MHM#40 Increasing client commitment to sessions

If only all clients stuck to your recommended number and frequency of sessions.

Clients would get better outcomes, it makes it much easier to manage your diary, and it makes it easier to work out if you're actually fully booked. With a proportion of clients booking sessions ad hoc, it becomes challenging to calculate the number of clients needed to maintain a full caseload.

The typical number and frequency of sessions needed to have the greatest impact will obviously depend on the type of therapy you offer. Many of the trauma therapists I work with know that clients get the most out of therapy when they at least initially attend weekly or fortnightly sessions, but they often find it hard to get clients to commit to that.

This can be the nature of trauma therapy, but no matter what type of therapy you offer, there are several reasons people might struggle to commit - financial reasons, fitting it into an already hectic life, etc.

You can never prevent this entirely, but you can help set clear expectations by including messaging on your website and in the communication prospective clients receive, whether by email, phone, or during an initial consult. Being upfront about what therapy typically involves helps people gain a better sense of what they're signing up for. The clearer you are, the more likely you are to attract the right clients and reduce enquiries from those who aren't a good fit.

Include a paragraph on your Contact page

Below is an example of the type of message you can add to your contact page:

Before you book an initial consult
I offer depth-oriented therapy for adults who are seeking more than just symptom management. My focus is on understanding the deeper emotional patterns formed by early life experiences. Rather than offering quick-fix strategies or surface-level solutions, this work involves a slower, reflective process that supports lasting internal change. As such, I typically work with clients on a fortnightly basis, and meaningful work often extends beyond the 10 Medicare-subsidised sessions per year. If this approach resonates with you, I look forward to supporting you.

Adding FAQs to your website

To help set further expectations and address questions and areas that you feel are important in helping attract more of the right-fit clients, you could add an FAQ section on your website or add information to the About page. Types of questions/information to address can include:

What is YOUR MODALITY, and how does it differ from OTHER MODALITIES?

What does a therapy session with you typically look like?

I've had a lot of X therapy before. How is what you do different?

When is X therapy more appropriate than seeing you?

Do your therapy sessions include X?

How long will therapy take?

Do you offer short-term therapy?

Do I need to commit to a specific number of sessions, or can I book sessions as needed?

Am I the kind of client you're best suited to work with?