Do therapists argue about their fee during sessions?

Question

i have been paying my therapist out-of-pocket because she doesn't take insurance (and I don't have any). I have been going there for about 2 years. She has been trying to raise and raise the fee. I have been paying $75 per session, which is a struggle for me. Recently, she has been wanting to discuss raising it to $100 per session and I said to let me think about it. Yesterday she wanted to talk about it... I said that I can't do it and we can end our sessions at the end of this month. She said OK. Then I talked about something else for about 5 minutes...but she kept coming back to the FEE discussion ("why can't you?" "The more you pay, the better it is for you" etc). I kept telling her "I am paying for this session today, so I do not want to talk about money and fees". but she kept at it. about 25 minutes into the session, I said I was leaving. Then I stormed out.

This is my first therapist.. is this NORMAL? Do they haggle for fees during sessions? she was also trying to say that $100 is a normal rate to pay for therapy -- is that true?

Also, when I would miss a session she would charge me for it anyway. Advanced cancellation would never count. Even when I had a throat infection recently and has to miss, I owed her $75. Is this normal???

Answer 1

In my experience with therapists this isn't normal. If i cancelled in advance-24 hours-I didn't have to pay. Also, any type of payment issues were discussed via phone or e-mail during a time other than my therapy appointment.



I think you should find a new therapist, preferably one that works on a sliding scale for people without insurance.



Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

Answer 2

This was most unprofessional, not to mention immoral and rude. And I can't believe that she does not understand the simple fact that some people simply cannot afford to pay rising rates. This is definitely not normal or right to keep hassling you, or to waste valuable time that you had already paid for on something other than your therapy.



In my experience, a therapist should not harrass you or become argumentative in this manner, and money matters should be handled after the session. She should have brought this up when it came time for you to pay (at the end of the session, normally) and once you said that you could not afford it and would be ending the sessions, then she should have either just agreed to this, or even have offered some kind of arrangement or tried to help you find somewhere else.



I can't imagine that she was much of a therapist, based on these actions, and to be honest, I think you'd be better off finding someone else. You could try going to your GP and asking for a referral to someone appropriate.



I'm not sure about "normal" rates for therapy. It differs from clinic to clinic, not to mention country to country. My therapist's fee is around $300, but on the medicare scheme it only costs $30 per session. You should be able to find somewhere at least with a sliding scale, who will charge you less because you don't have insurance, etc.



Good luck.

Answer 3

Please find another therapist as quickly as possible. Discussing the money for 25 minutes into your session is well nuts. If you can't afford the session increase then she should either give you a sliding scale or recommend an affordable therapist. That's it. Also, usually doctors tell you what the cancellation policy is for their office. Usually it's 48 or 24 hours depending. If you cancel the same day or some time outside that window then yes, they will charge you.



Overall it doesn't sound like the communication between you two is very good. Go to http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_search.php to search for a new therapists. Also, check out http://www.contemplativepsychotherapy.net/cp.htm as a resource for therapist. Also, Universities sometimes offer help that's not as expensive as outside therapists.



She shouldn't be trying to sell you on her services. She should respect where you are financially and consider your emotional well being as well.



Good Luck.

Answer 4

That doesn't sound normal to me at all. While I do have insurance now and have seen a therapist while both on and off on insurance, I have NEVER experienced this.



Seems to me that all she is interested in is making money, not helping people that may really need her help.



I would suggest looking to see if your county has a mental health clinic, depending on your situation monitarily; you may be able to see someone at a reduced rate. IMHO your therapist sounds like a quack! She's supposed to be there to help you, not stress you out and try to constantly raise your appointment rate. And its ridiculous to still be charged to cancel an appointment. Any doc I have ever dealt with gives you a certain amount of time to cancel appts without being charged!



FINS SOMEONE WHO WILL HELP YOU, NOT ROB YOU BLIND FOR SERVICES...especially when she wastes 25 minutes of the hour YOU paid for to talk about her fees, this should be done AFTER your session. Shame on her!

Answer 5

Very unprofessional. You are paying for therapy not price negotiations.

These discussions should take place before or after your session.

Fifteen years ago I paid $80 per session out of pocket so $100 today is not bad.

"The more you pay the better it is for you" Yea, sure!

Answer 6

this sounds very unprofessional.



she has no right to decuss payment when you are in a session, if she wants to she should leave time ater sessions to decuss or she should call or send you a letter.



it is time you have paid for and she is given that money to listen to you, not put pressure on you to pay her more.



sometimes places do put there prices up but it not usually by so much.



also some private places do charge for missed appointments but they dont if you call and cancel at least the day before.



this woman sound so unprofessional, if i was you i would go back, cancel your next appointment in advance and dont book again, you owe her nothing.



also i would write a letter of complaint to the company she works for.

Answer 7

If things actually went down as you say they did, your therpist was very unprofessional. I would think she should have sent out a very formal letter stating that as of such and such a date, she would be raising her fee to $100.00. Hopefully, you would be able to continue as a patient, but if you couldn't, she would understand. She should never have brought it up during your session. And yes, doctors charge for missed visits. Get a new therapist and move on.