So, I guess I have mentioned elsewhere on the forums that my pregnancy is making me really sick. Like, "I'm not going to leave my house unless it's an emergency cuz I feel like I have the flu" sick.
I called my T and suggested that we take a break from therapy until I feel better, unless she is willing to do phone sessions. She agreed to phone sessions, even though she said that is not something she normally does.
Well, our first phone session went pretty well, I thought. At the end of it, I mentioned to my T that I had had a harder time focusing than normal and asked if she noticed. She said she had, and that that can be a symptom of pregnancy, and was probably made worse by the fact that I wasn't feeling well. So I asked her if she thought there was much point in continuing therapy at all while I was feeling this way.
She seemed a little uncertain about how to respond (maybe she thought I was trying to terminate?) but what she said was, "I'd feel better if I could at least call you every week to see how you're doing, then if you want to talk, we can, but if you don't, we don't have to. What are your thoughts?"
So I said I wanted to continue with therapy as usual, just over the phone instead of her office until I'm feeling better. However, her suggestion confused me a bit. These friendly little phone calls to check on me whether or not I want to talk-- surely she'd be billing me for them? I mean, if I wanted to talk, she should be paid for her time, and even if I didn't presumably she would have set time for talking aside for me and should be paid for that? It's just the way that she phrased it seemed so casual and vague-- like a concerned friend wanting to check in because she cares about me or something. And I'm sure she does care about me, but I felt that the line was getting a bit blurry-- not in a bad way, necessarily, but I felt confused.
Does this seem confusing to anyone else or is it just me?
Original Post
) I asked about his contact policy and he told me that nothing would change, he was still my therapist and I could call or email anytime. I was so surprised I actually looked at him and said "but you won't be getting paid!" to which he smiled and responded "I didn't say that if you were calling a lot I wouldn't ask you to come in." So I think more than likely your T wanted to make sure that therapy was available despite your physical ailments but she also didn't want to pressure you to carry through with a session that you are too ill to focus in. My guess would be that because she offered this, you would only be charged if you carry through. I know it's uncomfortable to talk about but it's not unreasonable to ask her about the finances. I would present it as the concern that it is: your need to plan your budgeting, especially with a little one on the way.