Sacking a client

[LoriR]

It has to happen one day, the client- therapist relationship isn't working out,for whatever reason,but for those of you who have had to do this, what would you say, how on earth did you do it, and what's the line you draw at acceptable behaviour.. or theirreliance ontheir therapist to help them?

 

[betty s/nikoly]

It has happened to me twice in nearly 30 years as a therapist. The first one was a male client, who, after treating him for nearly 6 months, asked for 'favours' that I did not offer! I asked him to leave instantly, which he did. I also wrote to him, telling him not to contact me for further appointments - I put CC on the bottom, where I wrote my solicitors name (but I didn't send it to the solicitor!)
The second was a female, who came for breast cancer related lymphoedema treatment. I sensed at the first consultation and treatment that she was a complex character, and something rang alarm bells in my head. She came for 3 treatments in a week and was responding really well, but didn't show up for the 4th. She rang a week later and asked to see me immediately, so I fitted her in - she was an hour late, which meant I couldn't see her as someone else was already in the clinic. She made a scene and made nasty allegations about me. I asked her to leave. She said she was going to get her solicitor on to me......
Needless to say, I didn't hear from a solicitor. She rang me again after about 6 weeks, asking for another appointment. I said that I didn't think I was able to offer the service she required, and that she should see her GP for referral to an NHS clinic in her area. She appears to be a 'serial' therapist user - I have since heard that she threatened to 'report' a local aromatherapist/chiropractor/acupuncturist and homeopath!!!

 

[shags1_23]

I prefer to call it "retiring" a client, and I've had to do it twice, once with a very unreliable client who altered appts at short notice andwhose cheque then bounced: I just called up toask for a re-issue of the chequeand to say it wasn't working out and I wouldn't be keeping our next appt. The new cheque never arrived.
The other one was more complex: an elderly man who I had been going to for years, to give him an exercise session, and who's wife increasingly relied on me for his well-being while she was consumed with her work, (she was much younger).
They were as tight as a***holes: despite livingin a house worth getting on for a million, surrounded by good furniture and antiques, they never offered me petrol money for all the running around I did for him, or a pay rise. Theycalled me afamily friend which was nicebut I got fed up with a situation where I felt exploited. The opportunity to "retire" my client came when I was about to start my Masters: I tried really hard to get someone else to help them, but they weren't willing to pay the going rate, having underpaid me for so long!
So I said good-bye. I still feel guilty about it, but I think it was the right decision.
Sharon.

 

[tray]

Hi Justine[/align][/align]If you really can't treat someone for whatever reason, just tell them thatyou do not feel you are the right therapist for them,try andrecommend they try a differenttype of therapy that you do not supply.[/align][/align]Be polite but firm and that is it [/align]

 

[vvewyuehidcilgexm]

There was quite a long thread on this subject on the massage forum:

[link=http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=275573&mpage=1&key=&#276672]Getting Rid of Unwanted Clients[/link]

Alan

 

[nxojwgor]

Thankyou for your advice, Alan, thanks for the link, I had forgotten about that thread and it was useful to read it again.

Jabba - this was like your long term client, been coming to me for a while and then made a suggestion.. Not something I will tolerate and not a position I choose to put myself in. I ws very clear to him, explained that a suggestion such as that wasn't appropriate, and I finished the treatment. My other half wasn't home and although I wanted to say please don't come back, I didn't, cause I thought it would be safer with M there downstairs, or over the phone.

Sharon - Retiring, what a lovely way to say it. Makes it sound lovely. I shall bear that in mind in future, and hope that I never have to do this again.

Paul - I did just that, I was clear, concise, straight, explained my reasons and motivations and said respectfully that I could no longer continue to be his therapist.

Feel much better now, had a couple of down days waiting for the call, part of my hoped it wouldn't come,but now it's come, I'm feeling quite happy and calm and ok about everything again.

Thankyou.