Deciding
Who you need, what the letters mean, what the first session is like, and when to switch.
CBT, EMDR, psychodynamic — which type of therapy do I pick?
You don't have to pick the method — you pick the person. What each acronym means in one sentence each, and the three cases where the method does matter.
THE SEARCHHow to find a therapist in California without losing two weeks to voicemail
A concrete 5-day plan: pick your lane by budget, contact five at once with a copy-paste script, use consult calls, decide by session three.
SWITCHINGIt's not working with my therapist. Do I stick it out or switch?
Up to half of people don't click with their first therapist. The three-session rule, the difference between discomfort and misfit, and a script for leaving.
LICENSE DECODERLMFT, LCSW, LPCC, AMFT — what the letters after a therapist's name actually mean
All four do talk therapy. The real differences: training lens, price, and the associate discount. A plain-English decoder for California's licenses.
MEDICATIONPsychiatric medication: who prescribes, how to start, and the PCP shortcut
Your own doctor can prescribe most mental health medication — no psychiatrist wait required. Who does what, when you need the specialist, real costs.
WHO YOU NEEDTherapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist — who do I actually need?
The 60-second answer: talk therapy → therapist. Testing → psychologist. Medication → psychiatrist. Full comparison with real California prices.
FIRST SESSIONWhat actually happens in a first therapy session
Paperwork, "what brings you in," a few history questions, and logistics — that's the whole first session. What to say, what not to worry about.
YOUR RIGHTSYou can get a therapist without your parents. Here's how it works in California.
In California you can say yes to your own therapy at 12. What's private, what's not, what it costs (often $0), and how to actually start.
TEENSYour teen refuses therapy. Here's what actually moves the needle.
Forcing rarely works; waiting feels wrong. The middle path parents actually have — leverage, framing, formats teens accept, and when to override a no.