[retro_chic]

So my session today was really good; I talked about the things I wanted to talk about and I managed to stay present (unlike last session). I felt like my T really got me an in fact there was one point when she said the exact words I was thinking.

There is one problem though. I brought up the issue of not being able to afford sessions and my T asked me "what amount could you afford?". I really didn't know how to answer that. T has let me think about it over the week. She said normally in these situations she will negotiate with the client and then decide on an amount that suits them both. The whole thing makes me really anxious for some reason and I wish T could just make the decision for me. Has anyone had a conversation like this with their T before? Did you feel uncomfortable about it?

[Waterbear]

I have no experience but I can imagine that it would be very difficult, I am sure I would not have been able to say anything. Maybe if you thought about it in percentages of the original figure rather than monetary terms it might remove a layer of awkwardness? Just a thought.

[retro_chic]

Originally Posted by Waterbear

I have no experience but I can imagine that it would be very difficult, I am sure I would not have been able to say anything. Maybe if you thought about it in percentages of the original figure rather than monetary terms it might remove a layer of awkwardness? Just a thought.

I was thinking that myself. I just feel guilty not being able to pay the full amount .

There was another thing that I forgot to mention before. Not next week but the two weeks after my T won't be able to do evening appointments (I work full time so that is the only time I can make it). T gave me three options 1) Have a lunchtime session, 2) miss those two weeks of therapy or 3) have my session on the Saturday. Option 1 is a no go as I do not want to tell my work that I have an appointment in the middle of the day and need some time off. Also going back to work after an intense T session is not ideal. Option 2 is a no because I have begun to rely on my weekly sessions and I'm not ready for a three week break. So that only leaves the third option but I feel bad making T work on a Saturday. I'm sure she has better things to do. Ugh, I hate making all these decisions!

[junkDNA]

yes, i went through this with my T when he was leaving the program i was in, but told me he would still see me on the outside. my therapy with him was paid through that treatment program so it had never come up before. i felt anxious about it too... talking about money with your T is weird. i pretty much just broke down my expenses and budget for him. his normal fee is $100 a session but he offered $100 a month. i see him 2x a week. it was $12.50 a session for a couple months but then he has to take it up to $25 a session bc of financial reasons. of course i felt like maybe he thought i was too much work and raised the fee, but he said no and explained to me the reasoning.

maybe you could just write out a list of what your expenses are and what your monthly income is? that's pretty much what i did. then my T offered a fee himself...

[unaluna]

plus, many ts work on saturdays. And face it, its not like theyre sweating! They just sit there!

[Merecat]

If your T has offered Saturday sessions it's because s/he is ok working on a Saturday - let them worry about their schedule. Not sure about the "just sitting there" thing tbh, I'm nearing the end of my training to be a T and honestly, it's hard work to really listen to and engage with your client. Not hard in the way digging ditches is, but physically and emotionally draining. I'm not complaining at all, just saying that a T working properly is doing much more than just sitting there.