⚖️Making sense of the missed session

After the last week’s newsletter on missed sessions, a reader sent in a query about how to respond to a sticky situation of a missed session.

Everyone will face this dilemma, at some point or the other. In therapeutic work, however, there is never a simple answer.

Before you address the financial implications of the missed session, it is important to understand the meaning of the missed session, by yourself and in collaboration with the client.

• How is the client generally with the sessions?
  Are they punctual? Regular with payments?

• How are they in other areas of their life? 
  At work? In other relationships? Organised? Or disorganised?

• What could be the meaning behind the missed session? 
  Is it reflective of a larger pattern in their life? Is it a dismissal of therapy? Is it an unconscious way to test the therapist’s reaction? Is it a dismissal of the self? Or is it just a circumstance that was beyond anyone’s control?

• What could be therapeutic for them in this situation? 
  Consider their personal history here. Could enforcing the cancellation fee be supportive in any way? Eg a reminder to focus on organising their lives better. Or would letting go of the fee be more therapeutic? Eg a reminder that authority figures can be reasonable.

Ultimately, the decision should prioritize what feels most therapeutically valuable for this client in their specific context.

Until next week,
Suvrita