I started to feel like my last therapist was a “friend.”’ I didn’t want to talk about my problems. It became more important to me to just have a nice conversation. It was a rude awakening when a billing problem came up and he wanted the cash from me. I realized he was not really my friend at all. Your friends don’t nickel and dime you over one session’s payment, after many years of sessions. He claimed I hadn’t canceled a session when I had. He demanded payment, and I thought he was a jerk. His schedule is never booked anyway. He didn’t lose any money.

I just started with a new therapist due to a change in insurance. This time a woman; maybe I won’t end up with that dynamic.