What Happens To Your Practice
If You Are Not There?
PROFESSIONAL WILL FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS
Protect Your Clients.
Safeguard Your Records.
Preserve Your Legacy.
You support everyone else through crisis, illness, and loss.
But if something suddenly happened to you, would your clients, records, and practice be protected or would everything fall on your family, staff, or colleagues to figure out?
This Professional Will is a complete, therapist specific continuity of care plan that tells your Clinical Executor and Administrative Executor exactly what to do in an emergency, from client notification to record management to practice closure.
Created by a mental health clinician and compliance strategist, it is designed for real therapy practices, not generic medical offices.
Most therapists assume this is optional. Licensing boards and ethics codes increasingly consider continuity planning a professional responsibility.
If you could not log in tomorrow, what would happen to your practice?
Most therapists do not have a Professional Will.
Licensing boards quietly expect one. Clients assume you do. Your EHR, records, billing, website, and supervisees all depend on you being available.
When a therapist becomes ill, incapacitated, or dies unexpectedly, the impact can be serious:
Clients are left without clear communication or referrals
Records sit unprotected, with no official custodian
Phones, portals, and email keep running with no one responsible
Supervisees, interns, and staff do not know what they are allowed to do
Families feel overwhelmed, guilty, and legally exposed
A Professional Will is how you prevent all of that.
It is not only an ethical safeguard. It is risk management, continuity planning, and an act of care for your clients and your loved ones.
A complete continuity of care system in one document
This Professional Will is not a one page template. It is a fully built continuity and emergency plan tailored to mental health providers.
It gives your Executors the authority and instructions they need to:
Activate your Professional Will when an emergency, incapacity, or death occurs
Notify clients safely while avoiding abandonment or oversharing
Secure your EHR, devices, email, voicemail, portals, and records
Communicate with your licensing board, malpractice carrier, and insurers
Manage supervisees, interns, and provisional licensees in a compliant way
Stabilize billing, claims, and basic business operations
Close or transition your practice in an ethical, legally sound process
Everything is written in plain language with legal and ethical grounding, so your Executors are not guessing in the middle of a crisis.
Why This Professional Will Is Different From Anything Else Online
Therapists sometimes assume a Professional Will is just a one-page template.
This is not that.
This is a clinical-grade continuity plan built specifically for mental health providers, designed by a licensed clinician and compliance strategist who has lived inside the realities of therapy practice, HIPAA, telehealth, and licensing board expectations.
Here is what sets this apart:
✅ Written specifically for therapists, not medical offices
Every section is based on real mental health licensing rules, practice workflows, documentation systems, and the ethical codes that govern therapy.
✅ Not a template — a fully built continuity system
You are not drafting anything from scratch. You insert your practice details into a structured plan that already meets professional expectations.
✅ Handles modern therapy practice realities
Telehealth, hybrid practice, multiple states, NPI-2 structures, supervisors, interns, 1099 clinicians, electronic systems, portals, and digital PHI.
✅ Clinical Executor + Administrative Executor model
Most Professional Wills don’t address operational reality.
This one separates clinical tasks from administrative work so each person knows exactly what they can and cannot touch.
✅ Legal-grade language without legal jargon
Clear, plain English that protects you without overwhelming you.
✅ Protected intellectual property
Your copy is customized, watermarked, and licensed for internal use only so your investment stays protected.
Don't worry, this is totally manageable!
Most therapists complete their Professional Will in under an hour.
You are not writing a legal document. You are filling in prepared fields and checking items off a guided structure.
No legal language required.
Ready to Put Your Protection Plan in Place?
Professional Ethics Require Continuity Planning
Mental health professionals are ethically obligated to ensure continuity of care in the event of their unavailability. While not all boards use the term Professional Will, several major professional organizations include clear language in their Codes of Ethics that support its underlying purpose:
American Counseling Association (ACA)
Code of Ethics, Section C.2.h – Counselor Incapacitation, Death, Retirement, or Termination of Practice:
“Counselors prepare and disseminate, as part of their professional estate plan, a plan for the transfer of clients and files in the case of their incapacitation, death, retirement, or termination of practice. This plan includes the designation of a colleague or records custodian and addresses how to inform clients of the change and how to access records.”
(Source: ACA Code of Ethics, 2014)
American Psychological Association (APA)
Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, Standard 10.09 – Interruption of Psychological Services:
“Psychologists make reasonable efforts to plan for facilitating services in the event that psychological services are interrupted (e.g., by the psychologist’s illness, death, unavailability, relocation, or retirement).”
(Source: APA Ethics Code, 2017)
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Code of Ethics, Section 1.15 – Interruption of Services:
“Social workers should make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of services in the event that services are interrupted by factors such as unavailability, relocation, illness, disability, or death.”
(Source: NASW Code of Ethics, 2021)
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
Code of Ethics, Section 1.11 – Nonabandonment:
“Marriage and family therapists do not abandon or neglect clients in treatment without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of such treatment.”
(Source: AAMFT Code of Ethics, 2015)
Inside the Professional Will for Mental Health Providers
✅ A comprehensive, therapist specific Professional Will
A fully editable, legal grade document created for mental health providers. Structured, formatted, and organized so you only add your practice details.
✅ A ready to use Executor System
Clear guidance that helps your Clinical Executor and Administrative Executor understand their responsibilities, limits, and authority so they can act confidently and ethically during a crisis.
✅ Client safety and transition support
Built in guidance that supports continuity of care for active clients, high risk cases, minors, couples, families, and court involved situations while aligning with HIPAA and your professional ethics code.
✅ Secure access and record management structure
A compliant framework for handling access to your systems and records without storing passwords in the Will. Includes record retention, transfer, storage, and custodian instructions.
✅ Telehealth and multistate continuity options
Optional guidance for telehealth and hybrid practices. Includes what an Executor may legally do, state by state limitations, and strict protections for your license, NPI, and identity.
✅ Supervision and group practice support
Structured support for interns, supervisees, provisionally licensed clinicians, group practice arrangements, and NPI Type 2 setups.
✅ Operational, billing, and practice management support
Guidance for stabilizing billing, managing subscriptions, securing PHI, handling office logistics, and maintaining essential operations while preventing compliance violations.
✅ Delegation and safeguard protections
Clear rules that protect clients, the Executor, and the practice by clarifying what can be delegated, what must be done by a licensed clinician, and how to protect sensitive information and IP.
✅ Executor compensation and authority terms
Built in fields to set compensation, reimbursement expectations, and the scope and duration of Executor authority.
✅ Legal notices, licensing language, and copyright protection
Includes legal notices, internal use licensing, and copyright protection so your intellectual property stays protected and cannot be copied, shared, or reproduced.
Built by a therapist who lives and breathes compliance
Guardian Clinical Essentials is led by Samantha Schalk, LMSW, CAADC, CIMHP, BCP3, a mental health clinician and compliance strategist who has spent more than 20 years working in clinical practice, supervision, and risk management.
This Professional Will reflects:
Real expectations from licensing boards
Real HIPAA and state privacy requirements
Real supervision and group practice complexities
Real world emergencies that therapists have actually faced
You are not getting a generic business template.
You are getting a clinical grade continuity framework designed specifically for therapists and group practices.
“We will protect your practice so you can keep changing lives.”
DELIVERY & LICENSING DETAILS
How It Works:
Enter your business name at checkout
Your file will be customized, digitally watermarked, and emailed within 3–5 business days
Editable body; locked headers/footers for protection
Licensing is for a single business or clinician only
No subscription, no login, no recurring fees
Executor BAA Required:
Your chosen Clinical Executor must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to access client records. We recommend pairing this product with our Clinical Executor BAA for full legal coverage. Our Clinical Executor BAA is specifically structured to be universally compliant to meet all the state-specific requirements.
Legacy Protection Pack:
You may also want to consider the Bundle that includes the Professional Will and Clinical Executor BAA along with a Companion Guide for each. This Pack also include the Group Practice Addendum, which is suggested for Group Practice owners.
PRICING & VALUE OVERVIEW
Feature | Included |
Professional Will Template | ✅ |
Executor Instructions & Logs | ✅ |
Emergency Closure Checklist | ✅ |
HIPAA + Licensing Board Guidance | ✅ |
Editable Format (Word Doc) | ✅ |
Licensing & Watermark Protection | ✅ |
Delivery in 3–5 Business Days | ✅ |
Pricing
Value: $3,500
Regular Price: $997
*Limited Time Launch* Price: $597
One-time license. No subscriptions. No updates required.
Comparable attorney continuity plans for therapists cost $4,000–$6,000. Our edited, therapy-specific version is $597 for launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Professional Will for therapists?
A Professional Will is a continuity of care plan that outlines what happens to your therapy practice if you become ill, incapacitated, or die unexpectedly. It designates a Clinical Executor to notify clients, secure records, manage transitions, and complete essential HIPAA and licensing requirements. Most therapists are ethically expected to have one, and many licensing boards require a documented plan for client safety and record custodianship.
Do I really need a Professional Will as a therapist?
Most licensing boards and ethical codes expect you to have a plan for continuity of care in case of death, incapacity, or sudden absence. A Professional Will is the clearest way to document that plan and show that you took reasonable steps to protect your clients.
Will this work for my state?
Yes. The Professional Will and Legacy Protection Pack are written to work in all fifty states and U.S. territories. They align with federal HIPAA requirements, national ethics codes, continuity of care standards, and best practice guidelines for mental health providers. We also include reminders about checking your own state’s retention rules and licensure requirements, since these can differ. Everything is structured so you can plug in your state-specific details wherever needed, without having to rewrite the plan.
What if I already have a will or basic continuity plan?
Most therapists have a personal will, but personal estate documents rarely cover clinical duties, HIPAA requirements, client notifications, records access, or the complex administrative steps required in a mental health practice. A personal will does not meet ethical or licensing expectations for continuity of care. This Professional Will is designed specifically for therapists, group practices, and NPI Type 2 practices. If you already have a partial plan, you can integrate it into this system and fill in the gaps. You will likely find that this covers the areas your current plan does not address.
Can this be customized for group practices or NPI Type 2 practices?
Yes. The Professional Will works for solo providers, and the Legacy Protection Pack includes the additional systems needed for group or NPI Type 2 continuity. This includes administrative succession, billing continuation, credentialing, supervisee oversight, staff communication, insurance panel workflows, and the separation of duties between the Clinical Executor and Administrative Manager. Group practices should always use the full Legacy Pack for complete coverage.
How is this different from a template I might find online?
Most templates for therapists are outdated, too generic, or missing the key elements that licensing boards expect. They rarely address digital privacy, EHR security, administrative authority, billing continuation, clinical executor duties, or state-specific retention rules. The GCE Professional Will and Legacy Protection Pack are written specifically for mental health clinicians, align with real-world audit standards, and provide clear, step-by-step systems that protect clients, your license, and your practice.
Can my spouse or non clinician family member act as Executor?
A non clinician can serve as an Administrative Executor to help with logistics and finances. Clinical responsibilities, record custodianship, and client related decisions should be handled by a licensed Clinical Executor.
Is this legal advice?
No. This Professional Will and continuity system is an administrative and compliance tool, not legal advice. It is designed to support ethical practice, protect client welfare, and guide your designated professionals through continuity tasks. Every state has its own laws and licensing rules, so you may choose to have an attorney review your completed plan if you want legal verification. Most therapists do not need an attorney to complete or use this product, but you are always welcome to consult one.
What happens if I only buy the Professional Will and later expand my practice?
You can start with the Professional Will today and upgrade to the Legacy Protection Pack at any time. Your documents will integrate smoothly. Many clinicians begin as solo providers and later add the group-practice continuity system once they hire staff or begin billing through an NPI Type 2.
If you purchase the Professional Will now and later decide to upgrade, I offer a special upgrade discount for existing GCE customers. This lets you build your continuity system in stages without losing your initial investment.
The upgrade discount is available for 2 years from the original purchase date.
How customizable is it?
The document is fully editable and designed for you to drop in your own systems, vendors, and state specific details. Yellow highlighted sections guide you on what to customize.
How long does this take to set up?
Most clinicians complete the Professional Will in one to two hours. The Legacy Protection Pack takes longer because it includes administrative items, passwords, key contacts, vendor lists, BAA notes, credentialing access, and group-specific workflows. Once completed, your continuity system only requires small updates once or twice a year.
Do you offer support if I get stuck?
Yes. I offer free compliance strategy calls to help you understand what your practice needs and what products might best fill your compliance gaps. You can book a call anytime at: