Posted by Emily Elizabeth on April 9, 2006, at 22:47:23
In reply to Re: How much is it appropriate to spend on therapy? » littleone, posted by special_k on April 9, 2006, at 21:51:21
That is a very hard question. I think that a lot of the answer has to do w/ where you are in your life. Are you at the point in your life where you need to take care of kids or save for retirement? How much are you willing to go into debt? (In the US, lots of debt seems to be very common now-a-days, not sure if this is universal).
When I worked at a sliding fee scale clinic, fees were typically 5-10% of a person's income. Of course, the therapists were unlicensed trainees who were supervised by a licensed psychologist.
I love ya, so I'm going to share my own experience here, even though I'm pretty ashamed of it... Last year (and probably this year too) my income was EQUAL to my psychotherapy and psychiatry expenses. I am a grad student, so I was working 20 hrs/wk. My parents have kicked in the extra $ that I need (although not w/o a hefty emotional price). I have experienced an awful, unrelenting depression, so I believe that the treatment has been medically necessary. Also, since I can get some $ from my family, I do not have to choose between eating and therapy. If I did, I might have to cut way back on therapy.
My advice to you: consider setting a formal time frame (maybe 6 months?) after which you will re-evaluate how your therapy is working in your life and budget. Is it super-expensive, but also super-helpful? Is it a little helpful, but super-expensive? Is it more managable than you thought that it would be? I would be up front abt this plan w/ T from the beginning so that she knows it is coming and you can work to answer these questions together.
I don't know. I'm so burned out on school and my career that I would never choose having money to go participate in my department over having therapy money. I'm sick of sacrificing myself for my career. But I probably would have felt differently a few years ago. School has sort of destroyed my soul. :(
Okay, I'm in the midst of a depressive episode and I have been attempting to work on my dissertation all day. So, I will end my gloomy ramblings. I do hope that this will be helpful to you in some way!
Best,
EE
poster:Emily Elizabeth
thread:631129
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060406/msgs/631226.html