You are a clinical psychologist in private practice and Mrs. Henderson has been bringing her 7-year-old son Mark to see you for weekly play therapy. Today she informs you that she is no longer able to afford your fee because her husband just got laid off from work. You do not accept sliding scale payments. What do you do?
Explanation
Answer: C - You need to make it clear that as much as you would like to continue treating Mark, your practice is not set up to take any less than the designated fee. But reassure the client that there are other options. Recommending some specific alternatives, even if it is only group therapy at a clinic, is far superior to just turning a patient loose. Reducing the frequency of therapy, on the other hand, could compromise the effectiveness of the treatment and is not advisable.
