It depends on the T regarding insurance/payment. My T is private practice and does not take insurance, though I get 60% of his fees reimbursed by my plan. When my plan changed the amount they were willing to reimburse, he agreed to reduce what I paid him by $25, so I was still paying the same net amount from my pocket per session. At first I assured him I'd only continue seeing him twice a week for a couple months at the reduced fee, then would switch back to once a week at full fee. He said to take all the time I need (over a year later...). I said I felt bad about paying him less, but he said at one point he had a client who was in a really bad place mentally and financially, that he only charged him $5 a session for a while (and T wasn't getting reimbursed by insurance, so he was literally getting paid $5).

That's amazing. Impressive.

He said about half of his clients pay less than his full fee. And I get the sense this is how many T's structure their practice (the sliding scale). So, it wouldn't necessarily be the case. I'm not sure how it works with clinics, but it's possible she'd be able to work something out.

I had no idea that some therapists will charge such a low fee. I see "$150/hour" (minimum) and I'm thinking, yeah...if I was a rock star...

And once I said to my ex-marriage counselor that he only cares about me because I pay him. He said I pay him to do his job, not to care. That he chooses to care.

That was a really kind thing to say. I'm sure he meant every word.

So I don't really think it's just about the money for T's. They could likely make considerably more money doing a job that's much less stressful...

You're correct. And I know better than to be so snarky. I'm sorry. I'm just generally frustrated with therapists today - and frankly shocked at Moxie Doxie's situation with her ex-therapist.

Thank you, Lonesome