How difficult is it to schedule sessions with your T?

My T (he's a CBT) works only three days a week (12-hour days), and he has two different clinic locations. I have to schedule appts. about two months in advance if I want to see him in the afternoon/evening. Last week, I scheduled bi-weekly sessions for September, and he already had some time slots booked.

Do other people have this problem scheduling sessions?

I seriously want to set up bi-weekly appointments with him for the next six months, but I know his receptionist won't let me (she thinks I'm pretty nutty already - and she's probably right).

I have a standing appointment once a week, so I do not have to schedule one unless I have to change it. I am sorry that your T had some of the times you needed filled. Is there a way to ask for a standing appoitment(s)? (By standing I mean each week same time,same place and same day of the week)

Hugs

I too, have standing appointments with my T - same days/times each week. It did take a month or so of random scheduling of appointments until she had openings that fit my schedule. She works 4 days a week in a private clinic.

Maybe you could do as confused and dazed suggested and ask if you can arrange that for your appointments? I find it really helpful for me - I need the consistency and dependability the schedule brings.

I have 2 standing appointments a week.

When my clients schedule with me, it's standing appointments. However, my schedule changes for summer hours vs school hours. Clients are told to book their school hours 2 weeks in advanced for standing appointments.

I'm sure afternoon and evening appointments are in high demand, particularly since he only works 3 days a week. I schedule a few weeks in advance in order to get in for late afternoons with my t. As long as I keep ahead of the game, it isn't a problem.

I pretty much have standing times with my T too, so it's usually no worry. Even with hospitalizations, I haven't lost my regular time slot when I am out of hospital.....

i always book at the end of the session for the next.

My T is hard to get into only if you wait awhile after a session to make appointments, so we'll schedule a few in advance. She saves several openings that are only visible on her end of the scheduling system so that clients can get in to see her quickly if needed - these slots, in other words, aren't able to be filled by the secretaries when they schedule for her. Knowing this, I make sure to set them up with T instead of with the receptionist.

I have a standing appointment with my T, so I only encounter scheduling issues if I need to re-schedule for some reason. My T is usually very fully booked, but I'm able to be flexible on appointment times, so I've always been able to reschedule as needed.

It takes 2 weeks right now to get an appointment with my T, but earlier this year he had so many clients and it took a month. I usually schedule the next appointment at the end of the session, but when he was so booked up, I would sometimes schedule two in advance. If I have to cancel, I can usually not reschedule for the same week because the calendar is full.

wintergirl, I think having to schedule 2 months in advance sounds really hard. With that long of a waiting time, I think it makes sense to schedule a regular appointment time so you don't have the hassle.

It seems like how often you go to appointments should be up to you and your T. If your T and you want to do this, won't the receptionist let you?

I have 2 standing appointments every week so I don't have to worry. The best is when she has a cancellation and she will call and see if I want to come in. I love it because she doesn't get paid to see patients more than twice a week so I know that she really does care about me and isn't just saying that.

i have a standing monday appt.i hate it because on mondays she is away more than not do to holidays and vacations.she only works 3 days a week and doesnt allow out of session contact at all.at least i dont think so.i end out having a realy hard time forming any kinds of connection with her.

I have a standing appt time. When I try to get in at the last minute, it's VERY rare that he has an opening. I'm glad he's a good T and has such a full schedule, but it can be frustrating not being able to get in when I need to. My standing appt time will have to change in the fall when my oldest son goes to high school, and I already feel a little anxious. Although T usually works other people around me, since I've been seeing him for so long.

I don't have a standing appt with my T but we schedule several appts in advance so I can usually get in every week.

My only problem is when my T forgets our appointment. Yes, he has done that twice to me in the past year. No secretary.

It hasn't been too hard to schedule with mine. I got an appointment in less than a week for my first session, then we scheduled for my 2nd session at the end of the first one. Then, this morning I got an email from my T saying she had an opening this afternoon and wanted to know if I wanted it. So, so far it has been pretty easy to schedule with her. She does all her own scheduling as she only works 2 days and doesn't have a secretary.

My T doesn't email or text at all, either (another T in his office was disciplined for having a sexual relationship with a patient (it happened a few months after therapy ended)). But really, it hasn't affected my connection to him. I hope things change for you!

Thanks for the advice - I think I will try to ask T for a standing appt. every two weeks!

My appts are weekly and scheduled 6-8 weeks in advance.

I have a standing appointment time. When I recently wanted to change it from Monday to Wednesday, she kept that in mind and over a month or so she did some rearranging in her schedule until we could change our day to Wednesday.
She schedules Mon-Thurs, but there have been times that due to holidays or her being away that she has come in on a Friday. One time, just for me

I can only get into my T once a month. There's no way to see the T weekly. He is so booked. I have to schedule my next appointment at least a month ahead.

I am very lucky. I have a standing appointment but if I want to schedule an extra session, she almost always has a slot for me. Even if I say I want to cancel (because I'm going through some hard stuff and want to avoid her), she says she'll keep that slot available for me if I change my mind. And, of course, I always do.