Beginning Therapy

You’ve probably heard of both. Maybe you’ve already looked them up, scanned a few reviews, and still aren’t sure which one is actually right for you. That’s because the answer genuinely depends on your situation—specifically, whether you have insurance you want to use, and whether in-person care matters to you….

If you’ve looked up both Thriveworks and LifeStance Health, you’ve probably noticed they look a lot alike. Both accept insurance, offer in-person and virtual sessions, let you choose your own provider, and cover therapy and psychiatry. The similarity is worth saying plainly: This is a closer call than most therapy…

Most therapy glossaries are organized alphabetically, which isn’t exactly helpful when you’re sitting in a waiting room wondering what “therapeutic alliance” means or Googling at 11 p.m. trying to understand why your last session felt so heavy. This one is organized differently: by where you are in the process. Whether…

You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people avoid seeking help because they feel their struggles aren’t “serious enough”. Maybe you haven’t experienced major trauma, or your life looks fine from the outside. “A lot of people think that in order for therapy to be…

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…