[auctiontheory]

most therapists are utter garbage...

I don't have data on "most" therapists, and neither do you, but some therapists can immeasurably change your life for the better.

As for the cost, would you rather work on your inner life (which might bring professional success) or buy that new BMW? Only you can make that decision.

[Jtsummers]

Also regarding cost, I found the cost with insurance to be very affordable. Perhaps my insurance is better than average, but I just paid the same copay I'd spend going to any other doctor ($20). And like going to any other doctor, when you're in pain (mental or physical), it's almost always best to just go and talk to them. The longer you delay the greater risk of it becoming worse, and a small fee to find out that you're ok or not ok is worth it. And when it's something like anxiety or depression, it can definitely get worse. Until you've accumulated more experience with it than anyone really wants (speaking from experience here), it's next to impossible to pull yourself out of it.

[auctiontheory]

Very few employer-provided plans pay for long-term therapy.

If you do use insurance for short-term therapy, all sorts of red flags (aka DSM diagnoses) will forever be branded into your permanent medical record. Obamacare may change some of this - unclear.

In short, while getting therapy is good ... involving insurance is iffy.