Therapy requires a two-way commitment from therapist to client and vice versa. Most therapists have a cancellation policy in which they charge the full fee for a cancellation occurring less than 24-48 hours prior to the appointment. Other therapists have a “no cancellation” policy. They require that their clients commit to pay for the reserved time. In this case, the therapist may provide some options when an appointment cannot be kept, such as having a phone session or rescheduling the session.
There are two reasons for a strict policy. First, growth requires commitment and consistency. A strict policy forces a commitment, which is particularly important when therapy is difficult. It requires that a client think seriously about how invested they are in their own treatment. Secondly, a therapist has a limited number of available appointments. These times are reserved in order to promote consistency in the work. The nature of private practice is such that a therapist cannot compensate for late cancellations by “overbooking” or taking “walk-ins” (e.g. as medical clinics do). Without a strict policy, a therapist’s interests and livelihood are left unprotected.