‘Exploratory Therapy’ is a term I noticed, upon review of administrative guidelines HMO”s and PPO’s published some years ago. The term has been coined to capture the quality and character of an open-ended therapeutic process that has historically been referred to as ‘psychotherapy’ or ‘psychoanalysis’. An open-ended approach to helping, permits one who would help (a therapist), to address themselves to many things that may come up within the context of a meeting:

1. I for one advise clients that, I always have ‘antennae at the ready’ to offer ‘my two cents’ regarding the needs of others in their intimate circle (partners and/or children).
2. Folks have complex lives and, apart from direct attention to reduction of ’symptoms’, there may be ways I can help them negotiate that complexity; advice re relationships, advice re life planning, adjustment to ‘curve balls’ life may throw them, etc.
3. Additionally, it may become apparent that opening the proverbial can of worms with respect to early life experience may be useful. If this is done, folks may well feel worse before they get better (HMO’s and PPO’s are not in the business of making people feel worse.)

This is a short list of ways an open-ended therapeutic process (exploratory therapy) can help. Note side effects of the treatment include; enhanced intellectual functioning, improved intimate relationships, enhanced sexuality, frequent ’spiritual’ experience and unleashing of creativity.

Exploratory therapy is not a covered benefit with any HMO or PPO that I know about. In fact, they make no bones about it.