Up until yesterday I thought it was a box of “Frozen” tissues, cold to the touch, in No. 2’s office.

But yesterday I first met a therapist I was consulting with on a specific issue (no nickname yet). Her office was set up so the client sits on a couch and she sits opposite behind on a desk. The front of the desk, toward the client, has a big square sign on it reading “Personal checks and cash accepted” then the Mastercard and Visa logos, then “Credit and debit cards accepted.”

I was taken aback. Most therapists seem to do their best to obscure the transactional aspect of the relationship. This one shoves it in your face. I don’t actually mind—I mind the hierarchy of her sitting behind a desk more—because I think keeping the money in mind keeps things real, plus it makes her different and therefore more interesting, but it did make me wonder what other odd and weird and strange things therapists have in their offices?