I never thought about consistency and how it could affect me until I experienced it with my last therapist. Not even the same day/same time standing appointments... for a good while they were all over the place and we always booked them at the end of every session, but then he gave me a specific time slot and I figured I liked it better that way. But much more than the meeting times, I really appreciated the consistency and predictability in his communication style, reactions and boundaries. My first T had awful inconsistencies in his behavior... I always had a same time/same day appt with that T but his style was all over the map and it drove me nuts. I developed the intense negative transference reaction to that T because his chaotic, insecure style and twisted, superficial attempts to "nurture" me reminded me of my mother (and other similar people) a lot. My reaction was also similar: I lost all respect for him and left. No desire to "work it out" even though the T kept insisting what I was doing was wrong and I would repeat it later if I did not work through it with him. Well, that prediction has not come true so far and I am very glad I left it at that and found a wonderful therapist who was a good fit. So I think I learned a lot from that negative vibe but I don't think it would have done me any good to dive into it further, what would be the application? I'd already thought through my mother and some resentments I had about her years prior. Does not mean I will not react negatively to someone causing me similar frustration, while expecting benefit from me, in the future. I will never allow anyone to do that long... that I am more than happy to repeat

So what I can conclude from my experience is that, for me, the real benefit was from the behavioral/interpersonal consistency and reliability and not so much from the meeting times (although I liked the latter as well). I actually picked up quite a few things from my last T's style to use in my own communications with people, especially the work-related ones. I am no longer seeing the T but his relaxed (meaning not rigid, very engaged) professionalism remains a great model for me, something that I feel I can apply as his style was something I easily identified with and respected.