Your Top Therapy Questions Answered

More Americans are seeking mental health treatment in 2020 than ever before. That said, it’s still an unfortunately shrouded subject for those who’ve never tried it. Too often the mysteries behind therapy create misconceptions about it and prevent those who need help from seeking it.

So let’s clear up some of those mysteries.

Is therapy only for people with diagnosed mental disorders?

First of all, how will you ever know whether you’re living with an undiagnosed mental disorder if you don’t talk to a professional? And second—no. Therapy is for anyone who wants it. If you have specific issues you’d like to work through, starting therapy sooner than later will make those issues easier to untangle and resolve. 

Therapy isn’t just for coping, either. It also works well in maintaining an already healthy mental state.

How does confidentiality work?

In short, whatever you say in therapy stays in therapy. There are a few exceptions where your therapist is legally obligated to break confidentiality:

• Harm to self or others. Don’t worry—in all likelihood, your therapist won’t report you for self-harm behaviors like cutting or burning. Even if you’re a minor. However, in extreme cases like suicidal or homicidal intent, your therapist is legally and ethically obligated to notify the appropriate authorities to ensure safety. 

• Your files are subpoenaed. If for some reason a court or the College of Registered Psychotherapists needs your files for legal purposes, they can access them with a court order. 

Does health insurance cover therapy?

This is one of the first questions people ask when considering therapy, and the answer isn’t cut-and-dry. This in-depth article from BetterHelp is a great resource, as it covers the basics of health care insurance, where to find your mental health coverages in your health insurance policy and how to find and get access to the most affordable health insurance option.

How can I find a therapist?

Once you’ve decided that you’d like to try therapy, there are a few different ways to find a therapist: 

• Referral from a friend or family member. It’s likely that someone in your inner circle already goes to therapy. Take advantage of their knowledge! 

• Referral from a health professional. Most health professionals, from your primary care doctor to your chiropractor, keep an updated list of good therapists they can recommend to people. 

• Web searches. The internet is truly amazing. With just one search, you can find listings of therapists in your area and even read patient reviews.