Navigating Need, Ethics, and Boundaries in ISPC-Aligned Practice
Article authored by the ISPC
What Does The Ask Reveal?
In the quiet rhythm of private practice, few requests disrupt the therapeutic frame as significantly—or as meaningfully—as when a client asks: “Can we meet more than once a week?”
At first glance, it may seem like a compliment: they trust you, they’re engaged, they’re committed. But beneath the surface, this request often carries layers—of dependency, crisis, regression, transference, or even a desire for containment that goes beyond standard therapeutic boundaries.
For counsellors working within the ethical, relational, and humanistic values of the International Society for Psychotherapy and Counselling (ISPC), the question isn’t simply “Can I fit them in?” It’s: “What does this ask reveal—and how do I respond with both compassion and integrity?”
This blog explores how ISPC-aligned practitioners can thoughtfully navigate increased session requests—not as a logistical dilemma, but as a clinical and ethical opportunity.
Why Do Clients Ask for More Sessions?
Before responding, it’s essential to understand why a client might request multiple weekly sessions. Common motivations include:
- Acute crisis (e.g., bereavement, relationship breakdown, mental health deterioration)
- Attachment-seeking—especially if early relational wounds are being activated in therapy
- Fear of abandonment or anxiety about the “gap” between sessions
- Transference dynamics, where the therapist begins to represent a parental or protective figure
- Dissociation or emotional overwhelm, where weekly containment feels insufficient
- Misunderstanding of therapy’s pace, influenced by media portrayals or past experiences
Importantly, none of these reasons are “wrong.” The therapeutic relationship thrives on curiosity, not judgment. But understanding the function of the request—rather than just the words—is where ethical practice begins.
In ISPC’s framework, we don’t pathologise the request; we contextualise it.
The Ethical Tension: Compassion vs. Containment
ISPC’s Code of Ethics emphasises both client welfare and practitioner sustainability. This creates a necessary tension:
- On one hand, we’re called to be responsive, attuned, and flexible.
- On the other, we must uphold clear boundaries to protect the integrity of the work—and ourselves.
Meeting twice (or even three times) a week can be clinically appropriate—many psychodynamic or intensive trauma approaches use this model. But in private practice, particularly solo practitioners working outside institutional support, this shift carries implications:
- Emotional load: Can you hold this client’s intensity without burnout?
- Practical capacity: Do you have the schedule, energy, and supervision support?
- Relational clarity: Does increasing frequency blur professional boundaries or create dependency?
- Equity: If you say yes to one client, are you creating inconsistency for others?
Crucially, saying “no” can be as therapeutic as saying “yes.” It models healthy limits, reinforces the frame, and invites the client to explore their own internal resources.
As one ISPC colleague put it: “My boundary isn’t a wall—it’s the edge of the container that holds the work.”
The Response: Process Over Prescription
There’s no universal “right” answer. But there is an ethical process—one grounded in ISPC values of collaboration, reflection, and accountability.
Step 1: Pause and Explore (Don’t React)
Instead of agreeing or declining immediately, use the request as therapeutic material. Ask gently:
“I hear you’re wanting more time together. Can we explore what that’s about for you right now?”
This shifts the focus from logistics to meaning. It honours the client’s experience while maintaining your role as a reflective practitioner—not a service provider on demand.
Step 2: Revisit the Working Agreement
Your initial contract likely outlined session frequency, duration, and purpose. Now is the time to explicitly review it.
“Our original agreement was once weekly. This is a meaningful shift—let’s talk through what it might mean for your goals and our work together.”
This isn’t bureaucratic—it’s ethical transparency. It reinforces that therapy is a co-created space with intentional structure.
Step 3: Consult Supervision (and Your ISPC Network)
ISPC champions ongoing professional dialogue. This is precisely the kind of scenario that benefits from supervision—not just for clinical insight, but for emotional containment.
Ask yourself:
- What’s being triggered in me by this request? (Guilt? Rescue fantasy? Flattery?)
- Am I responding from principle—or pressure?
- Does my supervisor see risks I’m missing?
Remember: ISPC isn’t just a membership—it’s a community of critical friendship. Lean into it.
Step 4: Consider Alternatives—Before Saying Yes
Sometimes, what the client needs isn’t more sessions with you—but more support. Could they:
- Access crisis services or peer support groups?
- Work with a psychiatrist or GP alongside therapy?
- Use journaling, grounding tools, or agreed “bridge” strategies between sessions?
Offering alternatives doesn’t mean rejection—it means expanding their safety net.
If you do agree to increased frequency, make it time-limited and reviewed:
“Let’s try twice weekly for four weeks, then reassess together.”
This maintains flexibility while preventing unexamined drift.
The Risk of Unexamined “Yes”
Many therapists—especially early-career or empathic practitioners—say yes out of:
- Fear of “abandoning” the client
- Wanting to be “the good therapist”
- Avoiding difficult conversations
But unboundaried generosity can backfire. It may:
- Encourage dependency rather than autonomy
- Deplete your capacity for other clients (and yourself)
- Undermine the rhythmic reliability that weekly sessions provide
In rural or isolated areas—where referral options are limited—this pressure intensifies. Yet holding the frame isn’t abandonment—it’s consistency. And consistency is deeply healing.
ISPC’s ethos reminds us: ethical practice sometimes means saying no with care.
What If You Do Offer Multiple Sessions?
If, after reflection, supervision, and exploration, you agree to increased frequency:
✅ Document the change in your notes and update your contract.
✅ Clarify fees and cancellation terms (e.g., “Both sessions are subject to the same 48-hour notice”).
✅ Set a review date—this prevents open-ended escalation.
✅ Monitor your own well-being—more sessions = more emotional labour.
And crucially: ensure your website reflects your actual availability. If you’re at capacity, your “Book a Session” page should say so—avoiding ethical misalignment between your digital presence and your practice. (This is where ISPC-aligned website ethics matter: transparency begins online.)
The Bigger Picture: Private Practice as Ethical Ecosystem
In an unregulated landscape, ISPC members lead by example. How we handle session requests models:
- How boundaries can be kind and firm
- How ethics aren’t rigid rules—but living, relational choices
- How supervision and community prevent isolation
This isn’t just about one client. It’s about shaping a culture of integrity in UK private practice.
And it starts with questions like: “What is this request really asking for—and how can I respond in a way that honours us both?”
Final Reflection
A client asking for more sessions isn’t a problem to fix. It’s an invitation—to deepen the work, sharpen your ethics, and embody the ISPC values of relational authenticity, reflective practice, and mutual respect.
Whether you say yes, no, or “let’s explore,” your response matters. Not because it changes your schedule—but because it reinforces what therapy truly is: a bounded, intentional, human encounter.
As we move into 2026, let’s continue supporting each other in holding both heart and framework—because the most compassionate therapy is also the most ethically clear.
—Written by an ISPC member, counsellor, and advocate for sustainable, values-led private practice in the UK.
P.S. If you’re navigating this dilemma, reach out to your ISPC peers or supervision group. You’re not alone. That’s the whole point of being in the ISPC community.
Further Resources for ISPC Members:
We encourage all ISPC members to consider contributing to ISPC News and sharing their unique perspectives and insights. Your contributions help build a valuable resource for the therapy and counselling community.
And lastly, we appreciate those that have already come forward with their ideas and writings, we are uploading these blogs over the next few weeks and months.
Kindest Regards
ISPC Team
