This afternoon, I contacted a male therapist in the Bath/Brunswick area. He had been recommended to me by Sidran Institute for the treatment of PTSD. They mentioned he would be willing to negotiate the fee for his services.

When I asked him if he would be willing to treat on a sliding scale basis, he told me that he would consider it but doesn't offer his services for free. I wasn't expecting anything pro bono anyway. He told me that he would consider the fee if it was acceptable to him. He mentioned that his usual fee was $100 per hour. I told him that I could only afford to pay $30 per session because I am disabled. Unfortunately, I don't receive a SSDI and SSI for reasons which I will not elaborate here. I informed him that I would have health insurance by the end of May through my spouse's workplace if he would be willing to accept this arrangement for now.

The therapist responded that this proposal was unacceptable because it was less than $70 per hour. He told me that he doesn't do charity work. I responded that he shouldn't advertise a negotiable fee because it was misleading. Then, the jerk hung up on me.

I am really frustrated. I have contacted the local chapter of NAMI that recommended that I call a local m.h. organization regarding services. I was informed that this org. no longer offered waivers on a sliding scale basis because their funding has been slashed by the state. I would be required to pay $135 per session.

No one is willing to help you if you lack health insurance. This country needs universal health care. I have been deteriorating psychologically for sometime but don't want to commit myself in order to receive some counseling. Is a sliding scale fee so unheard of in this day and age? Thanks.