Heres me living in Aus reading these comments saying this is normal, thinking its insane. We just pull up to the bowser, wave to the cashier and start pumping petrol. People would be livid if they saw a $150 auth charge. The petrol station would be getting dragged in the news.
Definitely ask your GP to refer you to different therapist. If trauma is the main issue maybe ask about EMDR instead of therapists who specialize in CBT
I was sitting on a park bench with a giant bowl of grapes, slicing them in half with a butchers cleaver and eating them. I don't really like or eat grapes...
With the current cost of living issues most people are having and cutting back on non-essential spending, you will really need to push the visibility of your work on social media.
Try and find a niche to exploit that's not over-saturated and be realistic with your pricing. If you identify a niche, maybe reach out to popular/highly visible members of that community and offer to do custom avatar/banner work.
Maybe after you raise the visibility of your work, offer a heavily discounted limited time promotion or something.
Also might be worth checking out some freelance art jobs
How to Stop Your Cat From Waking You Up in the Morning
Why does my cat wake me up so early, and what can I do about it?