Just in terms of your assertion that therapists should have lowered their fees if they have switched from in-person sessions to virtual sessions...yes, they don't have to pay for a consulting room anymore, and perhaps they also save money on travel or parking or whatever if they are now only working from home. However, I doubt they are actually saving much money overall.
I'm not a therapist but I do other 1:1 and group work with clients and the vast majority of my work since Covid is now remote with me working from home, whereas it used to be face-to-face in-person.
I save a lot of time and money on travel as I used to spend a huge amount of both on trains.
But I've also had to spend quite a bit of money making the switch to permanent remote work/working from home. I had to upgrade my home office set up, including spending a lot of money on a comfortable, supportive chair. I had to pay for different platforms, including Zoom and MS Teams (an on-going cost). I bought quite a lot of tech equipment, to try to give myself and my clients an optimal experience in terms of image and sound quality (webcam, external microphone, lighting) I bought a computer with a larger screen to try to save me from getting too much eye strain/fatigue looking at my screen all day. I upgraded my home broadband to ensure that I had the most stable internet connection I could get to support video calls. I attended some training courses to upskill around doing the best work I could now I was in an online setting. Working from home in the winter, my energy bills are higher, as I have my heating on more as I am not benefitting from being in a warm office that someone else is paying to heat.
On top of all that, cost of living is higher than it was pre-Covid, so everyone's costs have gone up in all sorts of ways, which will affect anyone working from home (utility costs, food costs etc)
Therapists working for themselves are just like any other business owner.
I started seeing my therapist face-to-face in London a number of years ago. I used to work in London, so it was handy. When I changed my work and didn't work in London anymore, it wasn't so handy. It was 90mins+ each way to go and see her every week. Then Covid hit and we were in our own homes, talking to each other via computer screens. It was an adjustment and, every now and then, I think it would be nice to see her again sometime in-person. But, overall, it's been really convenient for me.
And yes, in answer to your question, I've got into some really heavy, distressing content with her online. I actually find it a bit easier because it doesn't feel quite as intense to me compared to when we used to sit quite close together in her room. And I like that, if I am triggered or a bit dissociated or whatever, I don't have to navigate busy roads and public transport to get myself home safely. I'm already home and comfortable.
My therapist moved in with her partner during Covid, so she isn't London-based any more, and isn't that near me either. So, seeing her face-to-face now wouldn't really be practical. Even if she decided to go back to in-person work in London, I think I would still stick to online, as seeing her in London would cost me £50 and at least three hours round trip on trains.
Her partner is also considered clinically vulnerable, so I think that's also a big reason why she is remaining working from home. And I think she is really enjoying her new life in the country and doesn't really fancy city life any more.
Covid really created a lot of changes in terms of ways of working for everyone. Therapists included. It sounds like the way your therapist is working (the remote aspect at least) isn't working for you. So, perhaps look for a different therapist? There are lots of therapists who have gone back to in-person work now, or a hybrid style (some days in person, some days remote) If there aren't any who are working in-person and who you think are suitable for you near you, you may have to consider looking further afield and traveling to see someone. If in-person sessions is a priority for you, it's probably worth it. Or - if you like your therapist and think you are a good fit who are doing good work together, you can consider if working online (or over the phone) is do-able, even if it isn't your preference.
It's ok to have preferences and to decide that a therapist's approach or way of working isn't right for you. But a therapist (or any other professional) can't possibly work to every single client's preferences. And believing that all therapists should work at least one day in-person (because that's what you say you would do if you were a therapist and because you as a client want to be able to have a face-to-face session) and asserting that any therapist who worked in-person pre-Covid should now reduce their fees if they are now working remotely...I don't think it's a realistic expectation. Nor a very fair one, to be honest.
