I have found that asking can go a long way. I have broached the topic of not being able to afford therapy with multiple therapists, and have found that they were pretty willing to compromise, or at least help me get in touch with someone else that could help me. Asking what can be done if you cannot afford therapy is not the same as asking for free therapy, it's just asking for help figuring thigns out. And if your therapist does interpret it as aksing for free therapy, you can always correct that interpretation...