Rating Your Psychotherapist - Bad Therapists

Written by B.J.

Dangerous Answers: Beware of This Therapist

• He/she was very demonstrative physically - hugging me, touching my arm or shoulder
• when talking to me, etc.
• He/she came on to me sexually.
• He/she was verbally/physically assaultive.
• He/she was downright unprofessional - very personal in his/her responses and
• self-revealing.
• He/she was exceedingly manipulative.

Table 5: The Fee
Rate Your Therapist
This is how my therapist handled/is handling the fee

Sound Answers

• He/she proposed a single, reasonable, fixed fee.

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• He/she didn't barter or bargain with me.
• He/she holds me entirely responsible for the fee; I can't use a third-party payer.
• He/she won't let me build up a debt.
• He/she won't accept gifts or other forms of compensation beyond the agreed-upon fee.
• He/she has not changed the fee during the therapy.
• He/she holds me responsible for the fee for all scheduled sessions.

Questionable-to-Unsound Answers: Reconsider Your Choice of Therapist

• He/she let me decide what I wanted to pay.
• He/she gave me a fee range.
• He/she told me that he/she was charging more (or less) than his/her customary fee.
• He/she says that I don't have to pay the fee when I go on vacation, take business trips, get sick, attend a wedding or funerals, etc.
• He/she accepts third-party payment (from parents, an insurance company, a governmental agency, etc.).
• He/she gives me/accepts small gifts on rare occasions.
• He/she lets me build up a temporary debt when I'm having a hard time financially.
• He/she takes the fee in cash (and keeps no record).
• He/she asks to be paid in advance of the sessions.

Dangerous Answers: Beware of This Therapist

• He/she is willing to falsify a fee to an insurance company for me.
• He/she negotiated a barter arrangement with me, which bypasses taxation.
• He/she gives me expensive gifts and accepts them from me.
• He/she accepts financial tips/stock information from me.
• He/she traded me a low fee for cash payment.

Table 6: The Schedule
Rate Your Therapist
This is how my therapist handled/is handling the schedule:

Sound Answers

• He/she arranged a definite schedule for my therapy - day, time, frequency, and length - and these have not changed through the course of my therapy.
• At most, the schedule has changed because of a major change in my work/school schedule or life circumstances or a new and major professional commitment by the therapist.