T would do sliding scale, but if I couldn't even afford her sliding scale, she wouldn't see me.

I don't think that means she cares about me any less. She still cares, but there has to be the transaction of fees in order to keep boundaries. And, I feel, I'm not paying for their care. I'm paying for their knowledge, skills, experience, and education. Plus, like the others said, they do have to pay their bills.

L is will to go very low with her sliding scale with me. However, she says she'll never do $0. There has to be a fee, even $5, again for boundaries.

I don't mind. I feel it's the one way I can give back to them.