource, not a legal advice service.
It is designed to be adaptable to different professional and geographical contexts, including independent, remote and international practice.
You remain responsible for ensuring that your arrangements comply with the laws, professional requirements, data protection obligations and insurance conditions applicable to your own practice. Where necessary, you should seek appropriate specialist advice.
Put Your Clinical Continuity Arrangements in Place
The Clinical Continuity Toolkit provides practical guidance and adaptable resources for continuity planning. It does not constitute legal advice or guarantee compliance with any particular professional or regulatory framework.
Practitioners are responsible for ensuring their arrangements are appropriate to their own circumstances, professional obligations, insurance requirements and applicable laws, including data protection legislation.
The toolkit is designed to support independent, remote and international practice, but arrangements should always be adapted to the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which you work.
Practitioners are responsible for ensuring their arrangements are appropriate to their own circumstances, professional obligations, insurance requirements and applicable laws, including data protection legislation.
The toolkit is designed to support independent, remote and international practice, but arrangements should always be adapted to the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which you work.
