[coconut64]

I have a question about fees. Does your T increase their fees every year? I started with mine in 07. He increased his fee $10 in 08 and he will increase again by $10 in 09. Is this common practice? I don't know how many years I'm going to be in T but if he increases his fee every year then how much am I going to end up paying T. He did say all the right things that we could work it out if I lose my job bla bla bla but he knows that I can afford it for now. Could this be a way of ensuring quick healing!!!!

[Brian37]

everybody deserves a pay raise...right?

therapists are feeling the pinch like everyone else, plus the fact that insurance companies are trying to push "mental health" out of the picture

my old therapist raised her fee by 25$ right before I left...from 125 to 150/hour

with the economy in the toilet I would expect fees to go up across the board

[gimmeice]

I agree with Brian, the cost of most things have been going up yearly so I expect that it cost quite a bit more to run an office each year. I have seen a lot of fees for different sorts of services raising the last few years.

[cantstopcrying]

Working in a physician office I can tell you reimbursement is down from insurance companies pretty much across the board and considering nothing else is going down, they do have expenses as well as their "paycheck". In this case I would say it's a matter of increasing their fee so they can charge a bigger usual and customary fee to the insurance company (which will get sliced hugely, probably back down to where it would be before they increased their fee). I would guess they aren't seeing a whole lot out of their increase.

[splitimage]

My T doesn't raise her fees every year. I think she raised them about 2 years ago and she hasn't mentioned anything about an increase in 09. But then again she's already at the high end of fees for this area, so she may not feel she has room to.

--splitimage

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by coconut64

I have a question about fees. Does your T increase their fees every year? I started with mine in 07. He increased his fee $10 in 08 and he will increase again by $10 in 09. Is this common practice? I don't know how many years I'm going to be in T but if he increases his fee every year then how much am I going to end up paying T. He did say all the right things that we could work it out if I lose my job bla bla bla but he knows that I can afford it for now. Could this be a way of ensuring quick healing!!!!

I don't think it's common practice to raise fees like that, unless insurance is paying less than they used too...

My T hasn't raised fees in two years. Before that I don't know because I wasn't with him then.

I don't think what your T said was a scam to "ensure quick healing" though. That would be unethical and it sounds like from what you've posted that you have a good T... unless you doubt your T. Do you doubt your T?

I'm sure your T has some good reason to increase the fees ten bucks/year. It could be cost of living increase, who knows.

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by Brian37

everybody deserves a pay raise...right?

therapists are feeling the pinch like everyone else, plus the fact that insurance companies are trying to push "mental health" out of the picture

my old therapist raised her fee by 25$ right before I left...from 125 to 150/hour

with the economy in the toilet I would expect fees to go up across the board

You got out just in time man.

[coconut64]

It just seems too much...$10 increase every year???? I see T x3 weekly so imagine. Does he do this with every client???

That does seem like a lot, especially with going three times per week, so that's 30 extra dollars, which is a lot!! Can you speak with him about that?? Is it a sliding scale? I do a sliding scale with my T and the fee we agreed upon during the first session, over three years ago, is the same fee I pay at the present time.

[sunrise]

My T keeps me at the same rate as when I first started with him. He has raised his rates once since then, but it's just the new clients who get the new rate. Older clients get the rate they started at. Since my T doesn't do longterm therapy (greater than 3 years), it is fairly quickly that most of his caseload is at the new rate. He charges a different and higher rate for coaching, and I do pay him this, but always the original rate for therapy. My daughter has been seeing her T for over a year and a half and still pays at the same rate. I hope T can keep me at my original rate because I pay 100% out of pocket and it is very pricey.

[PsyChris]

It depends on the state of there practice.

The alternative could be to reduce therapy session times in an effort to accommodate more patients.

Mental Health pairity laws were passed recently in the US, which should help things on the mental health front as far as the variety of coverage. I am glad that the APA got that pushed through and we won't be in the same position as the NHS was in the UK with only supporting CBT.

[coconut64]

I'm not happy about the yearly increase but somehow raising this issue with T seems impossible!!!! He knows I can afford it, I just don't think it's appropiate, fair, necessary, etc...I pay him cash and out of pocket...I feel ilke a cash cow

[MissCharlotte]

My T has not increased his fee since I started 2 years ago. But, I don't know if he has increased for new patients or not. I know it' s hard to pay because it is a lot of money. However, I think of it this way: Therapy is the most important thing I do for myself. It is my way of taking care of myself and I am worth spending the money on. T is a loving, caring person. He has taught me that I am worth taking care of. So he is is worth the money. Also, he is a professional and this is how he makes his living.

Are your T's fees out of line with others in the area? Why does this upset you if you can afford it?

Maybe you should discuss it with T, and see what he says.

[Mouse_]

My T has increased her rate once in the 4yrs Ive been with her...and that was only by a couple of english pounds....when I first went she said she charges anywhere from £15-£35 depending on what one can afford...I pay the lowest end..

[deliquesce]

my T discussed raising his fee once (by $30) but when i brought it up a month later to check he said it was ok because i'm still a student.

i think it's fair to raise by $10 every year. my psychiatrist raises his by $20 every year.

if you aren't happy with the price, either negotiate or go somewhere else.

[coconut64]

I don't know if I'm spiraling like EM or escalating...but this is bothering me more and more. I don't remember it bothering me last year.

Lately we have been talking about how my dad used to buy my silence/affection with $. Who knows. Maybe it's because it's the holidays and I'm having a hard time this year. Or maybe because it makes the relationship about money. It makes me question whether it is real? Whether it is just about money for him? I can't help but think that if I'm coming x3 weekly, it should be considered. When he discussed fees, he said it goes both ways. Maybe I'm just looking for a way to be the special client. Maybe I feel like I'm my dad now, buying his affection with money. Who knows. The mind is an endless of pain and I don't want to pay anymore. (Oppps Freudian slip, I was going to write I don't want to PLAY anymore).

Originally Posted by coconut64

I don't know if I'm spiraling like EM or escalating...but this is bothering me more and more. I don't remember it bothering me last year.

Lately we have been talking about how my dad used to buy my silence/affection with $. Who knows. Maybe it's because it's the holidays and I'm having a hard time this year. Or maybe because it makes the relationship about money. It makes me question whether it is real? Whether it is just about money for him? I can't help but think that if I'm coming x3 weekly, it should be considered. When he discussed fees, he said it goes both ways. Maybe I'm just looking for a way to be the special client. Maybe I feel like I'm my dad now, buying his affection with money. Who knows. The mind is an endless of pain and I don't want to pay anymore. (Oppps Freudian slip, I was going to write I don't want to PLAY anymore).

Wow, coconut, this is bringing up a lot for you....and that's really important to pay attention to.

For me, the only real way out of the spiral (when T is the "cause") is to talk to T about it...to be honest and tell him all of my fears, suspicions, worries, etc. I know it's uncomfortable to talk about finances with T for a lot of people, but is this something you can bring up with him to discuss some more??

It's amazing how one thing (fees) can lead to another (dad) in T, isn't it??

[PsyChris]

I think anything that stirs up emotions like this is significant enough to bring up with your T!

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by coconut64

When he discussed fees, he said it goes both ways.

What does that mean?

[coconut64]

Originally Posted by earthmama

Wow, coconut, this is bringing up a lot for you....and that's really important to pay attention to.

For me, the only real way out of the spiral (when T is the "cause") is to talk to T about it...to be honest and tell him all of my fears, suspicions, worries, etc. I know it's uncomfortable to talk about finances with T for a lot of people, but is this something you can bring up with him to discuss some more??

It's amazing how one thing (fees) can lead to another (dad) in T, isn't it??

You're so right EM, it's freaky! I'm trying to find a way to bring this up.

[coconut64]

Originally Posted by sunrise

What does that mean?

It took it to mean that he was not going to abandon me due to inability to pay. That we could work it out. He could not have been nicer about it.