Cant afford T anymore...

and I dont know what to do. I am JUST learning that T CAN be trusted (after 2 years of therapy), and I have a long way to go (Ts words) before I am anywhere near "better". We had a misunderstanding a few months ago when I thought T was telling me not come (he wasnt), and the effect of that on me was horrendous. A lot of things happened in that time (without T) that I dont think I can cope with again.

We have been having sessions every other week recently (my choice. T thinks I need weekly sessions right now), and I find it really hard to connect with T each session, and then just as we start to do sme work, the session is over.

At a push I could go once, maybe twice a month but I would really be leaving myself short. I've seen other posts where T has offered a reduced rate, but I really dont think I would be comfortable with that, and Im not sure T would even offer.

I havent spoken with T about it yet (am planning on doing so when I see him this week), but I am really scared about bringing this up because I really feel that I am not ready to leave T at this point.

How do you cope when you cant afford T but need to be in T?

I just want you to know I read your post. Sorry you're in this predicament. I think you should tell him you're having trouble with payment but stress you don't want to quit - so he knows you're not just making an excuse and really wanting to quit. I hope it works out for you.

Hello Chronic I am so sorry you’re in this awful position. I don’t know which country you’re in but I’m assuming you are paying for your therapy out of your own pocket. When I lived in Australia I had a therapist who reduced her fee when I became unemployed (and promptly upped it when I did finally get a job!) She didn’t do it just for me, that was her way of working. And here in England just about every therapist in private practice offers as standard a sliding scale of fees depending on the client’s circumstances.

The idea of your accepting a reduced fee obviously makes you feel uncomfortable, but if you are getting some benefits from your therapy (and you’ve been with this T for quite a long time already) it makes sense that if your T offers a reduced fee that you accept it. Do you know already whether he has a sliding scale, or is it a set fee across the board?

I hope you can at least talk to him openly about it - I sympathize very much with being in the position where you want to do as much therapy as you can get but being unable to afford it. I should think that your therapist will come up with suggestions that will help you, especially as he feels that you would benefit from more sessions than you currently have. Good luck with the session.

It is a tough situation. I can only afford t once a month and that is still at a much reduced rate. He was very kind when I told him I couldn't afford to come anymore and offered the reduced rate.

Ughh that suuuuuucks. I am going to therapy right now without really being able to afford it, and that is at a reduced rate. I still worry that I am not "worth" as much to my T because she is seeing me at a reduced rate. But then I think about how I would feel if I were a T and I wouldn't feel that way at all.. I would feel happy that I was able to offer a reduced rate to people who were really struggling. It would make me feel good about myself to do that. I think other T's are like that too. You don't get into psychology for the money, you get into it because you love people.

Anyway, just saying if you go to your T and he offers you a reduced rate, don't let discomfort with the situation get in the way of accepting his kindness. It will make him feel good to do you this kindness, if he can afford it.

And I say just go to your T with the exact truth. You are having financial difficulties, you really want to figure out therapy, you don't know what to do, you might have to stop coming to therapy, you really don't want to do that, you wish you could come more often.. if T has a solution, it will come up. You don't have to ask for the reduced rate. He will offer it (if he can) if this conversation comes up. It was so hard for me to ask my T for a reduced rate, and this was the first time I talked with her. Ugh, it was so hard I was shaking with anxiety, blushing with embarrassment. It sucks to be struggling financially. Ugh..

why wouldn't you be comfortable with that??

After seeing T. for 6 months our insurance was changed through my husband's work--
and the new insurance wasn't accepted by T.s office.
She was kind enough to give me a reduced rate, since I wouldn't have the benefit of insurance paying for part of it.... so now I go on a reduced rate. It's so nice of them if they can do that for their clients.

Some T.'s can swing it-- hope yours can.

good luck to you

fins

Thanks everyone. I was going to email T and tell him, but after reading your responses I think I will go to T on Thurs and talk to him about it. I realy hope he has a solution because I cant bear the thought of not going to T at this point.

Ugh, trust me... I know how much this sucks... I'm going through it right now. I lost my job before I went to rehab. I have been back since Feb. 3rd, and I have only seen T three times-- he saw me for free all three times. Obviously, that could not continue. Now I have a job, but I still have to wait until I get my 1st paycheck, and pay my bills first.

I have stayed connected by phone and email. My T does not take insurance, but he has set a very reasonable fee on his sliding scale. Even so, I could not afford it after losing my job. However, I have been going to group therapy at a dual diagnosis place in the meantime-- it is a place that my T initially recommended, and they take my insurance. So I am still getting therapy and support during this lapse in therapy-- and I'm still staying connected.

Talk with your T in person. Good luck.

perhaps you can drop it to like every couple of months and see if you can seek a pastoral/spiritual counsellor that can dedicate some time to you.