[franki_j]

Lately my scheduling with T has been quite chaotic due to my new job. We finally figured on a new time, Tuesdays at 5:45. Well, I wasn't able to see her last Tuesday because of something work related I absolutely couldn't get out of. I ended up seeing her two times a week the week before last to make up for not seeing her at all this week.
This Tuesday, I have a meeting at 3:00 PM. The latest it should go to is 5:00 (and I think I am overestimating even that), but I can't help feeling anxious that I might be a couple minutes late to T. Maybe a couple minutes doesn't sound like a lot to some, but to me it is. My sessions are only 45 minutes once a week, so I always try and give myself enough time to get there early just in case. If the meeting goes until 5:00 I will just make it, barely. I have such anxiety over this, even though it seems so silly. I also emailed T a quick email letting her know I might be a couple minutes late, but realistically, I don't think the meeting should go until 5:00.
It just feels very unstable to me, like my T appointments depend on outside forces. T has been super understanding and flexible and always manages to fit me in (i.e. seeing me twice the week before last since I couldn't see her last week), but after seeing her for a year and a half with an extremely stable appointment time that was not subject to outside influence, it is hard not having complete control over how early I can leave to get to my appointments on time and is causing me quite a lot of anxiety.

[Sila]

I totally know how you feel here. I'm dependant on my bf for the ride to my T every wednesday at 7 p.m. It's a 20 min drive, and whereas I'm ready to go at 6:20 with 10 mins extra to spare, I have to wait on him to get ready too- and by then I'm constantly worrying that I'm going to be late. I start counting down the minutes, asking how close we are, etc, until I finally get there.

And usually I'm not all too late- a minute or two max, and she's just finishing up paperwork etc as is so it works out fine. She never rushes me to finish our sessions just because we hit the end of the time, if I need the extra 2 minutes or so to finish talking then we take it and then we're fine.

Ask your T if there's any way she can reassure you that being a few minutes late isn't detrimental and it'll work itself out? Whether you can call/be called the next day or in the middle of the week for a quick check up, etc.

I understand how difficult working full time and going to T can be to get and keep scheduled. If I remember correctly, you are new to this job right? Is it possible to tell your boss that you are more than able to work extra on other nights but on Tuesdays you have a commitment and you will need to leave on time. I have done that in the past but I know its hard to feel out those situations when you are new.

[mixedup_emotions]

Ugh. That is incredibly stressful. I used to go through the same thing when I was working full time, always worried that I was going to get called into a meeting, or that a meeting time would run over.

It'd be great if your job could be made aware of your obligation...but I also understand how difficult that can be. My boss knew but was never very considerate of my time.

[franki_j]

Readytostop, the reason why I chose Tuesdays to go to T is that I actually do have a class I take Tuesday nights right after T, so I use that as an excuse to leave early.
I guess my situation is a little more complicated because I am actually doing a service term, so not only do I work for my company, but I also work for AmeriCorps. So for example, last week I had to attend a mandatory AmeriCorps function and this Tuesday, the meeting has to do with AmeriCorps. It is actually easy for me to get out of directly work-related events, but not AmeriCorps events. My service term is over in August, so I am hoping that after this I can find a job where I won't have so many obligations.
But yes, I am always very vocal that I can't work late on Tuesdays because of class; however, when it comes to AmeriCorps events/meetings it is harder to get out of.