Unable to accept paying very low fee for T

T has suggested that I pay her a very low fee if I want to continue seeing her. It's a very small amount and I am uncomfortable with taking up her time if I'm only paying her peanuts.

Does anyone else face a similar problem and how did you resolve it? I am thinking of increasing the amount voluntarily to 50 dollars.

Can you afford the extra $50 each session -- now, and down the road? If you have the extra money to spare, I think it's ok. If not, then do not do it. And do not feel guilty about not doing it. Your therapist would not have offered you the low fee if she A. didn't want to, and B. couldn't afford to.

"Never look a gift horse in the mouth!"

Depends... if I were attached to that T (seeing her/him a long time) and if I really couldn't afford to pay more, I'd probably take it- or better yet make an arrangement that I'd pay her/him back.

I would definitely pay the highest amount I could afford- just to make myself feel better. Yeah, it's easy to say don't feel guilty, the T wouldn't offer otherwise and it's so true... but some of us just couldn't help it:/

If you dont see her, then you dont have to change. Obviously its more important to her that she invest in you now. She believes in you. You can pay it forward someday.

I haven't had that as a problem. I'd say accept it and like Hankster said, pay forward later.

I'm going to need to ask if it can be reduced since my insurance runs out in 3 more sessions and I can't afford to spend over $100 a week. The lower cost the better as our medical supply bill is only going up as time passes.

Is it because of guilt or pride that you're not comfortable with such a low fee?
Like others have said, she wouldn't have offered if she couldn't afford it.
What is the alternative? Not seeing her? Wouldn't that be worse?

But I also totally understand that you don't feel comfortable.

Personally, I'm too proud to ever accept something like that. Some months ago, I was in a tight spot and my T told me that she was fine with me not paying her for a few months. I refused because I'm proud and also didn't want to owe her anything, I wanted to stay in control (somewhat).

I had a T see me "for free" for a while, but we arranged that she would simply bill me later. I'm still paying off the bill (even $25 with enough frequency can add up over the year) a few years later, but it helped me be ok with it. Maybe you can arrange something like that?

My T offered to reduce my fee and see me more often.

I struggled with that because I wouldn't want to feel like I "owe" T back anything. I'd was afraid I would be less in control and less powerful in the relationship, like he could hold it over my head at any time. I was afraid he'd someday demand the difference in payment.

I talked about it a little. I saw that he was trying to help, and I had to trust him. I also made him document in writing the reduced fee and the agreement, so that there was no question about me owing anything more. So, I do pay a reduced fee that is what I can afford. I couldn't justify therapy or stay in it if I didn't...and I def. couldn't go 2x week, which is what he thought I needed to make progress.

I think the question is what is the amount you can afford. If the offer is below what you can reasonably afford - while still taking care of all the other needs in your life and planning for your future - then you could certainly bump it up. I sometimes think about giving my T a "raise" just by $10 or so, to show him I take his work seriously. (Then he cancels on me and I think differently...)

Hopefully your T is professional and didn't offer the reduction casually, but really thought about what he/she could accept. So, the question is what you're comfortable doing.

Hope you can talk about this with your T.

If she's in agreement, pay her what you can afford. If you are considering either undercutting her, or over paying her, think about what that might be about.

My therapist allows me to see her at a fairly low fee (as she doesn't accept insurance and recommends I see her weekly). I have a difficult time with this and likewise have asked to see her bi-weekly and pay a higher amount, but she has refused.

So now, when I feel I can pay a higher fee regularly, I tell her upfront so we can raise her fee. And every time I can increase that amount, I'll let her know, rather than letting her charge me a low amount even if my income increases.

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Mine is covered by insurance and I only pay Co pay. I wouldn't pay more than t is suggesting wherever she asks for that's what I would pay

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I use insurance also. I would pay what your T is offering..... it shows they care for your well being enough to make it easier for you to continue!

Me being on insurance, I have actually wondered if Ts prefer insurance or private pay.... I wonder if they get less for us insurance folks. I'm guessing they do. Insurance companies seem to like to negotiate on stuff like that.

Ts prefer private pay because insurance companies are a royal pain-in-the-*** to deal with (some more than others). Also, insurance companies have "allowed amounts"...some insurance companies have higher "allowed amounts" than others. (My previous insurance "paid" my Ts much less than my current one does.)
So for example, a T bills $120 for an hour appt. With insurance, the "allowed amount" may be something like $80. So the T is paid $80 plus the copay paid by the client.
That being said, most Ts could not survive in private practice w/out insurance clients. The ones I have come across who don't take insurance are the ones who are very well-established and are most likely heading towards retirement.

Still if insurance is covering it no way I am paying out of my pocket.

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If that was directed towards my post (??), I don't think I was implying anyone should...just giving information.

Oh I don't mean anything by it just a general comment on my part too

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Is there a reason why she would want you to pay minimally? If you have the financial means to pay more, then of course you should - but please don't over-burden yourself if you're in a tight bit right now since she already offered. My ex-T works for my alma mater so I didn't have to pay, and current T works for a state-run community centre-type thing so the rates are heavily subsidised. When I first saw her I was still jobless and in high school so she said I didn't have to pay, but that I can when I got a job. I work now so I told her I should start paying but she declined as I will be out of jobs again soon. That's very nice of her, but I think my payment has little effect on her salary since it's fixed and comes from tax dollars. A private practitioner would be a different story, I imagine.