How to find a therapist in Frisco: Part I

Finding a therapist in Frisco during COVID: Part I 

2020 has been a tough year. There has been so much fear and uncertainty, and everyone’s lives have been disrupted. The number of people struggling with depression, and anxiety is rising. More people are seeking help from therapists than ever. But the challenge is how to FIND a therapist? Finding the right therapist can be daunting and overwhelming—I’d like to help you find someone that can help. 

I want to help you find a therapist in Frisco.

There are so many choices, and it’s hard to know exactly what the differences are. Do you need a Psychiatrist? Psychologist? Life coach? And if you already know you want to see a therapist, what kind? LPC? LCSW? MFT? I’ll help you understand the differences below!

Different types of mental health providers:

•  Psychiatrists: 

  They are wonderful if you are looking for medication to manage your symptoms, as they are experts in mental health and how different medications will help. They are MD level physicians that have been trained specifically in the brain, and brain chemistry. For the most part, prepare to wait several weeks or months for an appointment with them, and  realize that most of the appointment will be focused on your current symptoms and how the medication is working for you, rather than coping strategies or a deeper understanding of how life experiences may be influencing current symptoms. 

•  Psychologists: 

  They are typically doctoral level therapists (PhD or PsyD), and generally work with individuals rather than couples or families. They tend to specialize during graduate school on specific populations (children/adolescents vs. adults), and with specific problems. Psychologists, unlike therapists, are able to administer psychological assessments, which means they can do testing for problems such as ADHD and learning concerns, or other psychological disorders. They  may be more likely than other types of therapists to work in educational settings and do research, in addition see clients in a private practice. 

• Life coaches: 

  They are well suited for those people who are “high functioning,” but want extra help managing specific aspects of their lives. Life coaches are great with helping you reframe your thoughts and experiences, in order to live your best life. They focus only on current challenges, and do not look at how previous life experiences or diagnosis may be affecting your current challenges. They may offer group programs, or one-on-one coaching focused on specific things. Coaches may be very good at what they do. The challenge is that they typically work from their life experiences—they don’t need any specific training or education to become coaches. Which means there is no licensing board or regulations around coaches. This also means that there isn’t as many rules about where they can practice. If you find a life coach out of state that is skilled with your particular concerns, it’s not a problem!

•  Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs):

  They are generally referred to as “therapists.” They have received at least a masters degree, and they must complete additional training and supervision post-graduation as a provisionally licensed therapist, to demonstrate competency in their chosen specialty. Therapists have a wide variety of educational experiences, training, and certifications, and “theoretical orientations” (which basically means how they see the origin of the problem). How they address the problem will vary depending on their training, but they are well suited to help you understand your current challenges within the context of your past and previous experiences. 

I recommend finding a therapist that specializes in exactly what you are looking for. 

An analogy I love is that you can get always get a burger if you go to a French restaurant, but you can’t get French Food from a burger joint. 

So what kind of “food” are you looking for? You will often have the best experience from therapy when you choose a therapist that specializes in what you are currently struggling with, rather than someone who treats everything. A therapist with a specific “niche” will also be able to help you with more general challenges, but are more likely to spend time learning about, and seeking specialized training how to help people just like you! 

In my next blog post, I’ll talk about the other factors that are important when looking for a therapist—things like cost, location, and personal characteristics. 

A free therapy consultation in Frisco

I hope this helps you find a therapist in Frisco, Texas. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at 469-278-4380 for a free 15-minute consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what’s happening and help direct you to the right person! If you are looking for more help in your relationships, or with having a more fulfilling sex life, you can read more about how I can help here. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapy associate with Masters Degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Psychology. I love helping couples reconnect and increase their intimacy—in and out of the bedroom!