I’m currently struggling financially and so my therapist has allowed me to stay on a sliding scale as he knows I get paid shit as a social worker in child welfare. I’ve been at the same sliding rate since COVID hit and it’s no secrete that prices of EVERYTHING have gone up. So on the one hand I feel awful I haven’t raised the rate on myself (even if it’s only $10-$15) as he has always said he just trusts that I pay what I can. On the other hand, that extra money would be really hard to come by, as I’m a mom of two and our whole world has financially exploded! Food, clothing, gas…. I mean families are getting squeezed till we are beyond dry (all of us are, I’m sure it’s not just families!).

So what do you all think? Patients? Therapist? If inflation has gone up 10%, should I at least try to increase it that much? Or should I trust my therapist that if they feel what I was paying was too low or no longer adequate, they would tell me? We have a great relationship and I just don’t want them to ever feel taken for granted, but I also don’t often go into detail regarding just how bad things are with me financially. All advice welcome!