Why do psychotherapists charge for the session when the client is unable to give 24 hours notice?
This is to provide an adequate income for the therapist while keeping the basic cost of sessions to a minimum. Twenty-four hours gives the therapist an opportunity to offer the appointment to someone else. This system is traditional among health care professionals, though some massage therapists and others who are not very busy accept shorter cancellations, and some family doctors handle the matter by overbooking–not an option when appointments are for an hour. It is important for a psychotherapist to be consistent and objective in carrying out his cancellation policy. If he gets involved in judging how good the client’s reason is etc. he makes himself into an Authority Figure, which may upset the balance of power in the relationship and disrupt the therapy. (The client may imagine the therapist to be larger than life, but that is different from the therapist buying into it.) Furthermore, it is best if the client feels free to base his attendance on his own needs and does not confuse
