What can I do if my therapist is always late?

Therapists should model boundaries they want their clients to uphold. Some therapists may cancel your appointment if you’re running late. But, if they’re consistently late themselves or ending your sessions early, it may be a flag that it’s time to seek therapy elsewhere.

Can you call your therapist at any time?

You can certainly call anyone. The question is whether or not your therapist will pick up. When I meet with my clients for the first time, I review my informed consent form which includes a section about contact. I ask them to reserve our 1:1 scheduled time for therapy.

Can I call my therapist in between sessions?

Any contact therapists have with clients between therapy sessions is categorized as intersession contact. This includes email, text, phone calls and in-person exchanges. In other words, the client is not required to need to contact the therapist in order to contact them.

How long should I wait for a no show?

My rule of thumb for how long you should wait for someone who is late is 25 to 30 minutes. It is no different for family or friends than it is for your boss or a professor. After 30 minutes, you are good to go with no apology.

Can you submit a photo of your therapist’s waiting room?

Clients around the world could submit a picture of their therapist’s waiting room taken with their phone (no people, please) and add their thoughts about therapy or the room or tell a waiting room story. From posh Park Avenue offices to the realities of impoverished communities and all those quirky shrink spaces in between.

What questions should I Ask my Therapist on the first call?

The therapist will typically start off the call with a few questions to get to know you better, so they can make sure they’re qualified to meet your needs. Here are some questions a therapist may ask you on the initial call: Why are you considering therapy now? Have you been in therapy before? What are you looking for in a therapist?

Is a bad waiting room experience prematurely ending good therapy?

A bad waiting room experience can prematurely end good therapy. Providing a safe, comfortable waiting room is part of good ethics, good client care and good business. There’s flexibility here, too. Like many of the proclamations I make in this blog, I drape a big “it depends” over the top.

What is the purpose of the waiting room?

The waiting room is more than a showcase of your therapist’s interior design skills (or lack thereof).* It’s more than a place to sample muzak or white noise. It’s more than a room to wait.