How many clients does your T see?

I don't know how many clients my T sees each week, though I have wondered about it. She recently told me that she's realized that her practice has shifted so that now most of her income comes from doing training (she's an expert on women and trauma) and that she want's to shift back to doing more straight therapy because she enjoys it more.

--splitimage

If the T is doing 18 a day, some of them may be families and couples, which would account for the higher numbers.

I think it varies a lot. Right now he's pretty busy. I can tell because it's hard to schedule session outside our usual times.

He used to number his invoices. Then it was really easy to tell. But he lost track of that somewhere along the way.

I like it when he's busy, because then I feel secure that his private practice is doing well and he won't feel the need to think about outside work. But I don't like it when he's too busy to squeeze me in.

I know he has other clients. But I also know I'm his longest term client, and that I have a special place for that reason. So I feel secure enough to just feel grateful to the others for keeping him in business.

I asked a long time ago her how many she seen and she said count the files on my desk. then I said 18 and she said YES 18

I think my T sees about 30 a week. I don't know if they are all the same, but there are NO free hours.

I think that it is too many clients. If T has no free hours to see a client in an emergency, that is a little screwy.

I have seen a few of T's other clients and I hate it. It just makes me realize that T is T and really does not care because there are 29 other people T sees and most of them are probably better than me.

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Dinah said:
But I also know I'm his longest term client

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I think I may be my T's longest term regular client also (I have seen him for 18 months). I think this because he has raised his hourly rate since I started with him and he keeps people at the rate they start on. He said one time, "you're the only one left at that rate," so I take that to mean I am his longest client. I don't know if that's good or bad. It makes me a little nervous because he says he doesn't do longterm therapy (3 yrs or longer), and here I am halfway to his limit.

I AM ON FIRE..............

my therapist works M-W only and doesnt see as many clients as
the "partners" in the same office...she is an independent clinician and sees as many as she wants and right now is not accepting any new clients.....

i dont have a number and as far as it affecting me....not sure what that question really means.....then again I think im the only male who ever posts in this forum...i think

Mine probably has anywhere from 30-50 patients, I really have no idea. I just started so I'm not totally attached yet, so I don't really know how some of you feel. I do wish there were less clients just simply so the therapist could be free to answer phone calls and schedule appointments more often...but...other than that, it doesn't bother me.

HELLLLLOOOO! I don't know how many clients my therapists sees but it is TOO MANY! She usually don't have time to return phone calls in between visits and we only see her twice a month. We are DID and this IS NOT working!!!!!!! Seriously considering finding a new therapist but don't know if it is ethical/OK to do? Does anyone have any suggestions? I mean, I don't want to seem like a spoiled brat that needs a lot of attention but twice a month doesn't even begin to come close to being often enough to facilitate very much growth and learning about our internal system, etc. Has anyone else ever experienced this?

My T sees 3 clients

Me, mE, and ME

Hi beadlady -

You're not being a spoiled brat if you need to see T more than twice a month! You need what you need. I started going once a week back in November, then almost immediately switched to twice a week. I've been going twice a week since then, but there have been more than a few weeks when I've gone three times. It just takes what it takes, and if your T has time to see you more, and you have the money to pay for it, it is more than okay!

I did struggle with whether or not it was "okay" for a long time, but now I'm just grateful that I'm able to get the support that I need.

Hi earthmama! Thanks for the encouragement. Now you've hit the nail on the head wherein lies the problem. My therapist does NOT have time to see us ( there's kinda more than one of ME) more than twice a month. She don't have time to return phone calls or answer emails either - when she does it can be up to a week later. She's really nice, supportive, etc. but I dunno.................I've started searching for a new therapist after the response I got to an email we sent her. Not GOOD ......If I actually get blessed enough to find one, how do I tell her? I wish I knew what the ethical way is to leave a therapist because I don't wanna step on anybody's toes here.Don't know how to do this??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

beadlady, I think it is considered good form (although not unethical) to not just drop the therapist like a hot potato, but to go for at least one session to "wrap things up" and get closure, for both of you. If she needs explanation as to why you are leaving, you can just tell her the truth, that you need more support/therapy, perhaps weekly sessions, and her schedule doesn't allow that.

Thanks Sunrise. You're right, we definitely don't wanna just drop T like a hot tater.....Hopefully we can get some closure and that she accepts our decision w/out too much flack. Think we'll have to be honest and explain why..Guess if she don't like it that's her problem and we don't have to own it. I think we're really liking PC.Just need to understand the hows of this gooder.......This is so scary cause i have serious trust issues and we at least know we could trust her. Switching to someone new is really a big BIG leap of fatith.we've put it off too long already..just gonna have to prepare to take a plunge.....Are those normal to feel this way??

Actually, I have dropped T's by phone call, by snail mail and by various other ways.

This T is not meeting your needs. If she said that she can not, move on. If you feel you need another session because YOU feel you need it, then go. Otherwise, call her and tell her that she is not meeting your needs and thank you.

Why waste the money?

Anyway, it is normal to feel scared looking for a new T. Everytime I move, it is hard. It takes forever and it is heartbreaking at time. But it is normal. Hang in there.

Thanks, Riptide for the support and helpful info. Its definitely not worth wasting the money. We are definiteley continuing (spelling) our search for another T and we are hanging in as best we can. Sometimes its hour by hour, sometimes minute by minute. We will have to get thru this to get to better horizons.

Just to let you know..........we see a potential new T for initial consultation this Tuesday. Scared but hopeful....beadlady29

Beadlady: I actually wrote up my own "interview' questions to ask the potential T. I had gone through 3 of them in the last year & a half (since my unfortunate relapse & OD) & then about the 4th session or so found out we were not compatible or did not agree on some fundamental issues--such as medications--one told me meds "blunted" my emotions so therapy would be more difficult!! Jees, without meds I'd spend my whole session crying hysterically--blunt me!!! I need meds to even give me the ability to go to therapy & get anything out of it.

So armed with the interview questions, I call the potential T & leave a message on the voice mail or with the receptionist that I'd like about 10 min. of her time (I only go to female T's) to talk before I schedule an initial intake (so as not to waste my/her time & my money with trying to discover if we have the same beliefs & concept of how my therapy should progress). Anyway, no potential T has refused (though I'm sure they are surprised by my request). If she refused, automatically she would not be right for me! I need someone who will respect my efforts to get myself the best treatment that I can.

Good luck with the new T--remember he/she is YOUR EMPLOYEE!! Be assertive to make sure you get what you need.--Suzy

Wow Suzy! the more we write th more i get the idea you've really got a good handle on dealing with this stuff - both out of experience and brains. so glad U are willing to share some of what you've learned with us............
i hear U on the medication thing - we also have to be "blunted" in order to function and not be totally climbing the walls, hysterical, overly angry, etc ,,,necessary to maintain any kind of a premace of 'normal' in this messed up world....................
never thinked of T as my employee but it do make sense.........
if you don't mind me asking and U answering i are really interested in what types of questions you asked new T???? thinking what a good idea that is and how much it would help.............thanks, beadlady29