[MrBolnov]

Dear forum members.

Please excuse my bad english - I live in Russia, but strongly need your advice. Russia is backward country, really is, so I can’t find answer on my question here.

I get psychotherapy from licensed specialist (diploma from a small university) with short work experience (2 years) who work in Psychodynamic psychotherapy. You must know, that diploma in Russia most of the time means practically nothing. I saw it myself - people in one of the largest medical universities graduated successfully with practically no knowledge at all (very high corruption, very low quality control).

She tells me that I must constantly increase the price for my consultations. With no upper limit. She says that it is a part of treatment. As she say price adds value to the treatment process, so it became more effective and I will recover quickly. She acknowledge that it is beneficial to her, but strongly insists that I need this in the first place. If I don’t want to pay more she tells that it is a "resistance" and I’m "resisting my success". Price always must be high for me and I must earn more to be able to raise the price.

With every new client she chooses price individually - it may be low at first, but will increase afterwards.

I’m a patient, vulnerable in many sides. And she puts me in the situation where I must raise the price (with no changes in treatment plan or her qualification). It seems like a manipulation to me. I think that my benefit from it will be much less than my loss of money (I have low income now and need money for food, clothes etc. - really basic needs).

I can see results after 3 months of a therapy, I’m feeling better, so I don’t know what to do!

Whether this method is acceptable? Is it ethical to do so? Or maybe it is a sort of fraud?
Dear forum members, please tell me your opinion on this situation.

I will really appreciate your help!

[stopdog]

I don't know the laws or customs in russia. I would contact other therapists there and see if they have the same approach. It seems odd to me and I would not do it, but as to custom and practice in russia - I don't know.

[Merecat]

The cost is rarely an indication of quality in therapy - it's not an exact science so I don't think gradually increasing your session price is any reflection of the quality of her work with you, not is it a sign of resistance is psychodynamic theory. I too don't know about custom and practice is Russia but my T set her price in our first session and it's never changed.

[mostlylurking]

I don't think therapists do this in the United States, I have never heard of this.

It's true that if a patient doesn't pay on time, doesn't come to sessions on time, or cancels sessions a lot, those can be indicators that the patient is in some way resistant to therapy. But that is quite different.

Your therapist seems manipulative to me. It is hard to change therapists once you are seeing results, but that is exactly how she can extract more and more money from her patients. It doesn't sound right to me.

2 yrs training isn't enough to be a pyschodynamic threapist. Takes years

[growlycat]

In the us you need to get a bachelors degree first four years then I believe it is another 4 years to get a masters and Ph.D. So 6-8 years would be enough education then there is supervision etc.

The money thing seems really untrustworthy to me sounds like a scam

Sounds sketchy, but Russia may work differently? No idea. One thing I've learned on PC is that every country works this whole therapy thing a bit differently.

[TishaBuv]

Sounds outrageously fraudulent! However in Russia, I doubt it is as fraud. I have no idea about the laws of fraud in Russia. Ethically, it is unforgivable. Stop going. It's good that you feel better.

[LostOnTheTrail]

Again, I have no experience of Russia or Russian therapists. There are a number of red flags here for me...'price adds value to the experience' - OK, so you pay...but whilst the value of the experience may go up (you will see more benefit from therapy as the work continues, the price ought to be fixed. The same amount per session.)

'Resisting your success' - not something a therapist should ever say to a client. If you can start researching other options, do. Either way, you should consider whether this person's ethics are worth your time.

[AllHeart]

You should really call other therapists to find out how they operate to compare, and/or try to find out if this is even legal through your government. Knowing what I know about Russia, I wouldn't be surprised if this is common practice among therapists. Finding out about the laws around this might be a good idea. Could at least give you some leverage in negotiating prices if you can show her she is doing something illegal. Even that might be a crap shoot.

Sorry, her charging you arbitrarily increasing fees for therapy beneficial to you on which you are presumably developing a dependence smells wrong to me, even taking into account the differences in our respective cultures. I don't know enough about law or medicine to give what she's doing a proper name, but it seems unethical and unprofessional. "No upper limit" is a hint.

[coolibrarian]

Ваш английский гораздо лучше, чем мой русский! I agree: ask for other therapist's opinions, and consider going to someone new.

[Lauliza]

I don't know the laws in Russia regarding licensing for therapists. I would check with other therapists as others here have said.
One thing I do know is that in some countries (and even some states her in the U.S.), practitioners can call themselves a "psychotherapist" even if they don't have a license. it's something that can be very deceptive and there are people who've been in treatment with a so- called therapist who had some training but no license or worse, didn't even finish an accredited program. So I would research the qualifications for licensing in Russia and see if this T meets them.

Also, a T calling themselves a psychodynamc therapist means nothing in terms of credentials. There is no certification, license or anything else required to say you practice "psychodynamic" therapy, at least not in the US. So that is something I would also look into in respect to any claims this therapist is making.

[MrBolnov]

Thanks to all who answered my question!) Your opinion us very helpful for me - every one of them).
No, even in Russia it is not the common practice. As i know only a small group doing this. Now I practically certain they just want quick money.
You must know, than situation in Russia is awful - courts are not working, practically at all. Laws are used by corrupt government mostly to supress people. I hope I'll make my way out of here. So it is very difficult to find truth here - thats why I asked you)

[songofthesea]

Originally Posted by MrBolnov

Dear forum members.

Please excuse my bad english - I live in Russia, but strongly need your advice. Russia is backward country, really is, so I can’t find answer on my question here.

I get psychotherapy from licensed specialist (diploma from a small university) with short work experience (2 years) who work in Psychodynamic psychotherapy. You must know, that diploma in Russia most of the time means practically nothing. I saw it myself - people in one of the largest medical universities graduated successfully with practically no knowledge at all (very high corruption, very low quality control).

She tells me that I must constantly increase the price for my consultations. With no upper limit. She says that it is a part of treatment. As she say price adds value to the treatment process, so it became more effective and I will recover quickly. She acknowledge that it is beneficial to her, but strongly insists that I need this in the first place. If I don’t want to pay more she tells that it is a "resistance" and I’m "resisting my success". Price always must be high for me and I must earn more to be able to raise the price.

With every new client she chooses price individually - it may be low at first, but will increase afterwards.

I’m a patient, vulnerable in many sides. And she puts me in the situation where I must raise the price (with no changes in treatment plan or her qualification). It seems like a manipulation to me. I think that my benefit from it will be much less than my loss of money (I have low income now and need money for food, clothes etc. - really basic needs).

I can see results after 3 months of a therapy, I’m feeling better, so I don’t know what to do!

Whether this method is acceptable? Is it ethical to do so? Or maybe it is a sort of fraud?
Dear forum members, please tell me your opinion on this situation.

I will really appreciate your help!

Hello!

To me it sounds like a corrupt practice - even for Russia. I have three friends seeing psychologists or therapists in Russia and not a single one of them has done this. Mostly they have very good relationships and consistent pricing, so I advise finding a new one.

The fact that she's telling you that you not wanting to pay more is a reflection of your mental health is *extremely* concerning. Manipulative.

I'm not sure overcharging is sufficient grounds for a case. If you did find some legal grounds, I agree that it may be difficult bringing about action against her. However, it might not be completely futile: I understand when the case is politicised the 'little man' doesn't have a chance, but in smaller, local, apolitical cases then you winning could be possible. However, the very fact that you're seeing someone to deal with your mental health may work against you. But this is hardly Serbsky-level stuff.

Удачи! Обнимаю тебя =)

[Yours_Truly]

Sounds like extortion to me. I have never seen a therapist who charged this way & would never continue to see one who did. I would seriously try to find someone who has set fees.