COUNSELING IN PLANO, TEXAS: FAQS

Looking for counseling in Plano, Texas can be daunting. You know you’re struggling. You know you need someone to talk to. But you don’t know what to expect. Fear of the unknown keeps preventing you from taking that first step. With this blog post, I hope to remove the barriers to starting counseling. I want to help you find the best client/therapist fit possible!

MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNSELING IN PLANO

Here are the most common questions I hear when I first talk to clients during a free phone consultation or in our first therapy session. 

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME IF I NEED THERAPY?

No. Absolutely not. As a therapist in Plano, the line I repeat over and over to clients is “Everyone needs therapy. You’re the smart one who is getting it.” If we all learned better coping skills in childhood, counseling wouldn’t be in such high demand. Life is hard. American culture is crazy at times. We ALL need better coping skills, but this isn’t a focus of education. Therapy can help you with this. 

WHAT IS COUNSELING WITH A PLANO THERAPIST LIKE?

The experience is different for everyone. Some come looking for help with one particular issue, like panic attacks or binge eating. Others want to work on a combination of issues they’ve been struggling with for a long time. Counseling can be focused on present-moment issues, or it can involve a deeper dive into negative events from childhood that affect current functioning. 

Generally, I think it’s a bit uncomfortable and even weird for everyone at first. You’re likely talking about things you’ve NEVER discussed with anyone. Especially a complete stranger. But if the vibe with the therapist is good, you move through discomfort quickly. You learn to tolerate the ick of vulnerability and begin to reap the benefits.

HOW DO VIDEO SESSIONS WORK? 

I thought video sessions would be awkward. But when Covid hit, doing sessions virtually was the only option for helping people. We adjusted nicely, I think. I use a HIPAA-compliant cloud-based software called Simple Practice for billing and client charting. This software has a video platform that allows us to meet from the comfort of your home, workplace, or even car! I send you a link by email or text, and you simply log into the portal at our appointment time. It’s important to be in a private area and have a good internet connection. That’s it. 

CAN WE MEET IN PERSON FOR COUNSELING IN PLANO?

Yes. I still have an actual office, where I see people in person. Some people benefit from face-to-face sessions. For example, if you are battling social anxiety, recovery will require getting out of your comfort zone and engaging with people face-to-face. The same goes for body image distress. Taking your body out into the real world and learning that people accept you can help with recovery. Many clients begin with in-person sessions, then move to virtual when they feel comfortable with me. Some base their decision on how busy their schedule is. It’s up to you. 

HOW LONG DOES THERAPY TAKE? 

This is a hard question to answer. It depends. :) No one likes that answer, but it’s true. I have clients I’ve seen ever since I began my private practice 7 years ago. I also have clients I work with for just a few months. Technically, you can end therapy whenever you want. It depends on what outcome you want. It also depends on how affordable therapy is for you. BUT. I advise staying connected to a therapist until you are able to practice new coping skills on your own most of the time. 

Some clients just like to be in therapy. They find it helpful to talk through life issues with a nonjudgmental person who is outside of their life, and totally neutral. 

HOW OFTEN WILL WE MEET?

I always advise that people start with weekly sessions. Sessions only last an hour, a very short amount of time to get to know someone and discuss goals. Frequent sessions, in the beginning, allow for building rapport before moving into the hard work. These early sessions also allow for close monitoring of your symptoms and progress, and for troubleshooting when challenges arise. As you begin to put new coping skills to work in the hours OUTSIDE therapy sessions, you can spread the sessions out more. As I said earlier, some people love therapy and the support it offers and want to come every week to work on a variety of things. That’s ok too. 

HOW WILL I KNOW IF COUNSELING WORKS? 

Therapy involves creating a treatment plan, or an outline of your goals. This starts with your first conversation during your free phone consultation and continues in your first couple of sessions. You want to ask yourself what made you seek therapy in the first place: what are you hoping your life will be like after therapy? Are your goals reasonable? Often people realize during therapy that their expectations for therapy are unreasonable, and they begin to reframe them  

IS THERE HOMEWORK IN THERAPY?

Yes! I may not always call it homework. Sometimes it’s called an action plan. Whatever words you use, you need to be practicing new skills outside of our sessions if you want to make lasting changes in your life. Your counselor may ask you to monitor your thoughts, emotions, or body sensations. Your therapist might ask that you practice mindfulness techniques outside of your sessions. You might be encouraged to practice EXPOSURE to something that is hard for you, such as eating in a restaurant, setting boundaries on your time, or not worrying while at work. 

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

While I understand that life challenges do come up, I ask that you give me AT LEAST 24 hours notice if you can’t make it to your appointment. This makes it fair to other clients who want appointments. This policy also is important for running my business smoothly. I have a limited amount of therapy appointments available in the week. I take on a limited number of clients at a time so that I can give the best therapy services possible. I understand that things come up! I really do. If you let me know as soon as possible that you can’t make it to your appointment, I will try to get you rescheduled for that same week. If I can’t, you will be charged the FULL FEE for the appointment. I do give everyone one “freebie.” 

A FREE CONSULTATION FOR COUNSELING IN PLANO, TEXAS

If you or a loved one are looking for counseling in Plano, please reach out! I can help. I have over 20 years of experience helping adults improve their mental health. I specialize in anxiety and eating disorders like binge eating, emotional eating and overeating, anorexia and bulimia. I offer in-person sessions at my Plano office and online therapy in Texas. Contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation and take the first step toward recovery. If I can't help, I can connect you to another great therapist!