[Yearning0723]

This was the T I saw two days ago who was super eager...I wasn't so sure about working with her after the consult, so I emailed her to say thanks for her time and I really appreciated the consult, but I have one more consult scheduled for next week and I will email her after that if I want to book a session. She replied back: It was so nice meeting you. I'd really like to work with you but I understand your reasons for shopping around. It's my policy to accept payment at the time of the session, so I'm attaching an invoice for administrative purposes. Payment can be made through an Interac transfer or by cheque.

I'm confused. The consult was supposed to be free. It was also supposed to be half an hour, and she ran forty minutes over that and was late for her next client (but this was because she kept asking me about my brother who has Aspergers out of her own interest since she used to work with autistic kids rather than for any therapeutic purpose). It feels a bit like she's annoyed that I might not have booked a session with her (and I definitely won't now!) so she's charging me for a free consult. Or perhaps I may have misunderstood and the consult wasn't actually free? But she didn't actually mention payment to me during the consult. Either way, I feel confused about this...and guilty for not wanting to work with her when it seems like she really wants to work with me. And it was really a pain to ask my dad to write her a cheque for $110...he was not too happy with me.

I miss my current T unbearably right now. All of these consults makes me just want to stay with her and never leave...and I know I'm seeing her in two days, but I miss her SO much, and I don't usually feel so strongly like this about her...ugh...

[laxer12]

It almost sounds like she sent you the invoice in case you decided to book another session...otherwise, that is just unprofessional.

Are you sure it was supposed to be free? I've honestly never had a therapist (or any provider of anything quite honestly) provide a free consult, but some do I have heard. You might should just clarify that what you had understood against the fee she is charging.

[Yearning0723]

Originally Posted by laxer12

It almost sounds like she sent you the invoice in case you decided to book another session...otherwise, that is just unprofessional.

I thought that too at first (the email wasn't very clear) but it had yesterday's date on it and my name and then the charge? So it didn't just look like an example invoice...

[Yearning0723]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

Are you sure it was supposed to be free? I've honestly never had a therapist (or any provider of anything quite honestly) provide a free consult, but some do I have heard. You might should just clarify that what you had understood against the fee she is charging.

Where I live, free consults (or free telephone consults at the VERY least, but usually in person) are pretty standard practice. When I was searching for current T, I did four consults and they were all free. I did another free consult two days ago and have another free consult plus two free telephone consults booked for next week. (If it sounds like I'm taking advantage of the system, I'm not - I'm just looking for something specific, and I don't want to waste their time or my money on a T who doesn't have experience with attachment issues or suicidal ideation or the other issues I have.)

It's possible that because the other consults were free and she didn't mention payment to me during the session or before it other than a very general discussion of her fees that I just assumed it was free, but either way it's a lack of clarity/communication, and I think it's her responsibility to be clear about stuff like that...

[UnderRugSwept]

Originally Posted by Yearning0723

Where I live, free consults (or free telephone consults at the VERY least, but usually in person) are pretty standard practice. When I was searching for current T, I did four consults and they were all free. I did another free consult two days ago and have another free consult plus two free telephone consults booked for next week. (If it sounds like I'm taking advantage of the system, I'm not - I'm just looking for something specific, and I don't want to waste their time or my money on a T who doesn't have experience with attachment issues or suicidal ideation or the other issues I have.)

It's possible that because the other consults were free and she didn't mention payment to me during the session or before it other than a very general discussion of her fees that I just assumed it was free, but either way it's a lack of clarity/communication, and I think it's her responsibility to be clear about stuff like that...

I would never assume anything. I think it's your responsibility to ask.

[JaneTennison1]

Did she tell you beforehand that it was free?

[stopdog]

Don't pay it is how
I see it - send it back with your explanation of why you are not paying it.

[anilam]

I think it's the Ts responsibility to state whether a consult is free or not. I did my fair share of T shopping when I was looking for a T. Some consults were free some not, always specified before we even agreed on the date.
So no, I would not pay for that session, no matter the length and, as SD already suggested, I'd send it back with a very short explanation why.

I wouldn't pay it until I talked with her. I do think it was her responsibility to let you know when you made the appointment.

[ofthevalley]

I've never heard of free consults but that may just be my area. I wouldn't pay the bill until I spoke with the T about the fee and the consult.

[Lauliza]

I think you should call the Ts office and talk to them about it before paying anything. The only free consult I've ever had was a phone consult and it lasted no more than 15-20 minutes. If she did intend it to be free then I think you're right in that she changed it from a consult to a full session because she went over the allotted time. If she confirms this then I would argue it and not pay the bill. As a professional who told you it was a free service, it was her responsibility to stay on schedule, not yours

[ThisWayOut]

I would definitely call her and clarify. There's no way I could even remotely afford to pay a surprise bill like that, and would question why (if it's her normal practice to get payment up front) to not mention it while I was there.

[Yearning0723]

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

I would definitely call her and clarify. There's no way I could even remotely afford to pay a surprise bill like that, and would question why (if it's her normal practice to get payment up front) to not mention it while I was there.

I think that's the thing that confused me. If she had mentioned it during the session and asked for payment, then I would have thought I just misunderstood the situation and I would have paid no problem. But telling me that I owe her money in response to my "thanks for your time but I'm shopping around" email? That just feels weird.

[guilloche]

Yeah, you might want to double check with her. It doesn't have to be a big deal... just a very casual, "Hi there T, I'm so sorry but I was under the impression that you were providing a free consult. When I first talked to you, I thought you said you were going to schedule a free 30 minute consult so that we could see how we work together... did I get you confused with someone else?"

It sounds like you two had a pretty good rapport, so I'm sure if you approach it in a friendly manner, she can clarify. It might be ask simple as her saying, "Oops, you're right, I totally forgot - ignore that bill!" or she might say, "Hmm, no I don't remember that. I'm so sorry that I wasn't clear, but I do bill for initial consults."

Either way, you know what? It gives you some good information about how she handles conflict, just in case you were thinking of returning to see her again.

Good luck!

IMHO she errored..she eats the charge. Payment is a part of first consult. She didn't mention it, she didn't attempt to get payment while u were there which she said is her policy. So u are not responsible to pay. Simply thank her for covering that and tell her u will abide by her policy should u chose to make a future appointment. She is responsible to manage her time. If she went over time, that was her choice only she knew her schedule. That might be something you consider in selecting her. Will she keep u waiting for less than an urgent issue.

This is why I LOVE this place! It really shows me how we all think sooooooo differently. I went therapist searching for over nine months. I'd book a "consult" session (by phone or email) and stated specifically in making the appointment that I wanted to meet to see if we both felt that we could form a therapeutic connection. Everyone I contacted was open to this kind of open ended arrangement. I had a few therapists state that they liked to offer one 30 minute session free of charge as a consultative session. Most of the others offered a "regular" session at their "usual" fee with the understanding that we were simply exploring whether or not we wanted to work together. A few actually charged MORE for a "regular" 50 minute session for a first time client. I felt that was a bit of a scam on their part, but who am I to complain. I wasn't a real fan of the free 30 minute sessions because I personally need more time to figure out if I wanted to make another appointment . . . . although a few were so bad I could have left after 10 minutes knowing that they were crackpots. Once I even offered to pay the regular price so I could have the full 50 minutes but the therapist stated that she only did free 30 minute consults with new clients.

In any case, I do think it is our responsibility, the client's, to find out what the charge is for a service we are contracting for. It's one of the reasons I like making contact through email--it's all written down. Personally, I'd pay the bill and move on. You should also feel good about your instincts because you had a niggle of doubt about this woman and this proves that she wasn't the right therapist for you. Sorry about the unexpected bill--hate when that happens!

[alcibie1]

could she have meant that since she takes payment at the time of session, she's sending you an invoice now so that if you do book a session you'll have the invoice as well as payment handy? Nothing to do with the consult at all?

[AllHeart]

Originally Posted by Yearning0723

She replied back: It was so nice meeting you. I'd really like to work with you but I understand your reasons for shopping around. It's my policy to accept payment at the time of the session, so I'm attaching an invoice for administrative purposes. Payment can be made through an Interac transfer or by cheque.

Ok, so this T. offered you a 30-minute free consultation, and then sends you an invoice for $110, which is a bill for a session? You need to point out the difference here to her. If she says it was because of the time, politely remind her that you did not ask for or initiate that extra time. And also point out to her that the only reason time ran over was because of her own curiousity about Asperger's, which wasn't even therapy related!

Unless there is something else to this story, please DO NOT pay this bill. Take it up with her supervisor or other superiors if you have to. That is so ridiculous!

[rainbow8]

My memory may be playing tricks on me, but I saw a potential T whom I believe said the initial visit was free IF I chose to see her after that. I didn't know about that requirement and when I got the bill, told her. She didn't charge, and I didn't end up seeing her. I KNOW this happened to me, and can't imagine it was with a different kind of professional. Is it possible that was what this T meant?

[SoupDragon]

It is not uncommon for T's in my area to offer a free first consultation - as others have said, I would clarify with her and state that you were under the impression that this was a free consultation and therefore you are confused about the invoice.

Soup