Therapist troubles

[Gentlydoesit2]

Decided I need to start therapy again.

Decided on a therapist after searching threads, posts, local pages etc.

Booked an initial session and have her all my info and life story in an email. Booked for the following week. Paid

She cancelled on the day. Annoying but it is what it is.
Following week comes and she cancels again, on the day due to still being unwell.

I won't get in to too much detail but it's a massive step for me to be taking, I have to plan around it in terms of childcare, meal plan etc and I'm wondering whether she's the right person to go to!! I know you can't help bring ill but I need my therapist to be stable, reliable. It's not the best start ... Do I give her a chance?

Anyone can be ill.

I think it's very unprofessional and not acceptable in that line of work.
Therapists need to be reliable and trustworthy- not flaky.
I'd imagine her cancellation policy for clients would be 24 hours notice, that's fairly typical. I would expect her to treat you with the same level of respect.
Who knows what's going on with her and why she's cancelling but it's not a good sign.
Is she registered with UKCP or BACP?

Yes 24 hours notice for me. She's registered MBACP according to get profile.
It's frustrating because I'll need to find someone else (she is very local and has availability!!) but also something doesn't feel good

Agreed @daisyNGO

Hm, impossible to say what might be going on for her. It is absolutely up to you whether to give her another chance. You would also be completely fair to tell her how inconvenienced you were and how you feel about it (discouraged and less keen on her as a therapist). Her response ought to tell you if she’s a keeper or not. A good therapist will explain herself and accept your feelings about her actions.

I'd ask for your money back and find someone else tbh. She's already proved herself unreliable so I'd just move on.

Blimey. Therapists are people you know. People get ill. Unless you don't believe her? But not sure what your evidence would be for that. Of course you can find another therapist if you wish... but be clear why?

It's really disappointing for you as you'd chosen so carefully and psyched yourself up.

However therapists are human too!! They get ill with no notice, just like anyone else. She could have covid, be stuck in hospital barely able to move with any number of things, or have a seriously ill family member. It doesn't necessarily make her unreliable, just human with a life outside work that might sometimes mean she can't work, just like the rest of the population.

It's hard for therapists to explain much about illness etc. as if they disclose too much about their life to clients it can cause boundary issues and damage the relationship.

I agree with the other poster's suggestion of mentioning when and if you do meet how difficult this has been for you as it could be useful to explore the impact it's had on you.

You are of course completely entitled though to ask for a refund and find someone else, it's got to feel right for you.

I'm a therapist and haven't had Covid yet

But my Dh had it last week and the week before and he's been properly ill

If I had caught the version he had/reacted the same then you can guarantee that for the first time in the last 6 years I'd take sick for 2 weeks (he's really unwell) - which would be a fucking nightmare as I see about 20 clients a week, some of whom are actively suicidal !

So if she's like me and self employed and relies on the income then this may be the only time she's ever been sick in a decade