Payment is an important boundary in therapy. I don’t actually think she should have offered.

I have in fact gotten free sessions from No. 3. Once, it was a session intended to repair a colossal mistake she made, way way way beyond her being distracted. The rest were just, she didn’t charge for things she could have like extending session time. I offered a few times and got rebuffed, so I stopped. But I wish I had paid regardless because it would have stopped that relationship from getting so messy. If I had the resources, I would pay her back, because I think that would help me feel better about that relationship. I might still someday.

I think in an ideal world therapy fees (and lots of other professional fees) should be tied to the success of each session (donation-based, with a minimum donation). But in this world therapists and clients have a contract, like with other professionals. Lawyers generally charge whether they successfully defend a client or not. Doctors charge whether patients get better or not. Mere distraction to me doesn’t rate anything other than an apology and a commitment to try not to let it happen again.