You know, Perna, I think I can use my credit card to pay at my therapist's office (it's a group practice with an office manager) and I think paying by card makes more sense than using cash advances (which I think are a really bad idea if they're avoidable because they start accruing interest immediately...); I've always paid by check, which makes no sense because I don't use checks for anything else anymore!

Expensive therapy aside, I am very careful with my finances (I rarely charge things, pay off my balances every month, and pay for everything from my salary, which keeps me constantly budgeting and checking up). It might be time for me to suck it up, use my good credit and carry a balance to pay for an expense that I think is worth it.

As for how I justify this potential plan, you are throwing out a line which I was already considering by suggesting I treat this like an educational expense. I don't have any student loan debt because I managed my finances and aid very, very carefully during college/grad school, which makes me more comfortable taking on debt. (I don't have any...)

Thanks so much for the support and ideas everybody...you guys are awesome!