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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JayMac on December 14, 2008, at 17:27:31
I don't know if any of you are experiencing this, but due a drop in my income I have to stop seeing my T for 3-4 weeks. I would cut down from twice to once a week, but my income fluctuates every month. This sucks......I haven't gone more than 2 weeks without her.
So.........yeah... I'm not doing Christmas presents this year, as is much of my family. Tough times right now. I don't really have it THAT bad compared to most Americans. SOOOO many are unemployed. I'm grateful that I have my job, even though it is stressful.
I've been wanting to ask my T if she's been effected by the economy a whole lot. I don't know if she would answer, plus it's not necessarily any of my business.
(Maybe I want to know because if she doesn't have as many patients, maybe she might pay more attention to me. Not that I don't get enough, I just like to think I'm her one and only. I'm sure there's more to this, but that's another thread.)
I get the feeling that she is lossing patients. In the business of being a T, one is bound to have patients come and go, but I'm curious to what extent this is happening right now.
Posted by sassyfrancesca on December 15, 2008, at 8:35:06
In reply to No money = No therapy, posted by JayMac on December 14, 2008, at 17:27:31
> (((JayMac))):
I totally resonate.
In another month, I will have to tell my t I cannot pay him. The thought is excruciating.
I don't know if any of you are experiencing this, but due a drop in my income I have to stop seeing my T for 3-4 weeks. I would cut down from twice to once a week, but my income fluctuates every month. This sucks......I haven't gone more than 2 weeks without her.
I know how hard that would be.
>
> So.........yeah... I'm not doing Christmas presents this year, as is much of my family. Tough times right now.For the 1st time in my life, I haven't bought presents; I told my daughter, son and grandchildren that when I get a raise (which has been going on since July), then I can buy them something; they don't need a thing, anyway. Our contract (work at a University) took 18 months the last two times!
boutgh I don't really have it THAT bad compared to most Americans. SOOOO many are unemployed. I'm grateful that I have my job, even though it is stressful.
>
> I've been wanting to ask my T if she's been effected by the economy a whole lot. I don't know if she would answer, plus it's not necessarily any of my business.I had that exact thought, and I know my t wouldn't mind answering it. He doesn't take insurance, so I am curious.
>
> (Maybe I want to know because if she doesn't have as many patients, maybe she might pay more attention to me. Not that I don't get enough, I just like to think I'm her one and only.I'd like to think that, too.
I'm sure there's more to this, but that's another thread.)
>
> I get the feeling that she is lossing patients. In the business of being a T, one is bound to have patients come and go, but I'm curious to what extent this is happening right now.I still might ask my t; there isn't anything he won't discuss.
I can't bear the thought of losing him. He told me once "My colleagues would tell me to run fast and far, but I will never abandon you."
We are having a personal relationship, also....i've loved him for 5 years. Right now, he is in surgery---skin cancer, so I am concerned and worried for him. I went to his commencement a few days ago (he received his Ph.D.).....he didn't know I was there, but I told him on the phone.
Hugs, Sassy
Posted by JayMac on December 15, 2008, at 18:36:56
In reply to Re: No money = No therapy, posted by sassyfrancesca on December 15, 2008, at 8:35:06
Thanks for your understanding Sassy.
I'm hoping and praying that I don't get worse, go back to old habits, or become majorly depressed. I got depressed today just thinking about it. I keep telling myself that I'll be okay, but I hope I can believe it enough to make it true.
Posted by onceupon on December 15, 2008, at 20:55:03
In reply to No money = No therapy, posted by JayMac on December 14, 2008, at 17:27:31
I don't have quite the same situation, but my insurance is changing in January, meaning my therapist will be out of network. I do have out of network benefits, but not until I meet my deductible. I still haven't figured out how I'm going to swing therapy in the new year - or if I'll be able to. There's a big difference in my therapist's fee and the co-pay I've been paying.
Is your therapist good at talking with you about this? I brought it up in October, but have admittedly been ignoring the issue for awhile. Last week, she asked me if I was thinking about seeing someone new after my insurance changes (this is after 18 months of seeing her). I wasn't quite sure how to respond. She said this at the beginning of the session, knowing that we had last week and this week as our last two sessions of the year. And no, I hadn't been thinking about seeing someone else.
Argh, I feel so incompetent at talking about the financial side of this relationship. Or maybe it's just uncomfortable, I'm not sure.
I'd be curious too as to whether the economy has been affecting my therapist. Not sure I'd have the cojones to ask, though. And I'm pretty sure she wouldn't share the answer with me anyways.
Posted by Phillipa on December 16, 2008, at 0:12:15
In reply to Re: No money = No therapy, posted by onceupon on December 15, 2008, at 20:55:03
I think it might be for some as as Maslow's heirchy food, shelter, clothing, come first. I think it may depend on whether they are married and husband has a good stable job. Now if nationalized medicine arrives anyone know how this would effect therapy? Hence I hesitate to look for one at this time. Things I never did anyway like nails, massages, etc would have to go so a trickle down effect I'd imagaine. Sassy is therapist out of surgery how's he doing? Love Phillipa
Posted by JayMac on December 16, 2008, at 22:39:49
In reply to Re: No money = No therapy, posted by onceupon on December 15, 2008, at 20:55:03
Insurance is no fun. My T is out of network, she doesn't accept insurance. I was able to pay for her, even though it was my largest expense, but I recently got a 20% pay cut.
A couple of months ago in September I told her that I would have to cut back from 2x a week to 1x. Well.....I managed to keep doing 2x most times. I told her a month ago that I wouldn't be able to see her the last 2 weeks in December because of financial difficulties. At that time, I didn't realize how much of pay cut I would actually receive. Reality has hit me. It's hit me hard!
Well, that time has come. Tomorrow will be my last session for a long while.
Tonight I emailed her saying that it might be 4 weeks until I can see her again. It might be longer than that. I've been crying a whole lot more lately and eating a ton more lately, I think both are related to the fact that I feel like I'm leaving her....forever. I feel like I might be forced to do that, at least. I could find someone else who is in-network, but I know they wouldn't compare. I would feel like I was betraying my T. I can't do that. My T or not, I'm a loyal person. I don't dump people simply because they are no longer financially convenient.
The money side is VERY hard, for us and for them. I've spoken with various therapists, psychologists, social workers who have private practices and have to deal with such matters on a day to day basis. It's a weird line between business and therapy. They say that it's very difficult for them to talk about money.Thanks for your response.
Posted by JayMac on December 16, 2008, at 22:43:21
In reply to Re: No money = No therapy » onceupon, posted by Phillipa on December 16, 2008, at 0:12:15
I know what you mean. My money for my T comes after food and shelter and gas. She knows this. I'm not married. I wish I were right now. At least it would help unload the burden of having to take care of myself 100% of the time. I've actually gone further into debt since seeing my T this year. She doesn't know that. It's my responsibility anyway. I've cut back on all the unnecessary things I used to consider necessary.
Thanks for the input.
Posted by antigua3 on December 17, 2008, at 6:40:18
In reply to Re: No money = No therapy » onceupon, posted by JayMac on December 16, 2008, at 22:39:49
I'm sorry you have to go through this.
Try to talk about it again. When I lost my job, my pdoc refused to cut his rate, but my T agreed to accept what my insurance paid, which is less than half of what she charges. She did it, she said, because she didn't want to lose the progress we'd made. I cried.
Maybe you could ask your T for something similar?
antigua
Posted by JayMac on December 18, 2008, at 12:25:40
In reply to Re: No money = No therapy » JayMac, posted by antigua3 on December 17, 2008, at 6:40:18
She already lowered her fee for me. She said she can't lower it any more. So.....that's that.
Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm just in a tough spot. I'm already in a whole lot of financial trouble. I've gone further into credit card debt since starting therapy. She knows this. She wants me to ask my family for money. I already asked my grandparents for money a couple months ago.
I don't know.Thanks for your response!
Posted by antigua3 on December 18, 2008, at 17:13:07
In reply to Re: No money = No therapy » antigua3, posted by JayMac on December 18, 2008, at 12:25:40
This is the end of the thread.
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