Quote:
Originally Posted by goatee
Thanks so much everyone. I would really like to add the regular session and keep the double session (no extra time). But to do that I would need her to give me a price break (half) for the new session. She hasn't offered that. And I don't think it would be fair for me ask considering that she's given me so much extra time in the past. I'm really upset.
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It'd be perfectly appropriate for you to ask for fee reduction. Just because she made a choice in the past to give you some extra time doesn't mean you owe her something. You don't. As I said, it was her choice to give you some extra time. You didn't ask for it so you owe her nothing. And if you DID ask for it you'd still owe her nothing
1. because when someone does you a favor that doesn't put any obligation on you to "return" the favor by not daring to ask for what you need. They did what they did by choice. You didn't force it on them.
2. because she screwed up when she let sessions go over time, which is why you are hurting now, so the "favor" she did turned out not to be a good thing for you at all
3. because she is still getting paid well so it's not like she is seeing you for a low fee or pro bono.
Please, don't feel ashamed or guilty about asking for fee reduction when you struggle financially. There is nothing wrong with asking to cut the price. She is not obligated to fulfill your request, but it's still okay for you to ask.
People don't realize that often times therapists WILL reduce their fees, often significantly, if you ask them. People are just afraid to ask. It's also not in the American culture to bargain. I've come from a different culture, so it's much easier for me to ask to cut the price from the get go with no guilt or shame. I did that on the very first session and most of the time they'd cut the fee about 30%.