Cancellation policies

What kind of cancellation policy does your therapist have? Does she/he charge for missed sessions even if you call to cancel?
My therapist has a very strict policy. In her blog she writes that " you could be hacking up a lung or in the hospital after a car accident "... Doesn't matter, the hour is still yours and you have to pay for it. There are reasons other than greed for this strict policy she goes on to say... Part of it is that such strict boundaries can create tension and anger, can the relationship survive these intense feelings? I'd have to go back and look at her blog to be able to share more about this but I'm interested to know how your therapist handles cancellations

My therapist has a similarly strict cancellation policy and charges for missed sessions, but allows for a week "vacation" per year. I will say that the policy has been really helpful for me - I've had to go when I didn't want to, and fave feelings when I would've just cancelled had that been an option.

They say 24 hours' notice in their contracts. No. 2 told me there was no charge if I was sick, etc., while No. 3 told me there would be no charge for not showing up.

No. 1 probably would have charged me.

I can understand how it is helpful to you. I've only had to cancel on my therapist once due to illness and she didn't charge me either, but I think that is because I'm a very reliable client. I'm there faithfully every week.

My Ts.practice's policy is a charge of you don't cancel 48 hours in advance. Each T came do want they want, however and mine has never charged for my late cancellations (very few). He said he doesn't charge for illness, sick kids or if you're stuck in traffic- basically anything reasonable.

I saw a t who told me a story about a client who came to his appointment really sick, so she asked him to leave and reschedule. He said ok but asked for his money back and she said no- that it was still her time and she should be paid for it. I thought that was really unreasonable on her part.

24-hour notice for cancellations. He is so booked. He can usually fill in a spot from some from his waiting list.

My T has let me slide plenty of times. She actually cares and understands if I can't make it.

thorazine abilify alprazolam gabapentin temazepam sarcosine l-theanine

Well, hold on to your seats... my T's policy is that you have to give 3 business days notice to cancel appointments! Weekends don't count!

So, if you have an appointment on Wednesday at noon - you have to let him know by Friday at noon to cancel, or be charged!

I *think* he might be flexible in case of sudden illness. I asked him about ice... I'm scared to drive when there's ice on the roads (we're in the south, so not that often) and he said that he'd let me cancel for ice , but that I couldn't cancel if I just suddenly felt like not coming.

I've never seen anybody that required that much notice for a cancellation - usually it's just 1 or 2 days. It kind of sucks!

I accidentally missed an appointment once. It was an honest mistake so my t didn't charge me. I cancelled last minute on my t about 2 months ago because she pissed me off. She didn't charge me then either. So I guess I really don't know what my t's cancellation policy is, if one even exists.

My current t doesn't charge for last-minute cancellations, though I've rarely cancelled unless I was sick or in the hospital.

I had one t charge me her full fee even though I was stuck on the side of the road with car trouble. I was coming from work and it would have taken me 2 hours to get to her office on a good day and yet I showed for every appointment. I had never before cancelled on her... that was the end of that. I never rescheduled.

I get the need for boundaries and cancellation policies, but inflexible ones are excessive. We're all human, life happens. If a client made a habit of canceling at the last minute on a regular basis, it's time to figure out what's going on with the therapy and/or the client that's creating a barrier to treatment. Maybe it's a poor fit, maybe the client is afraid of something, maybe there's transference, maybe child care is an issue, maybe money or time plays a role. It's then the therapist's job to work with the client to ease the barriers (switch times, drop session frequency, address the emotional barriers...). Sure, boundaries are necessary, but so is understanding. I'm pretty sure the same therapists that demand their fee regardless of excuse would never hold themselves to such strict boundaries. Is compensation offered when the therapist needs to cancel?

One of the things I've heard over and over again from good therapists is the importance of "meeting the client where they are" and working from that point. Overtly rigid boundaries prevent that.

24 hours notice is the usual with both of them, but they have been flexible around my sick person which has been the only reason I have had for not giving 24 hours notice. I would not hire one who thought they were salaried by me.

My therapist has a 24-hour policy in theory but I couldn't imagine him ever actually charging me- I never cancel unless I'm sick, and he cancels on me much more frequently as he gets sick a lot.

I am glad this is not a big issue for my therapist - I would be very unhappy and feel trapped with a therapist who had a harsh cancellation policy.

The office where my T works says they require 24 hour notice or there is a charge for missed appointments. I don't remember signing a formal agreement about it, though.

There are several T's in that office so I think the rule is there as a blanket statement.

When I have had to cancel, the I expressed concern about the 24 hour notice rule. T said she doesn't want me worrying about that. We talk on the phone for an hour, instead, if possible, if ice or something keeps me from our appointment. She's pretty understanding.

A 3-day notice is ridiculous imo. That would not work for me. It's way too strict. Did he ever explain why he demands a 3 business days notice? My therapist asks for 24 hour of notice if I cancel. If not, I have to pay for the session.

Wow, some of your T's have really strict cancellation policies! Both my T and marriage counselor haven't charged me if I've had to cancel even the same day due to illness (mine, H, or daughter's) or to adverse weather conditions. I'm not sure what their official policy is. Like it might be different if I kept no-showing without calling first or something like that.

Usually my t is good about not charging me if I call ahead of time. He has a waiting list so he can fill my slot easily.

Maybe it depends on the type of therapy. Just because I'm not there. That time slot is all mine. Has been for years. That's part of the therapy. If I don't go T is still holding 'us' & our work together during that time. So yeah she charges if I don't go.

I'm not sure if the policy is 24 or 48 hours notice but one time I went when I was having some crazy random allergy attack and could barely open my eyes, souldn't stop sneezing or blowing my nose etc..... I woke up like this and normally would have canceled but didn't want to have to pay the missed appointment fee. T said that I should have stayed home and that she wouldn't have charged me because I had a good reason. So it sounds like it's kind of up to her discretion. I know that she would not let me off the hook if I clearly just didn't want to go because we will always find stuff to talk about.

No charge for missed appointments, but they ask that you give at least 12 hours notice.

Old T (who I am currently seeing again) has a 24 hour cancellation policy. But she has said to let her know if I'm ever not up for the drive after work (her office is over an hour away) or if the weather is bad. I don't think she would charge me if I was sick or for weather related issues.

Current T has a 48 hour cancellation policy. He has never charged for sickness.

I am not sure what my ts cancellation policy is. We never discussed this or arranged anything. I only cancelled once and she didn't charge me.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

T1 doesn't charge but I have never cancelled except letting him know way ahead of time if I am going to be out of town. T2 and 3 are in the same practice where there is a "you may be charged" if cancelling without 24 hour notice. I don't think I have ever cancelled with either of them with less than 24 hours. They both have a waiting list so it's no sweat off their backs.

I definitely try to give as much notice as possible when I need to cancel due to travel or job. I think 3 days is reasonable if that is the case. But if I was going to be charged if I was ill, I would show up and hope they caught it,. Or better yet, that I puked in their office.

And a definite no if I had to have the same time every week or pay for it. But I don't mind switching days or times around. My schedule is pretty flexible.

48 hour cancellation policy, first offence (accidental) was not charged extra, subsequent offences I assumed would be. They haven't occurred.

Officially 24 hour notice, but he never charged me for cancelling. I rarely did, and only if I was really sick or there was an emergency. Same thing with pdoc.

Pretty much the same for me - I've only cancelled once ( within the time frame ) but I don't think he would charge for sickness and circumstances beyond people's control. I think he's careful not to do anything that would make me feel trapped. We're both flexible and it works well.