Beginning Therapy

You’ve booked your first therapy session. Now you’re wondering what you actually signed up for. Will you have to share your deepest trauma right away? Lie on a couch? Have topics prepared? The reality is that your first session is mostly about gathering information and getting to know each other….

Most families who come to therapy have already tried fixing the problem. Someone went to individual therapy. Everyone read articles about better communication. You promised to try harder. But somehow, you keep ending up in the same patterns. That’s because individual change often can’t shift family dynamics. Family systems therapy…

You’ve decided you want to talk to a therapist, but now you’re staring at a dozen browser tabs wondering where to even start. It’s completely understandable. Finding the right therapist involves both practical considerations (like insurance coverage and logistics) and something harder to define: that sense of connection and safety…

You’re Googling “couples therapy vs marriage counseling” at 11 p.m. because you and your partner just had the same fight you’ve had five times this month, and you’re finally ready to get help. But now you’re stuck: Do you need couples therapy or marriage counseling? Does it even matter? Short…

Trying to figure out mental health care can be confusing. Therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners—they all treat anxiety and depression, but the titles seem interchangeable. Then there are the licensing abbreviations (LPC, LMFT, Psy.D) that vary by state, making it even harder to know where to start. Understanding…

Therapy usually comes with some out-of-pocket costs, regardless of your insurance status. These can range from a $20 copay to paying the entire session cost yourself if you don’t have insurance. No matter where you fall on that continuum, you’re probably want to make therapy as affordable as possible, and…

If your relationship feels strained—maybe conversations turn into arguments more often, or you’re struggling to connect like you used to—you might be wondering if couples therapy could help. Many people are asking the same question: Thriveworks data shows that interest in couples therapy grew 39 percent in 2024, outpacing all…

Starting something new always comes with questions, and therapy is no exception. What happens during sessions? How much time should you set aside? What if you need more time to process something difficult? These questions are valid, and they shouldn’t hold you back from starting therapy. Here’s everything you need…

Starting therapy can feel both exciting and intimidating, especially if it’s your first time connecting with a therapist or counselor. It may bring some peace of mind to know you’ll have an experienced guide ready to lead you through each session. Still, you may be wondering: What should you talk…

If you’ve experienced trauma, you know it’s not something you can simply shake off. Traumatic experiences can stick with us, especially if we never process these memories. It’s not just our brains that hold on to trauma, our bodies do too. Talk therapy isn’t always enough to help us move…

Connection is a huge part of human experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Many people grew up without the safe and supportive relationships that we all deserve, which affects our attachment styles—the way we connect and bond with others. Attachment matters; maybe even more than you think. “Attachment…

Starting therapy for the first time feels like stepping into the unknown. I know because I’ve been there: sitting in a waiting room, wondering what I’d gotten myself into, with a head full of assumptions about what therapy was “supposed” to look like. (It turns out most of those assumptions…