[freefallin]

I'm hesitant to even consider the possibility because I'm broke, and therapy has never helped me at all in the past. At the same time, I need *something* to help me survive living in my dad's hellhole, err house, until I'm able to get out of here. I can't do weekly therapy, though. There's no way I could afford it. Twice a month, I could probably manage. Every therapist I've seen in the past has just assumed I would be coming in weekly, and it didn't seem like there was any negotiating otherwise.

[Leah123]

You're the client, you can set the terms. Many therapists will do twice per month. Others will offer a sliding scale to make weekly visits affordable. If you don't find that the first one you interview is willing, just try another. Many folks see therapists bi-monthly.

[freefallin]

I'm on my dad's insurance, so paying out of pocket on a sliding scale would most likely cost me more than going through insurance. Still, the co-pays add up when you're broke lol, and I'll never get out of my dad's house if I start going to therapy weekly, which would basically be the equivalent of giving myself another small-scale medical bill.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I told my T from the start that I only wanted to go every other week. She said that due to my issues I should be going twice a week, she would settle for once a week due to insurance, but she wouldn't treat me if I went every other week. She was right... I would be at risk if I went every other week.

[Depletion]

My insurance only provides for 20 visits so T's have asked me if I wanted to come every other week. I don't take them up on it because I can afford the weekly. But the fact that they suggest it makes me think that it would not be uncommon for someone to come that often. Maybe you can find a T who can do something to help you with the limited contact issue, by doing something like allowing you to email in between sessions.

[Parley]

I met my therapist not knowing if I would go for a second visit so we took it one session at a time, every other week. It's been about 7 months and she is encouraging weekly session now but it's a process.

Some of them are more understanding on the financial needs of others.

[freefallin]

Thank you for the input, everyone. I'll see if I still feel like it's a good idea to look for a therapist who will let me schedule bi-monthly in a week or two. I have a bad habit of impulsively thinking things like this are a good idea and then regretting it later when therapy seems like a waste of time, so I'll think on it a bit.

[justdesserts]

My therapist totally lets me set the terms of how often I want to come in, unless it's more than once a week. He decides if he wants to see me more than once a week. Every therapist I've ever seen has been like that, but it might be because of my particular issues.