I’ve grown a couple degrees less humble in my old age and old therapy practice. Add to that some deliberate cynicism – I don’t believe any of the explanations clients give when they cancel last-minute – to turn me into a torturer. Lamely coy, they apologize then ask: “Can I reschedule next week?”, while knowing they have a standing weekly appointment. So I suggest they take a different hour that day, or something the following day. There are two reasons for this approach, vindictive and legitimate, the latter being less obvious.
It seems like common sense: People get in a “mood” and don’t want to come in. They are tired or mundanely depressed, or especially unmotivated, or some psychosomatic symptom has flared up. They need a break. My view is that is exactly when they should come in. Vulnerable from sickness or lethargy or anomie, clients should drag themselves to an hour session. That is when they have the best potential to be deep – pre-conscious and unconscious – to cut loose primitive-wise, to get into the inner workings of their miserableness and emptiness and fear.
Permit me a little sarcasm: “Oh, I see. You want to have a session when you’re feeling OK, and you want to avoid it when you’re not. Do you set up your surgery appointments that way? ‘Burst appendix! Man, I’m feeling bad! I better stay home today!’”
As to the vindictive part: I know I am annoying them as it’s a given that they aren’t going to come in. Guilt-giving: the job of the therapist, who can determine that it’s for a good reason.
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Comments are welcome, but I'd suggest you first read "Feeling-centered therapy" and "Ocean and boat" for a basic introduction to my kind of theory and therapy.