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

Therapist Red Flags

Learn about therapist red flags and signs that a therapist might not be the right fit for you. From poor listening to ethical violations, this article offers guidance on when to consider ending your sessions and finding a better match.

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.

When to end therapy

Therapy doesn’t have to last forever. You might decide to end, take a break, or come back later when it feels right. This article helps you recognize when it may be time to pause and how to thoughtfully close out your sessions.

Deciding to start therapy

Thinking about therapy but not sure if you really “need” it? This article teaches you about the emotional, behavioral, and everyday signs that it might be time to talk to someone.

Read the full Getting Therapy guide

Paying for Therapy

Beginners guide to insurance

Learn about how health insurance works, types of plans, costs, coverage details, key terms, special programs like HSAs and COBRA, qualifying life events, and how to understand mental health coverage within your insurance.

Therapy covered by Medicaid

Learn about Medicaid’s role in covering mental health treatment, including eligibility, therapy costs, types of services covered, coverage limits, differences from Medicare, and how to find therapists who accept Medicaid for accessible care.

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.

Therapy covered by insurance

Learn about how health insurance covers therapy, including copays, deductibles, telehealth, couples therapy limitations, pros and cons of using insurance, and steps to verify coverage, in-network providers, referrals, and reimbursement options for affordable mental health care.

Read the full Paying for Therapy guide

Anxiety

Learn about social anxiety disorder — an intense fear of judgment in social settings— its causes, symptoms, and diagnosis, and explore effective treatments.

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.

Types of anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders can look different for everyone. From generalized anxiety to phobias, this article explains the types of anxiety, their symptoms, and how they’re treated.

Signs and symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety affects body, mind, and behavior—from chest tightness and racing thoughts to avoidance and irritability. In this article you will learn common signs, how symptoms vary, what worsens them, and practical ways to get relief.

Read the full Anxiety guide

Types of Therapy

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.

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE)

Prolonged exposure therapy uses controlled, gradual confrontation of trauma triggers to treat PTSD symptoms. Discover how this evidence-based approach works, when it's recommended, and what session experiences are like.

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.

Experiential therapy

Experiential therapy uses creative activities, movement, and sensory experiences to heal trauma and emotional challenges. You'll discover its various forms, effectiveness for conditions like PTSD and depression, and how to find qualified therapists.

Read the full Types of Therapy guide