Hi everyone!

I'm new to this site and I'm choosing to post a thread on here because something really angered me about my last therapy session. I'd like to hear feedback on this topic from other psychotherapy patients or therapists themselves because I don't really know what is "the norm" on this issue.

This is kind of a touchy subject for any of us to talk about because it deals with money and I don't know if you even deal with these sort of questions in this forum...but anyway... I've been in therapy for about two years now for anxiety and codependent related issues. My therapist is male and he and I have a very solid relationship for the most part. I go twice a week. I've been paying the same fee of 150 dollars...out of pocket...the whole time I've been his client. I've never given him any payment problems - always on time and paid in full. Needless to say, I've already paid him a great deal of money.

I usually send my checks in through mail to his office but last session I decided to bring the check in and give it to him directly...Only because I happened to have my checkbook with me and it was one day before the due date so I figured, if I'm here I might as well give it to him this way. So, he used this new occurrence as an opportunity to "raise the topic of a fee increase." He said this is the time of year he usually brings it up to clients. He said he missed the opportunity with me last year. First of all, he didn't give me ANY notice that there was even a possibility of a fee increase ever and second of all I felt like if I never handed him the check in person, he would have never brought up the issue at all. So in essence, I felt kind of punished for bringing in the check instead of sending it in the mail like I usually do. Like, the first time I actually hand him money he asks for more! lol

We talked about this fee increase for the entire 45 minute session. He told me that just because he raised the topic of a fee increase doesn't mean I HAVE to start paying more...but just the fact that he asked and in the manner in which he brought up the topic just doesn't feel right to me. Now, even if I decide not to pay more money, I think I'll always feel guilty for not paying more and that is going to put a damper on our whole therapeutic relationship.

I know that therapists have a right to raise their fees but I think there are rules about how they go about doing it and when they do it and who they ask it from. I mean he NEVER gave ANY indication from the very first session that there was even a possibility of a fee increase. I think he should have told me that this might happen right off the bat. I think I was just in shock that he actually asked me lol. Shouldn't therapists give advanced notice if they are going to increase their fees? And after two years, now he's asking me for more? Kind of seems to me that he's almost trying to push me out...or saying that I need more money from you if I'm going to put up with you for longer lol. I know that's probably not the case but the way he went about this left me feeling very betrayed.

Additionally, he pretty much told me that he does make enough money that he is not under a strain but that he's constantly trying to improve and he has costs for the office and stuff that he needs to cover. And he asked me if the current fee was a strain on me and I said that it's not really a strain but it's the largest expense that I currently have. (I'm 26 years old and I still live at home with my parents and I'm a teacher and make a decent salary) But he pretty much indicated that since it's not a "strain" for me then it would be okay to pay a little more. Just because I'm not "struggling" means he can just up his already expensive fee whenever he wants in a not -so-professional manner?

Sorry for the long post...as you can tell I'm pretty angered about this whole thing...and I promise you, I'm not quick to anger. In fact, I usually do not stand up for myself at all. But the way he handled this whole issue just doesn't seem right to me and I would like to hear what other people have to say about it. Like I said before, I really like my psychotherapist...he's never acted like this before so that's probably another reason why I'm feeling sad and shocked. Maybe he just had a bad day lol

By the way, I do plan on addressing this issue with him at our next session.

Any thoughts? Thanks!