Sliding Scale?

Question
Do you use a sliding scale for payment of your service?  I don’t want to charge so much that it’s a hardship, yet I don’t know whether a sliding scale is the way to go, either.

Answer

I struggle at times with this question myself. Usually, I put it back into the lap of the caller with a suggestion that they save up for my first session. This is because of the amount of extra work I put into preparing for them. They would then come to the next session with a model of what they can afford to pay for any following sessions.  However, I keep open and continue to struggle with decisions about this--for these reasons: 

(1) When I was extremely ill, and on death's ground, I was left to locate funds outside of the small insurance available to me.  It was through the generosity of a healer that I received much needed help for very little to nothing in the way of money.  This was due to the fact that the healer--who later became my mentor--sensed that I had some kind of destiny as a healer myself, and considered me one of her "tithes'.   

(2)  My first and one of my finest office assistants was on welfare when she came to me for help.  She paid me full price for her first sessions, and then began to work in my office on a barter system.  Once her sessions were done she continued to be my office assistant, and was a great one, because she had experienced so positively what we were "advertising." 

Now, outside of these two, I must admit that many of the clients I have offered special rates to either haven’t kept their appointments, or else expected more and more of me, for less and less.  It seems to be a strange and complicating phenomena, making it harder to decide who you should “listen” to and who you should send on to someone else. Here's what I feel:   

(1) You are worth something in your practice and should charge for it on the basis of your amount of experience and training.  The charges should be in keeping with your geography and other similar therapists. 

(2) People need to feel like they have some commitment of some kind, even if they can't afford much, thus they should pay something commensurate with their income.  This has to do with human pride.  When I ask people to save up for the pricier first visit with me, I’m asking for a commitment that helps me discern how serious the potential client is about their healing. 

(3) People who talk "poor" aren't always poor. 

(4) Every therapist should be aware of others in the community who can offer services at a greatly reduced price, or sliding scale, so they can offer any caller names and phone numbers.  A person should not be left without resources after calling you.  

(5)  If a therapist is in a situation where there are quite a number of people who need services for less, then it is within their power to set aside special times of the week or month for sessions that require less money--perhaps even 1/2 hour sessions, such as at the end of the day or a Saturday morning. 

(6) Once in a great while, you'll run across someone who is very desirous of their own healing, but just can't give out the amount of money you charge--That's when your own heart needs to reign over your pocket.