Psychologist offered free sessions - seeking opinions

Today was my last government funded psychology appointment with my psych. She attended a professional development workshop on working with clients who suffer from c-ptsd. She has learned some new skills and techniques that she wished she had when she first met me. She has offered for me to see her 2 more times (completely free) for us to work together on these techniques. So that's great for me and for her. I get a few extra free sessions that may help and she gets someone to practice her new skills on. I think this is a fair trade. What do you think?

If you have a long history with her and trust her not to mess you up with these new things she's learned, then I would do it.

It's interesting to me that she wants a do over. Has she told you what the new skills and techniques are that she learned?

Awesome! A blessing! A mitzvah! (We're multi-cultural here ) Go for it. Dont look a gift horse in the mouth

btw, I think they are often practicing and trying new things out on clients. It's refreshing to have one admit it and offer free sessions in exchange.

Yeah, she explained it to me. I can't remember what it's called, but it's about connecting emotions that are currently being felt to times in childhood where you felt the same emotion. A lot of role playing too (I think!).

I don't feel close to her, but we've had 20 sessions and I talked comfortably with her. I'm much closer to my t - much, much closer.

Multiculturalism is what I'm culturally I'm used to!

Will it be hard if you get to feeling opened up and raw due to the new work, and then don't have any sessions to devote to a proper termination?

I think it's a good idea. I just got done having 4 free sessions with my therapist before he goes on leave. I was a little uncomfortable with the idea at first, but I think knowing that it was a limited number of sessions helped.

I'm very glad that I went to the sessions. I'm in a lot better place than I was a month ago.

It sounds like your psych. really wants to offer these sessions to you. Plus, as you said, she will be trying out some new techniques on you. That's probably easier for her to do with a client she knows rather than one she doesn't.

I'd definitely say go for the sessions.

I think a lot of us struggle with letting someone give us something - I know I do. It's something I struggle with.

That's really sweet! I understand about the discomfort with accepting free things or services.... my T waived my copay completely several months ago. I'm extremely grateful, but feel a bit self conscious about it too.

Cool. That might be a good experience for you, though Leah brings up a good point... how will termination go?

I'm thinking that I still have my t and, perhaps more so, that I still have my MH nurse (who works in the same practice as my psychologist. I really haven't developed any dependence on my psych, and I'll still see her around the clinic. Also, come the new year I'll be able to see her for another 10 government funded sessions.

Oh, that's good, I didn't realize you had a separate T. That should be very helpful.

I would not do it but not because of the free part.

Seems like an affirmative response. I think it's important to weight up to negative possibilities too, so I'm curious stopdog what your biggest issue would be?

I am for it. I think if you don't like the technique you can choose to never do it again but why not try?

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