When a client misses a scheduled session with me, I could respond with comments about responsibility, respecting my time, etc.
But I see these as teachable moments. My clients have executive function gaps, including the ones responsible for time management and showing up on time.
So why did they miss the meeting, was it because:
- they set a reminder instead of an appointment on their device,
- wrote it in their planner but forgot to check it,
- didn’t write it down at all,
- they had difficulty transitioning from what they were doing,
- time-blindness caused them to schedule it on the wrong day or time?
Can you think of other reasons?
So, I email them to reassure them that this isn’t a failure on their part; it’s an opportunity to examine what made it difficult to follow through on showing up for the appointment on time.
These conditions affect how well we can engage with life.
Through self-compassion, self-understanding, and strategies to work around their skill gaps, they’re able to explore more opportunities and have more meaningful relationships.
They don’t have to change who they are to do it.