[chelsi]

Began seeing a new therapist recently, was unsure about working with this clinic / therapist to start with, now I feel like this is not going to be a good situation at all.

I want to do a reality check, though, so please give me your reactions - am I being reasonable or not?

Here's the situation: the new therapist canceled 3 of the first 4 appointments with very little notice - this is a 75% failure rate - and I feel like I don't / can't trust the therapist now.

* App't 1 - canceled at 4:45 pm the day before with no explanation
* App't 2 - had session, seemed to go OK
* App't 3 - 3:00 pm app't canceled at 8:45 that morning, therapist sick
* App't 4 - 11 am app't, called in at 9 am to check and app't confirmed; then clinic called me at 10:15 am to cancel app't, therapist needs to complete end of fiscal year paperwork

My reaction: I'm upset and disappointed, because my needs are not being met. I do understand therapists get sick and that they have other tasks, and that no one is doing anything on purpose to hurt me. At the same time my needs are not being met and I have lost faith in building a relationship of trust with this therapist. I feel that I can not trust that the therapist will keep our appointments.

Again, I don't think any of this is targeted at me personally, I think the clinic / therapist does not have the bandwidth to provide effective therapy to/for me.

Am I being reasonable to feel this way, or am I over reacting?

Please let me know what you think, and thanks for your feedback.

[unaluna]

I would be done with this therapist. That last one - you're confirmed and then you're cancelled? Wtf? This therapist needs therapy!

[CastlesInTheAir]

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. Thier office sounds disorganized and lacks good time management , id maybe mention your needs to her and if it isn't fixed then I would go elsewhere

[tinyrabbit]

That's terrible. I would find another T. Cancelling you because of paperwork is not cool. You're not overreacting.

Cancelling because of paperwork is a joke. I would ring this therapist and tell them I am done with you. Paperwork should be done on their own time and not a clients time, this therapist is totally unethical and like Hankster says, needs therapy.

[Flooded]

Nup, no way would I put up with that and I wouldn't even bother ringing to tell them unless its to cancel any remaining appts.
Therapist does paperwork outside therapy hours and certainly doesn't cancel a new patient because of it!

[healed84]

I would say you should find somebody else!! Yes, Ts get sick, but if they get overloaded with paper work that is another thing. My T has built in times in his schedule for stuff like that!! I hope you can find a T that better suits your needs!

[elaygee]

The last cancel is what gets me... I get sometimes Ts get sick amd random craziness. But end of year paperwork they know about. Dont cancel for that reason. Lame.

My T hasn't cancelled that many sessions in 8 years. 3 cancellations in 4 appointments is ridiculous. Doesn't bode we'll for the future.

[~Christina]

My T had to cancel 1 appt in 3 years. He had the flu . Your T should be replaced .

[Freewilled]

I'm sorry! That's awful IMO. I also would just move on and find another T ASAP. You deserve better

I've been with the same therapist for three years and he has never cancelled. He has rescheduled with me twice in that entire time.

[stopdog]

I think I would find a new one. This one sounds goofy and irresponsible.

[content30]

My T hasn't cancelled that much with little notice in 1.5 years. That is extremely unprofessional and ridiculous. I wouldn't go there and would complain to that T's supervisor.

[rainbow8]

My T canceled only twice in over 3 years. Once she went to a funeral of a close friend, and the other time she got sick.

[critterlady]

My T has only canceled once in 1.5 years and that was because we had a hurricane and the governor had imposed driving restrictions.

I think your response is reasonable and completely justified.

[mixedup_emotions]

I would definitely look to get another T, especially before investing too much in this one. It may even be worthwhile to highlight this with the T, so that it's something the T can be alerted to. I'd imagine it impacts a lot of this T's clients.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I'd definitely find another T. I've been with my T for 4 years now and she's never canceled on me. We've had to reschedule appointments on occasion, and she once contacted me and asked if we could do a phone session as she was sick, but no cancellations.

[healingme4me]

I had a T reschedule, once, due to weather conditions, which, were completely legit, everyone was running late that day.

Fiscal Year Paperwork? Um, 6/30 is a couple days away

I'd find someone else, somewhere else.

[wotchermuggle]

I'd either call and ask if this is a regular occurrence or ask the therapist about it before leaving. If they cancel again, then definitely, I'd just say forget it.

How was your one appointment? Good chemistry?

You're definitely not overreacting.

[feralkittymom]

Wow. Seriously unprofessional. I'd say to write a letter to the head person of the clinic saying how poorly you have been served, and that you will not be scheduling further appointments.

I mean, what will happen when you have a pressing need, as opposed to a well-scheduled advance appointment?

I would agree with the general consensus, very poor service - when it comes down to it, its your time and your money so if you're not happy with what you're getting there are others more serious about what they do.

[Perna]

Appointment 4 would be a red flag for me. But I'd want to go in to appointment 5 and discuss the whole thing like you have posted here, see if the clinic is messed up or the therapist (not getting the message you had called and confirmed) and, if it's the clinic's "fault" what, if anything, the therapist would do to fix those problems so they don't keep happening, etc.

I do not know why you are seeing a therapist or are going to that clinic but I would go over with myself how I have presented myself and my problems, see if maybe I have given the impression that I do not mind rescheduling, etc.; I know with my dentist, I'm an "easy" patient, enjoy going to the dentist and have let them know that in all ways so they can keep me waiting or leave me in the chair alone, longer, if they have someone else a the same time who is more difficult, can cancel or rearrange when I come in, etc. In some situations I like to be "useful" in that way, both enjoyable and flexible to work with.

[pbutton]

I saw my first T for a year and 3 months. No cancellations.

I have been seeing my second T for a year next week. No cancellations.

I really wouldn't like the situation that you're in with this clinic. It would bother me and I'd be looking elsewhere.

[chelsi]

Thanks, everybody for your opinions, advice & support - very much appreciated.