5 Misconceptions about Therapy - LiveHealth Online

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Maybe you’re trying to resolve a specific personal issue and wonder if an outside perspective might help. Or you’re not sure what the problem is; you just want to feel better about yourself and your life. Wherever you fall in this range, therapy can be helpful. If you’ve never been in therapy before, you may also be holding back due to misconceptions about it.

Here are five common myths about therapy — and the facts that may help you decide whether therapy is right for you.

I can manage on my own

Whether you’re coping with a high-stress situation — such as grief, unemployment or a broken relationship — or the routine stresses of everyday life, you may well be managing on your own. But over time, things can get out of balance, affecting both your mental and physical health. A licensed therapist or psychologist can help you develop skills and strategies for dealing with life’s difficulties, including planning for stressful circumstances, communicating effectively and avoiding negative thinking and unhealthy behaviors. Learning these skills can help you build resilience and foster emotional and physical well-being for now and the future.

Therapy won’t help

Researchers have found that individual therapy is effective at improving symptoms in a range of mental illnesses. But it’s important to know that there are many types of therapies — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one example — and different methods are effective for different problems. A therapist may use one or more approaches, depending on your situation and needs.

Keep in mind, too, that therapy is a joint effort between you and your therapist. Studies have shown that a collaborative therapist-patient relationship is an important part of what makes therapy effective. So, to make the most of therapy, be open and honest, ask questions, work with your therapist to set goals and practice skills between sessions. If you don’t think therapy is helping, tell your therapist so they can adjust your treatment plan.

I can’t afford therapy

Therapy on LiveHealth Online is $80 per visit with a therapist and $95 with a psychologist.  However, your pricing may be lower depending on your health plan or employer. You can check your visit cost here with our pricing tool.

If you have health insurance, check your plan to see if it’s covered. You may also be covered for therapy if you are insured by a government-sponsored plan such as Medicare, Medicaid, or a health plan for members of the military and their families.

I don’t have the time

A typical therapy session takes 45 minutes. With LiveHealth Online, you can schedule therapy sessions for a day and time that fits your schedule, including evenings or weekends — and you won’t need to spend time traveling to and from a therapist’s office. Depending on your needs, therapy may not have to be a long-term commitment, either. In one study, about half of people in therapy showed improvement after just eight sessions.

I’m concerned about sharing private details about my life

Information about your therapy is confidential. As with other health records, it can’t be shared without your permission. In fact, in many states, mental health records are more protected than medical records. The only people who will know what happens in your therapy session are you and your therapist — and anyone you give your therapist permission to share information with, such as your doctor or a family member.

When to seek help

Still not sure therapy is for you? It may a good idea to see a therapist if you have:

• Trouble sleeping or feel tired all the time
• Changes in appetite that cause you to lose or gain weight
• Less interest in things or activities you used to enjoy
• Inability to concentrate
• Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning or fulfilling daily tasks and responsibilities

If any of these apply to you, or you have another concern, make an appointment with a therapist to have an initial conversation. It’s important to know that there’s no concern too small for therapy. We all deserve to live our best lives and therapists on LiveHealth Online are here to support you along the way.

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