At what age do therapists retire?

Lrad123 · Jul 07, 2019 at 04:05 PM

I know there’s no simple answer to this question. I’m just wondering at what age you’ve known therapists to retire. Or if you have an older therapist, how old are they? Mine is almost 64 and I’ve asked him this question. He’s responded with a vague answer, telling me how much he likes his job, I guess implying that he doesn’t have plans to retire soon.

Jul 07, 2019 at 04:07 PM

I don't know. Mine just turned 69 not long ago. She always says she wants to still be working when she's 100.

downandlonely · Jul 07, 2019 at 04:11 PM

I think some may choose to cut back on their hours rather than completely retiring.

LonesomeTonight · Jul 07, 2019 at 04:12 PM

I think it really depends. My ex-T was still practicing in her early 70s, though she only worked 3 days a week.

Misterpain · Jul 07, 2019 at 04:16 PM

My aunt is still going at 83,she loves helping people !

Xynesthesia2 · Jul 07, 2019 at 04:18 PM

My first T is not over 75 and practicing. May not be nice to say but I think retirement would probably do good at least to his clients - he is really not very intact cognitively anymore. I know that his supervisor was ~90 when he died (of Alzheimer's) and was still practicing two years before his death. Also, one of his colleagues, his age, died recently and was still working a few months prior. I understand if they are passionate about their work and find it hard to stop but I see it as a form of responsibility to voluntarily end it when they can no longer do the job properly. Maybe they believe they can still sit there and listen, can't make a clean break with clients, or I don't know. I guess, for some, clients are also the main source of human contact and it gives them a sense of being needed.

stopdog · Jul 07, 2019 at 04:36 PM

The first woman was 72 and the second one was 78 (and she retired because her spouse got very sick - he was in his 90s).
I think it is hard for them to give up the adulation and feeling of importance/special and it isn't that hard to do part time so a lot stick around a long time

divine1966 · Jul 07, 2019 at 05:12 PM

Mine is in mid 60s. She and her husband do quite a bit of very pricey traveling so I assume her income helps with that, although he makes good money. My therapist believes that it’s good for people to be busy and too much idle time is unhealthy. She admires people who keep working in advanced age.

susannahsays · Jul 07, 2019 at 05:44 PM

The therapist is 60 and works full time. The previous therapist is 64 and is currently working part time and not accepting new clients. I don't know what that means.

ArtleyWilkins · Jul 07, 2019 at 05:48 PM

I would assume like most of us, they retire when a) they can afford to, and b) when they are ready. They could vary from early 60's to well into their 70's depending on their circumstances (and their financial readiness is probably a major factor).

Pain2end79 · Jul 07, 2019 at 05:53 PM

I think once they feel their job is complete. Some therapists really enjoy helping people.

nottrustin · 07:30 PM

T retired from her full time job working for somebody else at 65. She intended to work her part time private practice until she was 80 or until her body wouldn't let her.

Emdr T is 43 and has a 4 year old child so the idea of retirement has never come up.

InnerPeace111 · Jul 07, 2019 at 06:47 PM

I’m guessing that many therapists continue to work longer than is average of other professions simply because the job is not physically demanding.

Jersey 4 · Jul 07, 2019 at 06:49 PM

The therapist I had used to say she was going to keep working until she went sideways off her office chair.

LonesomeTonight · Jul 07, 2019 at 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InnerPeace111

I’m guessing that many therapists continue to work longer than is average of other professions simply because the job is not physically demanding.

Plus, once in private practice, they can set their own hours and just choose to work a few days a week if they want.

ScarletPimpernel · Jul 07, 2019 at 07:45 PM

I worry about my T only because she doesn't really need her income. Her H makes enough to support the family. So she could retire whenever she wants to.

malika138 · Jul 07, 2019 at 08:28 PM

My T is 61 and her youngest is off to college in the fall so I figure there are at least 4 years left! She has said that she has no plan on retiring but of course I worry....

Jul 07, 2019 at 10:07 PM

Mine is 65 and is no longer taking on new clients. But will allow old clients to return and still does supervision.

Jul 07, 2019 at 10:58 PM

Mine is not allowed to retire. Ever.

atisketatasket · Jul 07, 2019 at 11:01 PM

My first therapist just retired a couple months ago and is I think 66. My current therapist is 67 and doesn’t plan to retire any time soon.

My second therapist cut back on her hours a couple years ago to do more research and teaching and was 62 then.

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Lrad123 Poohbah Member Since Nov 2017 Location: United States Posts: 1,332 6 372 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 04:05 PM #1 I know there’s no simple answer to this question. I’m just wondering at what age you’ve known therapists to retire. Or if you have an older therapist, how old are they? Mine is almost 64 and I’ve asked him this question. He’s responded with a vague answer, telling me how much he likes his job, I guess implying that he doesn’t have plans to retire soon.
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Anonymous43207 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 07, 2019 at 04:07 PM #2 I don't know. Mine just turned 69 not long ago. She always says she wants to still be working when she's 100.
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downandlonely Legendary Member Since Mar 2018 Location: United States Posts: 10,760 (SuperPoster!) 6 10.6k hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 04:11 PM #3 I think some may choose to cut back on their hours rather than completely retiring.
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LonesomeTonight Always in This Twilight Member Since Feb 2015 Location: US Posts: 20,731 (SuperPoster!) 9 74.9k hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 04:12 PM #4 I think it really depends. My ex-T was still practicing in her early 70s, though she only worked 3 days a week.
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Misterpain Member Member Since May 2016 Location: USA Posts: 487 7	Jul 07, 2019 at 04:16 PM #5 My aunt is still going at 83,she loves helping people !
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divine1966 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Dec 2014 Location: US Posts: 22,367 (SuperPoster!) 9 1,277 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 05:12 PM #8 Mine is in mid 60s. She and her husband do quite a bit of very pricey traveling so I assume her income helps with that, although he makes good money. My therapist believes that it’s good for people to be busy and too much idle time is unhealthy. She admires people who keep working in advanced age.
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susannahsays Grand Magnate Member Since Jun 2018 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,355 5 1 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 05:44 PM #9 The therapist is 60 and works full time. The previous therapist is 64 and is currently working part time and not accepting new clients. I don't know what that means. __________________ Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. -David Gerrold
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ArtleyWilkins Magnate Member Since Oct 2018 Location: USA Posts: 2,787 5 7 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 05:48 PM #10 I would assume like most of us, they retire when a) they can afford to, and b) when they are ready. They could vary from early 60's to well into their 70's depending on their circumstances (and their financial readiness is probably a major factor).
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Pain2end79 New Member Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 2 4	Jul 07, 2019 at 05:53 PM #11 I think once they feel their job is complete. Some therapists really enjoy helping people.
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nottrustin Grand Magnate Member Since Jan 2014 Location: n/a Posts: 4,819 10 375 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 06:05 PM #12 T retired from her full time job working for somebody else at 65. She intended to work her part time private practice until she was 80 or until her body wouldn't let her. Emdr T is 43 and has a 4 year old child so the idea of retirement has never come up. __________________ Last edited by nottrustin; Jul 07, 2019 at 07:30 PM..
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InnerPeace111 Member Member Since Dec 2016 Location: USA Posts: 390 7 167 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 06:47 PM #13 I’m guessing that many therapists continue to work longer than is average of other professions simply because the job is not physically demanding. __________________ Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. ~Rumi
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Jersey 4 Poohbah Member Since Feb 2019 Location: NJ Posts: 1,162 5 1,170 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 06:49 PM #14 The therapist I had used to say she was going to keep working until she went sideways off her office chair.
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ScarletPimpernel Wise Elder Member Since Nov 2013 Location: US Posts: 8,405 (SuperPoster!) 10 6,399 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 07:45 PM #16 I worry about my T only because she doesn't really need her income. Her H makes enough to support the family. So she could retire whenever she wants to. __________________ "Odium became your opium..." ~Epica
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malika138 Member Member Since Apr 2017 Location: home Posts: 287 7 623 hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 08:28 PM #17 My T is 61 and her youngest is off to college in the fall so I figure there are at least 4 years left! She has said that she has no plan on retiring but of course I worry....
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Anonymous48807 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 07, 2019 at 10:07 PM #18 Mine is 65 and is no longer taking on new clients. But will allow old clients to return and still does supervision.
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Anonymous47147 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 07, 2019 at 10:58 PM #19 Mine is not allowed to retire. Ever.
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atisketatasket Child of a lesser god Member Since Jun 2015 Location: Tartarus Posts: 19,144 (SuperPoster!) 8 12.4k hugs given	Jul 07, 2019 at 11:01 PM #20 My first therapist just retired a couple months ago and is I think 66. My current therapist is 67 and doesn’t plan to retire any time soon. My second therapist cut back on her hours a couple years ago to do more research and teaching and was 62 then.
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