I’ve had clients show up late, and suddenly it’s that awkward “uhhh… now what?” moment. Figuring out how to handle it (without turning into a puddle or a drill sergeant) is one of those boundary muscles we all have to flex.

The real question is: is this a one-off, or is this part of their pattern?

Because if it is a pattern—and you’ve already laid out your agreement—it’s absolutely okay to call them on it with calm, professional clarity.
The key is to stay neutral. Don’t take it personally. Just remind them of the boundaries you’ve already established. Something like:

Hi Peggy,
I was expecting you earlier—our session was booked for 2pm. Is everything okay?
I’m happy to continue with the remainder of your session time today, but going forward, please give me notice if you’re going to be late or if something urgent comes up.
I’ll always do my best to shift things when I can, but remember we have a 24-hour cancellation policy in place.
We’ve got about 40 minutes left for today. What would y...

Let’s be honest—it’s the worst when a client  doesn’t show up.
Your time matters, and when someone ghosts your table, it feels downright disrespectful.

Do you smile and let it go? Do you charge them for the missed session?
Here’s the truth: enforcing your cancellation policy isn’t mean—it’s boundaries with love.

When we don’t enforce it, we’re teaching clients that our time (and energy) is optional.
When we do, we’re modeling what healthy professional respect looks like.

So, what’s the real move here?
First—make sure you have a clear, written cancellation policy. (You do have one, right? No? Okay, friend—it’s officially time to put one in place!)
Second—communicate it upfront, not after a no-show. That way, you’re not having an awkward “money conversation,” you’re simply following the agreement you both already made.

Boundaries = respect.
For your time. For your craft. For you.

For the first offense, you might decide to waive your policy as a gesture of good-will, but for repeat ...

Recently, I was speaking with one of my coaching clients about raising her rates, and she was worried about running her clients off, driving them away.

I think everybody, including me, can identify with those worries.

If you're thinking about raising your rates, use a strategy I learned years ago from Sharon Desjarlais. It's called a Gratitude Sandwich.

Here's five steps that will get the job done to raise your rates without losing your clients or your integrity.

Step 1: Be intentional and decide on the exact date. Get it on your calendar. That way you won’t forget or be tempted to let it slide.

Step 2: Measure the value of your work accurately. Most therapists make a big mistake: They believe their value is in the time they spend with a client.

But your worth is never about the time. It's about the transformation. It's about the outcomes your clients get and how those results change their lives. Take about ten minutes and write down all the benefits that your clients get from th...