I agree that it's terribly expensive, and it's making you really sensitive to how the time is spent. That's about $5 per minute, so even a quick trip to the filing cabinet is costing you a lot of dough. Plus it's out of pocket, so I understand your concerns about getting value for your money.

Plus, she sounds very focused on specific actions hence the CBT, but it sounds like you would like to talk more and have her LISTEN to you ... you know, to be heard. My feeling is that a good psychologist at a more reasonable rate would probably be more beneficial to you. When you're not counting how much every minute is costing you, you get more into "talk therapy" where you can express yourself and vent and have someone who actually listens to you.