Am I being dramatic or was this a bit aggressive

Yes I believe this is good guidance, especially knowing there's others whom would read an email like this, & could be driven over the edge
Folks whom seek counselling, are already vulnerable & the counsellor's email was the opposite, of the compassionate, kind, caring tone, which should accompany, a job like counselling -

Hey, therapist in training here. That experience is not ok. Please meet with her if for no other reason than to give feedback. That's a very aggressive late policy.

Absolutely change therapists. That kind of behaviour is unacceptable but I would let them know why you stopped and why you won’t be continuing.

threatening to take you to a debt collector shouldn't ever be on standard email

I’m a therapist, if a client is ten minutes late I call or message to see if they are ok.
Yes, the contract is to pay for missed sessions but her email does seem harsh.
Having said that it could be useful for you to have another session and talk it through with her how it made you feel etc. Depending on what you’re working on, would it be helpful for you to stand up for yourself and discuss it with her?

@ThatKeenJadeLeader Please can you copy and paste the therapist's message? That would be hugely helpful!

She sounds absolutely awful.

I would write back saying to leave the future sessions as cancelled - and give no further explanation.

And then I’d report her to HMRC. Wonder if she’s actually paying tax on these earnings.

I am a therapist and I think this is an extreme reaction. My response if someone doesn’t show is to message to check they are ok. My contract says that sessions like this are chargeable anyway, but also includes a backup plan if the tech fails.
I am sure the therapist is just trying to hold a boundary but they have overstepped massively here, threatening you with court.
If you can, I might consider going back and telling her this. Working through a rupture like this can be really healing, if it’s possible for you, and the therapist is skilled enough to manage it. Only you know if that is possible for you.

It sounds unprofessional to me and the therapist has soured the relationship. It must leave a bad taste in the mouth.

But maybe it happens to the therapist a lot.

The OP had not paid for her session before it started.

Say if five people book an online session with this therapist in a day, and all five just dont show up. The therapist makes no money.

The therapist is making the system bad for herself.

She should have insisted on pre payment.

Then If someone doesnt show up to a session, it doesnt matter as she is paid anyway

A debt collection agency threat when you were ten minutes late for an appointment. So basically she's threatening clients who are likely to be feeling vulnerable which is why they are seeing a therapist before they have even done anything wrong. Bin her for sure, and I'd contact whatever regulatory board there is and send them a copy of her email. That is so unacceptable.

I would reply to her stating this. Then find a different therapist as she has broken the relationship

The fact she doesnt provide a phone number is the issue as well. If your Internet is down which can of course happen at a moments notice, how would you communicate with her? Maybe the first email she sends should check if there is an issue and then allow some time before she goes all guns blazing obsessing over money. At least give it 24 hours before you lose your shit 🙈🙈

Report. Report. Report.

Never see her again

I don't think i would care what she said.

Therapists are not our friends. They are running a business.

She wants her business needs met. I would be realistic

The debt collection threat is an absolute no from me. I excuses I’m sorry. I would be really honest and tell her you were shocked at her reply and the fact that she immediately escalated it to debt collectors when you were 10 minutes late and that you don’t want to see her again.

She sounds like a crap therapist if you’re still struggling after speaking with her for 6 months.

You need to ditch her and find someone more solution focussed so you can move on with your life.

You’d get better therapy from chatting to friends!

For me, id be hurt, intimidated and would imagine the therapeutic relationship has been damaged. I would struggle to trust this therapist again, and im not sure someone who lacks the empathy to imagine how this could impact a client is worth your time anyway

I wouldn't want to go to a therapist that sends a message like that. If it's a standard message then that it doesn't make it any less bad - maybe worse.

So many reasons someone could be 5 minutes late.

That seems too harsh and it has caused a rupture in your relationship. You can maybe talk to the therapist about it, or if you don't feel comfortable you can terminate therapy. It's your decision.

That's definitely an aggressive message.

It must cause her issues too. I'd have absolutely used the remaining 30 minutes, but to explain that she'd worried me, caused general mistrust and to explain how I'd not be seeing her again. I'm often a bit, errm, animated during therapy sessions due to the enormous trust issues and abuse that led me to therapy... I am get very distressed when I feel someone there as support is not someone to trust. It'd just be one big freak out about how cruel she was and how upset I'd been by her choices and how much I'd now hurt myself. She must have some proper shitty days with that message, if it's an automatic one

Sorry thats completely wrong but there are no legalities a therapist doesn't have to wait 15 minutes, legally you don't even have to supply a contract, they don't have to be registered, insured or even qualified...
The majority of us adhere to a code of ethics but you would be very surprise of what legal requirements we have to follow, a clue is there are very few.

Report to who, there is no governing body. Only a membership like the fishing club it's all fucked - that is the trouble with the industry, unregulated and you don't even need to have a qualification!

OP it was rude and I read it as aggressive, I'm a therapist of many years and after 10 minutes I send a message that basically is ' hope all is ok, sorry to have missed you today'.
99% of the time it's a wifi issue or they have forgotten the appiontment.
If someone sorts the wifi issues within 30 minutes I still take the session although I do stick to the remainder of what is left of the hour.
I do charge for late cancellations as we should but if I've chased for more than 2 weeks( 3 emails) I write it off, I do email and explain but also explain that if they would like to have more sessions that the missed one does need payment ( I've been lucky I've only ever had 1 that never paid) - my job is to be with people, be kind and professional not make them feel more shit.

Dreadful behaviour, unnecessarily harsh. I wouldn't feel comfortable going back to her either. And when you're vulnerable, being as comfortable as possible is critical.
Good luck OP 💐

No. She hasn't known her. Op has been a customer of hers for 6 months.

They are not friends.

My uncle is a business owner, he is not friends with any of his customers. He has no relationship at all with them beyond providing a service and getting paid.

Harsh truth is the therapist means something to OP, OP means not much to the therapist as a person. She just sees her as a customer.