Plug for Lacanian psychotherapy.

Lacanians are focused, disciplined, and smart. There aren't many of them, either.

Dig around, read a little about Jacques Lacan; if it piques your interest, give it a shot.

Have you seen a Lacanian analyst yourself? If so—what are the sessions like?

Interesting. Though I've got very little interest in Lacan's work itself, I could see this being a pretty good filter for finding smart/disciplined therapists who are able to address more... abstract concerns (then again, maybe it's better for some of us to be forced out of abstract territory for therapy).

Also, your employer funded therapist will likely have a specific mandate to basically help you get back to work, meaning no longterm solutions or help, only bandaids.

Maybe I'm lucky, I work for $LARGE_CORP_WITH_GOOD_BENEFITS and Aetna covers a non-tiny number of independent mental health practices with a small copay per session. Are there many companies with therapists on the payroll? I can't imagine feeling comfortable in that setting.

Do you know of examples where this was the case? I've never heard of therapists having any such mandates.

That’s not how that works. The employers don’t directly employ therapists.