Have you ever left a session before it was over?

I think when my T gets back I might ask if we can try having me pay at the beginning of the session, just to see if it feels any different. Or maybe I could try check instead of credit card because then I could just hand it to him or put it on his desk instead of having to sign a slip like I'm at a store. I do like getting cash back from the credit card though! Plus we're delayed in getting reimbursement from insurance, so works out better with card.

I just pay once/month (beginning of the month for the previous month) which is nice because our therapy time is only slightly interrupted once/month instead of every week. I also like getting credit card points, but have thought of paying by check for the reason you said.

Hm, I wonder if mine would allow that? Or at the very least, while I'm coming twice a week, if I could just pay on the second session of the week? He'd still have to send me individual invoices though for each appointment to submit to insurance. And he usually sends the invoice at the end of session with "Paid in full" on it, but I imagine we could work something out.

Mine gives me a full invoice for each session at the beginning of each month for the previous month. I’m surprised people have to pay every week ( or every session). As I think of that, it feels a little disruptive. You should definitely ask if you can at least pay weekly instead of every session.

The two women I hired offered to bill me monthly, but I preferred to pay them each week at the end. That would mean when I quit I would never have to deal with either of them again.

I've left twice over four years. We talked about how the power imbalance leads to me feeling I can either bow down or leave, and worked on middle ground.

I pay L once a month now. I like not having to deal with money every session.

T and L both keep my card and signature on file,so I never have to deal with paying.

Maybe a handful of times with past therapists, and only when things had gone incredibly badly and I was sure further talking would make things worse.

Never with my current one, unless you count the time I squeezed a session in at an awkward time and left 1-2 minutes "early" so I wouldn't be late to a play I had tickets for.

I have never left early, but I have left upset...and she knows so when I throw the check on the table instead of handing it to her like a real adult

Yeah all the time in the past. Because I was bored. Because we ran out of things to talk about. Because she had something to do. Because I had something to do. Because I got angry. Because she was about to call the cops if I didn’t get out. Etc, etc.... thank god this one is different.

Yes. I imagine it's actually very common.

I have never even thought about leaving early. I tend to freeze when really upset or emotional.

There have been times I wanted to run out of the room during a session. One time I thought I was going to lose my mind if I didn't go and was on the verge of a major panic attack, but I ended up freezing. I've never left early.

I guess I did step out a few times due to a panic attack or feeling sick, but I always came back.