Changed details for privacy- a prospective client I had a consultation with this Monday had requested to start therapy together. I let him know my one evening available slot and he said he had to ask permission from work due to having an overwhelming work They gave a bit of uncertainty of cancellations in the future due to work commitments. The client just emailed me asking to skip next week as a first session and meet in 2 weeks instead. While I want to give this person the slot that they asked for and respect that they want to start therapy, it definitely makes me nervous when someone cancels a first session this far ahead of time, wondering how much lost income will occur if this is a strong regularity. Regularity. I don't currently have a stipulation in my contract of numbers of cancellations but wondering if maybe I should. What do you all do about a situation like this?

I am considering either saying I'm sorry. I don't think this is actually going to work out if you're already missing a first session or letting them know it's okay and just not make a issue of it and just chalk it up to resistance and starting therapy. Or should I write and say that it's okay to move, but I would appreciate some kind of commitment to therapy and not making it too regular to miss sessions (in one way or another). Thanks!