CBT gave me real tools to manage anxiety and OCD — and learning how to get reimbursed through insurance made getting the help I needed actually possible.
Over the past few years, a lot of my friends have opened up to me about their mental health.
They know I’ve been vocal about going to therapy and how much it’s helped me — and when they’re struggling, they’ll often ask for advice.
Whenever someone tells me they're not getting what they expected out of therapy, I always ask the same question:
"What kind of therapy are you doing?"
Most of the time, the answer is talk therapy. And while talking things out can definitely be helpful, it’s not always enough — especially when you’re dealing with real, persistent struggles like anxiety, depression, ADHD or OCD.
That’s why I always recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
It’s not just for the hard days — it’s for every day you want to show up for yourself.
Why CBT Made the Difference for Me
CBT is different.
It’s not just about talking through feelings — it’s about learning specific tools to help you handle the hardest moments.
It gave me something actionable — real techniques I could use when I was anxious, overwhelmed, or caught in a spiral.
In a lot of ways, it feels like life therapy.
It’s not just for the hard days — it’s for every day you want to show up for yourself.
So many times, after hearing what someone’s going through, I find myself thinking,
"You don’t just need someone to listen. You need someone to teach you how to respond when things feel impossible."
And that’s exactly what CBT does.
Insurance companies don’t exactly go out of their way to make mental health support easy to access.
What No One Tells You About Paying for Therapy
The first thing people usually say when we talk about therapy is:
"But therapy is so expensive."
And they’re right — it can be. Especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is typically more expensive than talk therapy due to its shorter duration and intensive nature.
But what most people don’t know (because no one tells you) is that there are ways to make it more affordable.
One of the biggest lessons I learned — way later than I wish I had — is that you can often get reimbursed for out-of-network therapy sessions through your insurance.
Here’s how it usually works:
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You pay your therapist up front.
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You ask for a “superbill” (basically a fancy receipt).
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You submit that receipt to your insurance.
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They send you a partial reimbursement check.
It sounds complicated at first, but it’s actually pretty simple once you do it.
And it can make a huge difference — saving you hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars over time.
When I explain this to friends, almost every single person says,
"I had no idea that was even an option."
Of course they didn’t.
Insurance companies don’t exactly go out of their way to make mental health support easy to access.
I lost so much money in the early years simply because I didn’t know this was possible.
Now, I try to tell everyone I can:
"You deserve help. And there are ways to get it without going broke."
There are ways to make therapy more affordable — and it’s worth fighting for.
What I Hope More People Know
CBT gave me real tools to navigate anxiety, OCD, and everyday life — not just once a week during therapy sessions, but every single day.
And therapy, even with all its challenges, can be more accessible than it first seems.
You might just need someone to show you the options no one talks about.
If you're struggling, please know this:
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You deserve help.
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You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
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There are ways to make therapy more affordable — and it’s worth fighting for.
CBT changed my life.
And I believe it can change yours, too.
Presently yours,
Lindsay
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