FAQs About Therapy and Counseling in Dallas, TX

For a comprehensive list of practical FAQs about therapy at Crescent Counseling, including fees, scheduling, and what to expect, visit our FAQ page. Below, I'm answering some of the deeper questions I hear most often.

You’re ready to make a change and find help in Dallas, Texas, but you’re overwhelmed by the search. You want to find someone who is a good fit, but you don’t know what to look for.

FAQs about therapy and counseling in Dallas

We want to share some common questions we get asked that might be helpful in your process of choosing a therapist.

Therapy Question #1: Will therapy help me?

If you’re not sure if therapy is right for you, or you’ve heard opinions from friends and family about therapy, you may want to ask about the potential benefits of starting therapy or working with a new therapist. Therapy can provide a space to process past, present, and future with someone unbiased and focused on helping you reach your goals. We believe therapy with us can help you in your relationships through couples counseling, with trauma recovery, with regulating anxiety, with addressing disordered eating, and with the issues that accompany emerging adulthood.

Therapy Question #2: What should I ask a therapist before meeting with them?

Asking questions can help you get an idea of what to expect from sessions with a new therapist. If you’re like me, sometimes your mind seems to go blank. Writing down a list of questions beforehand to ask a potential therapist may help. Check out our blog post on Questions to ask a therapist or counselor in Dallas, Texas for a starting place.

Therapy Question #3: What are you like in a therapy session?

This question may give you insight into what to expect from a potential therapist in sessions. Some therapists may say they are more direct in involvement and feedback, while others focus more on active listening. You want to find someone who gives feedback and support in a way that is most helpful for you. We both provide compassionate, direct involvement through our questions and feedback in sessions and appreciate the willingness to follow through with assignments outside of sessions. We want to help you reach the goals we set together and feel our authentic responses for you can help us best reach those goals.

Therapist Question #4: What is the difference between a counselor, therapist, social worker, psychologist, and psychiatrist in Dallas, TX?

When it comes to mental health, there are several different types of professionals, and it can be confusing who helps with what. We are both Licensed Professional Counselors, meaning we are counselors (or therapists, these titles are used pretty interchangeably.) That means we provide a space for you to process thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and events while asking intentional questions and providing feedback, psychoeducation, and recommendations based on our own education, training, certification, and experience. Check out our blog post on Finding a therapist or counselor in Dallas, Texas for more information on these differences.

Therapist Question #5: What sort of investment will I be making in therapy with you?

You’ll want to know what to expect as far as the investment in yourself of both your time and your finances before starting therapy with a new therapist. We will help you determine a frequency of sessions thats right for your needs, typically starting with weekly or every-other-week, and talk through session costs. Initial individual sessions are $180 with all additional 50-minute sessions being $165. We can also share with you about accessing any Out Of Network (OON) benefits you may have through your insurance.

Therapist Question #6: What sort of experience do you have in the field of counseling?

You will want to know your therapist has experience relevant to what you are looking for help with. Your potential therapist may let you know about years of experience, types of settings they’ve worked in, and specialized trainings and certifications they have relevant to how they will provide therapy to you. Check out our Crescent Counseling Team and Specialities pages to learn more about Allison and Amanda’s experience with couples, anxiety, emerging adulthood, trauma, and disordered eating.

A few more FAQs worth addressing

How Do I Know If I’m Ready for Therapy?

You don't have to be in crisis. If something has been weighing on you, like persistent anxiety, relationship patterns that keep repeating, a sense that something is off even when things look fine from the outside. That's enough. Readiness is less about the size of the problem and more about the desire for something to shift. If you're asking the question, you're probably ready to at least have a conversation.

How Long Does Therapy Usually Take?

The honest answer is it depends. Some people come with a focused concern and experience meaningful shifts within a few months. Others engage in longer-term work exploring attachment, trauma, or relational patterns that have been building for years. At Crescent Counseling, we check in regularly on what's shifting and adjust the frequency and focus as we go. We don't believe in keeping people in therapy longer than they need to be, and we don't believe in rushing the work either.

What If I Don’t “Feel Better” Right Away?

Early sessions usually focus on building safety, understanding what's brought you here, and beginning to identify patterns. Change often happens gradually in small shifts that accumulate over time rather than dramatic breakthroughs. What we can promise is that you'll feel heard, supported, and more equipped with each session. If something isn't working, we want to know. Feedback makes the work better.

Can I Change Therapists If It’s Not a Good Fit?

Yes! And please do. Fit matters more than any single credential or referral. We will never take it personally. If after a session or two something doesn't feel right, tell us honestly. We'll either adjust our approach or help you find someone who may be a better match. Helping you land in the right place matters more to us than filling a spot on the schedule.

Final Thought on FAQs about Therapy in Dallas

Therapy is an investment in you, your relationships, your emotional life, your patterns, and your future. Whether you’re seeking couples therapy in Dallas, anxiety support, trauma therapy, or just deeper self-understanding, the right clinician can make the process feel grounded, collaborative, and empowering.

We hope this helps answer some questions about therapy you may have had and helps in your search to find a therapist in Dallas, Texas that feels like a good fit for you. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call us at (214) 216-1495 or fill out our Contact page and we’ll reach out to schedule a phone consult with you!