If she's working that way, more power to her. But it's a luxury, much like having a nanny. And her nanny probably can't afford that luxury.

Yup, I'm with everyone else. I have never, ever, ever heard of a therapist who didn't charge for a no-show without sufficient advance notice. And it's not a matter of kind or not-kind; my former therapist was one of the kindest people I've ever known, but she had a demanding practice with lots of patients clamoring for her time, split the office rent in an expensive district with three other therapists with similarly demanding practices, and was also juggling all this with two kids and a daily Bay Bridge commute. If she showed up for a scheduled visit and had to sit on her ass for an hour because a patient didn't show, she still had to do the commute and the rent and all the rest of the overhead entailed in any medical practice, so you bet your damn bippy she charged. And I didn't blame her a bit, either.

Sparky's correspondent sounds like an impressive triple threat: jackass, weasel and complete moron. Well played, madam, well played!

To - well, I hate to say defend, but - I would assume that Snowmageddon '10 is the kind of circumstance where she is not in fact charging her patients, regardless of any 24 hour policy (that I am dead certain she has). But your contract with, and obligation to, your therapist is quite different than to your nanny.

Governor just told the State of Maryland to butch the hell up, essentially. I find that funny.

I've finished vacuuming.

Therapist, therapize thyself!

Want to come over to my place and vacumn? I've got black cat hair all over the blah-beige carpet.

Speaking of cats, I just scheduled her teeth cleaning for next week. I'm taking her in for blood work and urinalysis, as well as the antibiotic shot, on Saturday, and then back for the cleaning on Wednesday. They give 15% discount for any dental work in February, so I'm hoping it won't be more than $300 all told.

Only if you have a better vacuum than I do. I really must replace it.

If only some of the issues spewing forth from this nanny employer came with pictures of faraway places or interesting science articles...

Mmm. Last I checked, working in a helping profession doesn't mean you need to cede good business practices. It's still a business if you're getting paid, whether you're cleaning out someone's emotional gunk or their air filter.