Therapy 101

Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. These guides cover the basics—from what to expect in your first session, to understanding the costs, to exploring different approaches and finding support for challenges like anxiety. Each resource is designed to make the process clearer and less intimidating, so you can focus on what matters most: taking care of your mental health.

Getting Therapy

Common therapy challenges

Feeling stuck in therapy? This article explores 7 common therapy challenges and simple ways to work through them so you can keep making steady progress.

Types of therapy

This is your starting point for understanding the different types of therapy. This overview walks you through each of the common categories of therapy and who they work best for.

Your relationship with your therapist

A strong relationship with your therapist can shape your entire experience in therapy. This article explains why it matters and what healthy boundaries look like. We'll also walk you through how to handle questions and emotional moments along the way.

Therapy and medication

Therapy and medication can both help with mental health, but in different ways. For some people, using both together can make a big difference. This article explains how each one works and how they can support each other. Learn what to keep in mind if you're thinking about adding medication to your care plan.

Read the full Getting Therapy guide

Paying for Therapy

Therapy covered by EAP, HSA or FSA

Learn about HSAs, FSAs, and EAPs as financial tools to make therapy and mental health care more affordable, including eligible expenses, key differences, and how employers support access to mental health services.

Common insurance challenges

Learn about navigating mental health insurance, including verifying coverage, common therapies covered, handling preauthorization, billing errors, denied claims, and reimbursement. Gain practical strategies to manage costs, maximize benefits, and access care with less stress and confusion.

Cost of therapy

Therapy costs vary widely based on insurance coverage, provider credentials, and treatment type. This article covers session pricing, insurance benefits, affordable alternatives, session length expectations, and whether therapy's investment delivers lasting mental health value.

Paying for therapy

Therapy costs vary widely based on insurance coverage and provider choice. This guide explains insurance basics, government programs like Medicaid and Medicare, alternative payment methods, and solutions to common billing obstacles.

Read the full Paying for Therapy guide

Anxiety

Separation anxiety disorder

Separation anxiety isn’t just for kids. Learn how it can affect people of all ages, what causes it, and how evidence-based therapy can help you or your loved one feel more secure and connected.

Panic disorder

Learn about panic disorder, including its causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic process, and effective treatments like CBT, medication, and lifestyle changes, to better understand and manage this common anxiety condition.

Agoraphobia

Living with agoraphobia can feel isolating, but you’re not alone. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments is the first step toward feeling safe and in control again.

Phobias

Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of phobias — intense fears that disrupt daily life — and explore how therapy, coping strategies, and understanding brain responses can help reduce anxiety and build confidence.

Read the full Anxiety guide

Types of Therapy

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)

Emotionally focused therapy helps individuals, couples, and families understand and regulate emotions to build stronger relationships. This article covers information about its origins, applications, therapeutic process, effectiveness research, and how to find qualified EFT therapists.

Child-parent psychotherapy (CPP)

Learn about child-parent psychotherapy, an evidence-based treatment for children ages 0-6 who experienced trauma, focusing on strengthening parent-child relationships to promote healing and secure attachment.

Psychoeducation

Psychoeducation combines education and emotional support to help people understand and manage mental health conditions effectively. Discover how this evidence-based approach works, when it's recommended, and what session experiences are like.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

ERP is specialized cognitive behavioral therapy that helps people gradually face anxiety-provoking situations while resisting compulsive behaviors like checking or hand-washing. Learn how this approach breaks the anxiety-compulsion cycle that keeps OCD going.

Read the full Types of Therapy guide