Thanks for the comments. I feel like my feelings here are valid.

RiverX, I should clarify: she doesn't decide her rate based on how hard the client works. She has a sliding scale for everyone, but she said that she is MORE inclined to reduce the rate further for a client who can't pay full price IF they are working hard and meeting her halfway. She still has a definite scale though and a bottom line on that scale.

But yes, I agree that her comment about working hard did trigger some feelings of unworthiness for me and it does cloud things a bit.