Cancelling your therapy session.
A part of the service that I offer is to provide you with an ongoing appointment time, reserved specifically for you. This regular time is intended to support consistency in therapy and to provide a reliable space for us to work toward your goals together.
Because of this, cancellations and missed appointments can have a number of impacts — on your therapy progress, on the sustainability of my practice, and on other clients waiting for support.
The impacts of cancelling
Your therapy.
Therapy often involves showing up even when life feels busy, stressful, or overwhelming. Work demands, family responsibilities, illness, fatigue, and unexpected events can all make attending appointments difficult at times.
At the same time, regular attendance is an important part of gaining the benefits of therapy. Consistency helps us maintain momentum, and continue progressing toward the goals that brought you to therapy.
My practice.
As a small business owner, appointment times are reserved specifically for each client. When a session is cancelled at short notice or left unfilled, it can have a significant impact on the viability of the practice.
For this reason, I have a 48-hour cancellation policy, which allows me to manage the practical realities of running a private practice while continuing to provide ongoing care to clients.
Even when more than 48 hours’ notice is provided, it is not always possible to refill an appointment time. If appointments are cancelled frequently over time, it may become difficult for me to continue reserving a recurring session time in an ongoing way.
Our work together.
Regular attendance supports continuity, trust, and progress within therapy. Repeated cancellations or extended gaps between sessions can sometimes make it more difficult for us to maintain the rhythm and effectiveness of our work together.
If attendance becomes difficult, I encourage us to have an open discussion about what is realistic and sustainable moving forward so that we can determine the most appropriate plan together.
Other clients.
Many people seeking support are waiting for ongoing appointment times. When sessions are cancelled or left unused regularly, it can mean fewer opportunities are available for others who are hoping to access care.
Cancelling multiple upcoming appointments
When we agree to an ongoing appointment schedule, I reserve that time specifically for you with the expectation that it will be attended consistently where possible.
With the exception of planned leave, if you find that regular attendance is no longer manageable, that is completely okay — circumstances and needs can change over time. In these situations, it can be helpful for us to revisit what level of commitment feels achievable and whether an alternative arrangement may better suit your current circumstances.
If you would still like to continue therapy but need a different structure, I welcome a conversation about what may work best moving forward.
Cancelling within 48 hours (or not attending your scheduled appointment)
The 48-hour cancellation policy is intended for unexpected or unavoidable circumstances. Wherever possible, I ask that known cancellations be communicated with as much notice as you can provide.
Appointments cancelled within 48 hours, or appointments not attended, incur my standard session fee.
I do understand that unforeseen situations arise, and I try to offer flexibility where appropriate. Depending on availability and suitability, options may include:
changing the appointment to telehealth; or
rescheduling to another appointment time within the same calendar week.
In summary
Therapy is most effective when appointments are attended consistently and become a regular priority.
Please provide as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule.
The 48-hour cancellation window is intended for unforeseen circumstances.
If attending regularly has become difficult, I encourage us to discuss this openly so we can determine the most suitable path forward.
Telehealth may be an option for appointments that become difficult to attend in person at short notice.
I value the opportunity to work with my clients and appreciate the trust involved in engaging in therapy. My hope is always to create an arrangement that is supportive, sustainable, and workable for both of us.
