Would you like this service from your T/Pdoc

my T has an online scheduling site so i book my own appointments then get an email 24 hours in advance of my appointment. i dont mind it

Yes, this system operates where I am. You get a reminder phone call. I don't see anything wrong with that.

I got automatic texts from the computer. I hated it. Therapy sessions terrified me and I sure did not need any reminders about appointments - I could not forget them if I wanted to. It was just one more stressful thing I didn't need in my life. If someone called me beforehand, I would have either let it go to voicemail or just blocked the number.

I have been called by my dog's vet but that is it for me.
If a therapist ever had tried such a thing, I probably would just tell them to stop.
I also don't remind students - they have a syllabus and are adults. Part of what they are expected to do as professionals is figure out a system for themselves to let them know when things are due.

I think they do it to reduce costs associated with no-shows. Calling in advance increases the likelihood that people will show up.

It's often standard practice at group practices, clinics or hospitals. I think the reason is the large number of no shows that happen. This is usually mentioned in the intake they inform clients of the policy around this. I've not seen Partial hospital programs do this though with the exception of the first day. The only thing I find odd is the repeated calls if you don't get an answer. That founds a little excessive.

I receive calls 24 hrs in advance from pdoc's office, 48 hrs from T's office, emails with a "confirm" button from the dentist, reminder calls from the vet, automated reminder calls from my primary MD and the hospital's mammogram clinic, my eye doctor's office, my previous T's office also had automated reminder calls.... hmm.. trying to think of more. It is very common in my life.

Where I went for my T you pay if you don't show. You can cancel 24 hours in advance without needed to pay, but no show = pay.
Other places aren't so rigid.

I don't especially mind the pay part if you cancel less than 24 hours - I would rather pay if I forget than get hounded ahead of time.

Thanks for your input. To me it was really weird at first, but now I see your point. Especially as if someone says they can't make it we have a list of clients to call if a spot opens up.
At least I won't feel bad calling them from now on.

I would like a reminder via text or email. My T schedules the next appointment at the end of a session. Most of the times, I'm an emotional wreck by then and it was even hard to think about what day I'd like my next apt. It's happened often that I had to ask T to confirm the day and time of my apt.
I better could've started the sessions with scheduling the next one. Why do I think of that now now my therapy is almost over?

I might suggest you not worry about "feeling bad" about doing what your job requires you to do. If it is part of your job, that is just what it is and try not to get into questioning everything your employer asks you to do as part of their office procedure. You are not the patient here nor the practitioner. You are simply the employee. This is something to be cognizant of in this new job where you are dealing with things/people you feeling personally involved with because of the relation to your therapist and your own therapy experience. You are going to have to keep a disconnect there or that could potentially become a problem for you.

The place I go does the same. The reminder call actually comes 48 hours in advance to give you a chance to cancel. If you actually intend to go back after the no show (many don't) you have to pay first. No payment = no more appointments unless your clinician makes an exception. If there's a legit reason or your T knows you well enough they will give you a break too. I think it's pretty fair given that there are a lot of people waiting for appointments and many people go to T once or twice only to never go back.

My t does that but not her herself but her secretary. They leave me a message a night before. I don't need if but I don't see it as a big deal at all.



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It's standard practice here to help avoid the amount of people who fail to show up with no warning. They usually have "cancellation lists" patients go on who since there are often long wait times for appointments - this way they can fill the slot rather than lose money.

A solo T who had no office staff is different - you would not see this happen, at least not from my experience.

my T's office calls the day before to remind me of my appointment . I don't mind at all because I have a huge fear of showing up when my T isn't there. so if I don't get the call I don't go . it works out well

I voted other. I think for most clients this would be unhelpful and strange, but there may be some people who, for whatever reason, need this.

I work in a medical practice and this is very common occurrence. I think in a child psychiatry program it is important to have these reminders performed and I commend the office for doing it. Think of the patient population, most of these patients cannot advocate for themselves. Sure as an adult someone has a responsibility to maintain their appointments, but when you take care of the pediatric population, they cannot neccessarily maintain their appointment indepenently unless they are a teenager. One call I think would perhaps be sufficient, but otherwise I agree with it.

My psychiatrist's (who is my therapist) office does phone call reminders. So does my primary care office, my dentist, and my kid's pediatrician. It's standard of care here so I am used to it. It's not neccessary for me but it doesn't bother me and can occasionally be helpful.

I get text reminders to confirm as he has a waitlist and can see someone else if someone isn't going to go in due to illness, holidays or whatever.