Questions to ask a counselor or therapist in Dallas, TX
Maybe you’ve found a few therapists in Dallas, TX that seem okay. Most of them suggest a phone consultation before scheduling your first counseling session. But, you’re not sure what you should ask.
Questions to ask a Therapist in Dallas, TX
Therapist Question #1: What sort of experience do you have with the issues I am looking for help with?
Knowing about your therapist’s experience is important in beginning to build trust that they can help with whatever you’re struggling with. For example, if you’re looking for trauma therapy, Amanda would share about her 13 years of experience in the field treating trauma and her specialized trainings in modalities such as Brainspotting and Safe and Sound Protocol for the treatment of trauma and anxiety. Regarding disordered eating, Amanda and Allison would both share about their years of experience working in higher level of care settings focused on eating disorders. For couples therapy in Dallas, Allison would share about her passion for working with couples that has grown in her seven years of private practice experience and training in Prepare/Enrich and the Gottman Method.
Therapist Question #2: What can I expect from our therapy sessions?
Asking about what you can expect from sessions with the therapist will help in giving you an idea of if this therapist is a good fit for you. This question will also help you feel more prepared before going into your first therapy session. At Crescent Counseling, you can expect goal setting and rapport building in your first therapy session. In sessions with us going forward, you can also expect authentic feedback, assignments for outside of sessions to help in your growth, and some humor along the way!
Therapist Question #3: Do you think therapy with you can help me? How?
You’re looking for a good fit in a therapist. It’s okay to ask the therapist what they think about your potential fit with them as well. This may prompt the therapist to ask questions if they need more information from you and open the conversation if they have a different referral for you. At Crescent Counseling, both Amanda and Allison value transparency and authenticity, so they will let you know how they see you fitting within their specialties and the ways in which they best work with clients. We are both happy to help refer you to someone else in the Dallas community when the fit may be better.
Therapist Question #4: Should I bring anything to therapy?
In preparing to start therapy, you may want to know if your therapist recommends you bring anything to your therapy sessions. Besides yourself of course, we recommend you bring a notebook and something to write with because you may want to makes some notes about things you want to remember from your sessions. We also love to see you bring water with you. You may want layers as well. Texas weather changes so often, and we want you to feel comfortable in session, whether that means bundling up in something cozy or being able to lose a layer to cool down.
Therapist Question #5: How will I know if therapy is working?
You’re looking for a therapist because you’re ready for some sort of change. You’ll want an idea of how you’ll know if therapy is helping and what to do if it’s not. Amanda and Allison will engage in outcome conversations with you to periodically check in on what is different since you started therapy. We may use written assessments from time to time either in individual therapy or in couples counseling to set goals and evaluate change. We want to have ongoing, collaborative conversations and help connect you with the resources throughout the Dallas community we believe may best help you. We want to know if there is anything we could do to better help you in our work together.
Therapist Question #6: How much will therapy sessions cost?
It’s important to understand the financial investment you can expect with your new therapist. At Crescent Counseling, you can expect your first 50-minute individual therapy session to be $180, with all subsequent 50-minute therapy sessions costing $165 per session. We will also help you navigate using Reimbursify to access out-of-network benefits, helping you determine if you have out-of-network benefits and filing claims for free if so. We will work together with you to establish a frequency of sessions that meets your needs, and we will continually check in on our progress towards your goals.
A few more questions worth asking…
The six above will get you far. But here are a few more that can help you get a real sense of who you're talking to, and whether their way of working matches what you need.
How do you handle it if I don't feel like therapy is working?
This one matters a lot. A good therapist will welcome this question rather than feel threatened by it. At Crescent Counseling, we actively invite feedback and check in regularly on what's shifting. If something isn't working, we want to know, and we'll either adjust our approach or help you find someone who's a better fit.
Do you ever collaborate with other providers?
If you're already working with a psychiatrist, primary care doctor, or another therapist, it's worth asking how your potential therapist thinks about coordination of care. At Crescent Counseling, we occasionally collaborate across providers when clinically appropriate, especially in our Integrated Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy model, where Amanda and Allison work together intentionally.
What happens between sessions?
Therapy doesn't stop when you leave the office. We often offer reflections, practices, or things to notice between sessions to support what we're working on together. It won't feel like homework in a heavy sense, more like an invitation to stay curious about yourself between our meetings. We want to help you feel empowered outside sessions rather than dependent only on time inside the office.
What do you do to stay current in your field?
This one tells you a lot about a therapist's investment in their own growth. We pursue ongoing training, consultation, and continuing education because we believe it makes us better for you. Amanda is currently in a Brainspotting Consultant-in-Training cohort and holds an ISSTD Certificate in Complex Trauma and Dissociation. Allison has completed Gottman Level 1 & 2 along with Treating Affairs and Trauma in Couples training, and both of us are members of professional organizations that keep us connected to the latest in the field.
These questions do more than check boxes. They help you feel into who this therapist is and whether their way of working matches what you need. Searching for a therapist in Dallas, TX isn’t just about finding someone who is credentialed. It’s about finding someone who feels trustworthy, relatable, and skilled with your experience.
We hope this helps you find the right therapist in Dallas, TX.
Feel free to call us at (214) 216-1495 for a free 15-minute phone consultation or fill out our Contact page and we’ll reach out to you.
And for more answers about what to expect from therapy at Crescent Counseling specifically, our FAQ page covers the practical questions around cost, scheduling, and first sessions.
We’d be honored to hear about you and help direct you to the right therapist.
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