Therapy, astrology, and paying for services
I quit therapy. I didn’t like the approach and structure of the sessions, and on top of that, the financial policy didn’t work for me. Long story short: I had to pay my therapist even for sessions I missed because I was sick. I get it — that’s their business model. But it didn’t suit me. I said it clearly: for me, it’s a service. The terms were presented, I don’t agree with them, and I want to stop. The therapist was shocked. “You didn’t give me a chance to decide!” Wait, what? This was my choice — my whim — to go to therapy with this particular person, and I am the one who decides if and when it ends. I was not bound by any contract, I paid session by session, and yet she regularly pushed me to schedule extra sessions even when I said no. I felt like I was being pressured for money. She also asked if I understood that if she doesn’t get paid for missed sessions, she would lose money, and that her training and education were expensive. I completely understand that — but the same applies to me. The money I give is earned through my own work and effort, while also investing in my own learning and growth. It isn’t unlimited; I have to earn it and spend it wisely. If the service doesn’t meet my needs or the conditions don’t work for me, I’m the one losing money in vain. That’s when it hit me: this isn’t just about therapy. It’s about the broader principle of how services work. You can’t make a single client responsible for the state of your bank account. People pay for a service because they want a tangible benefit. If the service doesn’t deliver, or the conditions aren’t right, they have every right to walk away. I see this all the time online — creators complaining that people don’t pay for their work or passion. And sure, people should be fairly compensated. But expecting a single client to carry the weight of your livelihood? That’s just not how it works. I left that conversation both stunned and slightly amused — but also with a clear reminder: money exchanged for a service is a two-way street. Both sides take a risk, and both sides have the right to say no.