I remember when I was in grade four and we had weekly spelling tests. I hated them. Even with the little riddle 'i before e except after c', I found that wasn't always the case. Now I see little memes and jokes about all of the exceptions to this one rule. Sure, it's funny. Kind of.
When it isn't funny is when you're working with clients and they don't understand the rules because there are so many exceptions to them. Much like my eight-year old self, your clients will get frustrated and confused.
While I didn't have the choice to give up grade school, your clients aren't forced to stick with you until graduation. Clinicians are mindful about certain aspects of the client journey that may rupture the therapeutic alliance, but there are a lot of areas that go unnoticed.
Some common exceptions we see clinicians making in practice are:
waiving the cancellation fee
booking an appointment outside of your normal business hours
working with the client for longer than the scheduled session
accepting client emails or SMS's
As clinicians, it's important to provide the client with the ability to make informed decisions. However, when we make exceptions to the rules of engagement, we are hindering the client's ability to make informed decisions. Unless you provide a manual to therapy that clearly outlines the client's responsibilities, (which we suggest here in our Client Engagement Course) then your clients may have a difficult time following the boundaries you set for them.
Exercise:
Answer these questions.
1. Am I making excuses for my clients?
2. Am I too fluid in "helping" my clients get the to the end of their therapeutic journey?
3. What is the one boundary I move the most for clients?
4. What is one change I'm willing to make over the next thirty days?
BONUS: If you make a commitment to make one change in the next thirty days, I'm happy to help hold you accountable. By clicking here, you can book in 2 1/2 hour sessions with me over the course of 30 days. Tell me your one thing and I'll help you stick to it. Together we can help you get to where you'd like to be in your practice.
This is part three of our 11 part series around client engagement. Subscribe to our newsletter to for more resources and information on managing your private practice.