Hi lostgirl57. That is a very positive step to start therapy so you can deal with your pain and move forward in life.

What is BC/BS? Is it an insurance company?

I think many therapists deal with the sort of problems you are describing so you probably don't need someone who is too specialized. Both my former counselor and my current therapist deal with problems like this. One had a Master's in Social Work and the other is a Psychologist/Family Therapist, so a variety of degrees/licensures could work out for you.

I think a therapist/psychologist is your first stop. That person will refer you to a psychiatrist also if they think you can benefit from one. Yes, many people go to psychiatrists specifically so they can get meds.

If your insurance co-pay is $20, it sounds like that is all you would have to pay each visit. Check your plan, though, and see how many mental health visits your plan allows. My plan allows 20 visits a year to an in network provider. My husband's plan only allows 12. Psychiatrists are considered medical visits rather than mental health on my plan, so I can visit them as many times a year as my plan allows me to visit other types of doctors.

There is another recent thread here in the psychotherapy forum dealing with therapy prices. There is a lot of good info. Go here:
http://forums.psychcentral.com/showf...5&o=31&fpart=1

There are a lot of good articles on psychcentral about psychotherapy. Go here:
http://psychcentral.com/psychotherapy

"Finding A Therapist" article
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/finding-a-therapist/

Good luck!