Posted by Joslynn on November 24, 2004, at 8:44:08
In reply to Re: lateness and therapists, posted by dawnfawn on November 24, 2004, at 6:38:33
I think there may be cultural expectations regarding lateness etc.? I am of Italian heritage and I tend to run a few minutes late and do not care if someone is up to 15 minutes late. I see that as sort of a buffer zone. If it is past 15 minutes, then I consider it late. But I have other friends who are real sticklers about being on time or even early. It seems to vary from person to person. With my other friends who are from Italian backgrounds, it's just sort of understood that meeting at 8 means it could be any time between 8 and 8:20.
That said, my therapist is almost always on time. My pdoc is chronically about 10-15 minutes late, but if I am particuarly upset about something, he will make my appointment a couple minutes longer to make sure I am calm enough to drive home etc., so I guess he may do that w/ other people, hence the lateness? I don't mind him being a little late because I know that in other instances, he has given me MORE time than one would expect, say a long phone call that he doesn't charge for.
If someone is late, but gives time back in other ways, then I feel like it evens out. If someone is late, but does not "give back" that lost time somehow, then I would be upset.
Also if someone is affiliated with a hospital and has to get called there for emergencies etc then I kind of expect some lateness. If someone just has a private practice, with no in-patients they have to see, then I would expect less lateness. But I don't think any doctor I have ever seen, from pdoc to gynecologist to general practitioner, has ever run exactly on time. My eye docotor is the worst of them all! But he is a really good eye doc, is thorough when I do get to see him,, and has found things that other docs missed, so I tolerate the lateness. If he wasn't any good though, no way would I wait that long!
Just my experiences. Of course, I was late to work today, so take what I say with a grain of salt!
poster:Joslynn
thread:417788
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041123/msgs/419683.html