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

Your first therapy session

Your first therapy session is the start of something meaningful. This article walks you through what to expect, how to prepare, and how to feel more comfortable from the start.

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.

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.

How to pay for therapy

Learn how paying for therapy works, including typical costs, insurance coverage, and payment options so you know what to expect.

Read the full Getting Therapy guide

Paying for Therapy

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.

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 Medicare

Learn about Medicare’s mental health coverage, including eligibility, Parts A–D, therapy and counseling benefits, online therapy access, costs, session limits, and differences from Medicaid, plus how to find a Medicare-accepting therapist for personalized care.

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

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Learn about generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), its causes, symptoms, risk factors, and how treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, and professional support can help manage persistent and overwhelming worry.

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

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.

ADHD and anxiety

Learn about how ADHD and anxiety interact, their overlapping and distinct symptoms, common misconceptions, diagnostic challenges, and effective treatment options including therapy, medication, and lifestyle strategies for managing both conditions together.

Read the full Anxiety guide

Types of Therapy

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT)

Compassion-focused therapy helps people who experience high levels of shame and self-criticism learn self-compassion and emotional regulation skills to improve mental health. Learn how this approach can transform your relationship with yourself.

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.

Eclectic therapy

Eclectic therapy combines techniques from various therapeutic modalities to create personalized treatment plans. In this article you'll learn about its origins, when it's used, different types, how sessions work, and how to find qualified therapists.

Accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP)

Accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP) is a healing-focused therapy that helps people process deep emotions, recover from trauma, and reconnect with their core self. In this article, you’ll learn how AEDP works, who it can help, and what to expect in a typical session.

Read the full Types of Therapy guide