What to Do When You Don’t Have Time to Improve your English

Mental health professionals are known for being patient, kind, empathetic, and attentive. But let’s be honest—they’re also incredibly busy.

In a single day, they might switch between roles as a therapist, a parent, a coach, a partner, a teacher, a friend, and maybe even a student or supervisor.

It’s no surprise that many of them tell me they feel like they just can’t squeeze in any more time to improve their English.

But I've got news — Both good and bad.

I’ll start with the bad news first. Learning a language does take time. There’s no quick fix. Ideally, you’ll need to practice the language almost daily, possibly for years. Research suggests it takes about 200 hours for a motivated adult learner to go from one CEFR level to the next (ex. From B2 to C1). And no, before you ask, binge-watching "In Treatment" on HBO isn’t enough! Most learners need structured, professional guidance—classroom work, homework, and “real world” practice outside classes that stretch your skills.

Now, for the good news! (phew)

My clients’ real issue isn’t usually about finding extra hours in the day—it’s about one of three other factors. What holds most people back is generally focus, motivation and/or energy.

In this post, I’ll help you figure out what’s blocking your progress and share some tips on how to create a sustainable English learning routine, even if you have a hectic schedule.

1.        Motivation

Not every mental health professional needs to, or even wants to speak English at an advanced level. Providing therapy sessions in one language is already a highly fulfilling and meaningful job. But since you’ve found your way to this article on a website called English for Psychologists, there’s a good chance you’re here for a reason.

So, let’s dig into it. What would improving your English bring you as a mental health professional?

For example, many of my clients love travelling and interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. Working with international patients not only challenges them, but it broadens their horizons.

Others are driven by the joy of learning and growing. One learner recently joked that learning English might be helping her prevent Alzheimer’s—she’s keeping her brain sharp by forming new neural connections and practising professional skills in English. Another client of mine thrives on setting challenges for herself. After decades of providing therapy in Portuguese, she felt a bit stuck and wanted to shake things up by working in English.

Some of my clients have relocated - or are planning to – to avoid political or financial instability. Expanding their services to English-speaking patients opens up more work opportunities and potentially higher pay.

Whatever your reasons are, I encourage you to write them down. It’s a great way to keep your motivation clear and in sight.

Next, let’s take it a step further—if you could achieve these goals, how would you feel?

For instance, if you could push yourself by working with English-speaking patients, would you feel more empowered? Bolder? More fulfilled?

One of the most common things I hear from my clients is that they want to feel more confident. But what is confidence for you? Try to be specific. Confidence means different things to different people.

Finally, let’s think even deeper—Think about the internal transformation this journey could bring.

How could English change you as a person? Could it allow you to discover parts of yourself you didn’t know existed?

I’ll share a personal example: I started learning Spanish at the age of 16, and I know it’s one of the things that helped me transition from being a teenager to an adult. Spanish (at least the variety spoken in Spain) is bold, lively and unapologetically direct— full of colourful expressions and creative swearwords. It pushed me to be more assertive and to express myself in ways I wasn’t used to. Learning the language gave me the confidence to take risks, make mistakes, and embrace discomfort. And it led me to form deep, lasting friendships with amazing people who helped me grow even more.

2.        Focus

Since learning a language already takes time, it’s key to use that time wisely. You need to prioritize learning the specific type of language you need to learn to meet your objectives, tackle your unique challenges as a learner and, importantly, enjoy the process.

Let’s start with the type of language you need. Most therapists who come to me say they want to expand their vocabulary. Well, fun fact—there are approximately 171,476 English words in current use. So... where on Earth do you start?

You’ll need to separate general English from English for psychologists.

You can take general English classes at just about any language school. In those classes, you’ll work on all four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) plus vocabulary that covers a bit of everything (like how to talk about global warming) and grammar (like the order of adjectives when you’re describing something, say, a funky yellow striped sweater). The goal is usually to climb the CEFR ladder, moving from one level to the next, which, let’s face it, can take a year or more per level.

But when it comes to the English you need for psychology, things get more specific. Clinical work with patients is very different from conducting research or delivering a poster presentation. Depending on your objectives, you might need to work more on speaking, writing, reading or listening skills.

Even if you’re focusing on clinical work, there’s still more narrowing down to do. Are you working with native speakers or international clients? Will you work with children, teenagers or adults? Do you offer individual sessions, couples therapy, or family therapy? What’s your clinical orientation and what kind of interventions do you tend to carry out in your own language already?

On top of all that, consider your own specific struggles with English. Do you find narrative tenses tricky? Is it hard for you to describe nuanced emotions? Or maybe you need more listening practice to understand different accents?

And last but definitely not least—what do you actually enjoy doing?

Because if you’re not having fun or interested in the learning process, it’ll be tough to put in all the hours you need to improve. Every learner is different, so I encourage you to experiment with different activities until you find what really motivates you.

Need a Hand?

If after asking yourself all these questions about what kind of English you need, you still feel a bit lost—don’t worry, that’s completely normal. Figuring out where to focus your efforts can feel like trying to find your way through a maze, blindfolded.

That’s exactly where I come in. I’ve developed a 12-week program that takes all the guesswork out of preparing for your first English-speaking session with a client. I guide you step by step through the skills you’ll need. Learn more about the 1-2-3 Therapy Program here.

Prefer something a little more tailored? I also create custom programs to fit your exact needs. You can book a free consultation where we’ll discuss your goals and challenges in detail, and within 36 hours, I’ll send you a personalized proposal. Book your free consultation here.

3.        Energy

Two years ago, I took a short but mind-blowing course by Hanoi Morillo called Agenda Organization for Energy and Time Management. (Note - Unfortunately, I don’t recommend that course platform anymore) 

For this blog post, I’m simplifying the key points from that course, but one of her core ideas really stuck with me: the importance of managing your energy rather than your time.

First, you need to consider all the tasks you need to do in the week, and divide them into energy boosters and drainers. As the name suggests, an energy-boosting activity is one that makes you feel refreshed and energized, while energy-draining activities deplete your energy reserves. You can assign any colors you want to these two categories, for example red to energy-drainers and green to energy boosters.

Side note: not all energy draining activities are unpleasant! For instance, a therapy session with a complex case might be deeply fulfilling, because you have a strong alliance with your client, but it might leave you feeling worn out.

Then, take a close look at your calendar. Color-code your energy-draining and energy-boosting activities. This will give you a clear picture of where your energy goes. The idea is to limit the drainers where possible and make sure you’re scheduling time for boosters to replenish the energy you spend. For example, if bureaucracy wears you out, can you streamline your tasks by using email templates or simplifying your accounting process?

If writing patient reports or case formulations leaves you feeling drained and restless, can you do something that recharges you afterwards, like going for a 30-minute walk ?

You’ll also notice your energy levels fluctuate throughout the day. Personally, I’m most energetic in the early to mid-morning, so I usually exercise then. Between 2-4 pm, my energy dips, so I focus on preparing lessons rather than teaching them.

Why is all of this important?

In my experience, learners rarely think about their energy levels when planning time to study or practice a language. You may have thirty minutes free after work to dedicate to English, but by the time you get home, you’re completely wiped out—so learning gets pushed to another day.

In my opinion, learning a language is cognitively demanding. It’s enjoyable, but it still takes mental energy. That’s why it’s better to study a little every day rather than trying to cram hours in at once. It also helps to manage your energy before and after your study sessions or classes.

Lastly, if you’ve addressed all three factors—motivation, focus, and energy—but you still feel like time is the issue, here’s one final tip. Don’t add more to your schedule. Instead, do what you’re already doing, but in English.

For instance, you could:

• Keep a journal or diary (this is excellent for practising verb tenses)

• Write your to-do lists in English

• Watch TV shows or movies

• Listen to podcasts or the radio

• Think in English (I actually changed my inner monologue to Spanish when I was learning, and it helped me a lot!)

Of course, working with English-speaking clients is one of the best ways to integrate English into your routine. If you’d like some free guidance on how to do that, feel free to book a free consultation here, or sign up for weekly emails full of tips and resources here.