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

What is therapy

Therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and find more clarity in life. Our complete guide to getting therapy shows you what to expect, from understanding how therapy works to finding a therapist you trust. Whether you're exploring options or ready to begin, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

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.

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.

Types of providers

Therapist, counselor, psychologist - what’s the difference? This article explains the types of mental health providers and how to choose one who fits your needs.

Read the full Getting Therapy guide

Paying for Therapy

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.

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 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.

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.

Read the full Paying for Therapy guide

Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Learn about what anxiety is, why it happens, how it affects the brain and body, its different forms, when to seek help, and effective strategies and treatments for managing 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.

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.

Anxiety treatments

Feeling anxious can be overwhelming, but effective help is available. This guide explains the most common “anxiety treatment” options, how they work, and when it may be time to seek professional support.

Read the full Anxiety guide

Types of Therapy

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.

Therapy types & modalities

Therapy comes in many forms, from CBT and DBT to trauma-focused and identity-affirming approaches. In this article you will learn why therapies differ, how to choose, and why the therapist relationship matters most

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)

Instead of focusing on what's wrong, SFBT helps you see what's already working in your life and shows you how to use those strengths to solve current problems.

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.

Read the full Types of Therapy guide