Individual counseling is, like its name suggests, counseling that you do on your own without family or partner involvement. It is conducted one-on-one with a counselor or therapist, not in a group setting. This doesn’t mean that the work you do in individual counseling won’t impact your relationships, as any time you choose to make changes and work through your own issues, there will be a trickle down effect. However, the goal of individual counseling is to help you to deal with your own thought patterns, behaviors, trauma, and any mental health struggles you might be facing. This type of counseling will focus on allowing you to shift the number one dynamic you control: yourself.
Almost everyone can benefit from seeing a counselor at some point in their life. For many, a presenting issue such as depression, anxiety, or grief might be the initial reason they seek counseling. What you might not realize is that even if you are not dealing with a diagnosable mental health issue, you still suffer from the condition of being human. In a fallen, sinful world that is still “east of Eden,” everyone will suffer from relational harm, failure, unhealthy coping mechanisms, grief, trauma, or other heartbreak.
A trained, caring, and compassionate counselor at Plano Christian Counseling can reflect your own thoughts and feelings back to you and allow you to sort through them. The breakneck pace of the modern world can make it difficult to make space to do this in the course of your regular life. Scheduling a set time, being present in a counselor’s office, and professional confidentiality that allows you to talk freely about people and issues in your life can all be benefits of counseling in Plano that you would not get from even your most trusted friendships.
Additionally, the licensed Christian counselors at Plano Christian Counseling are trained to use evidence-based counseling techniques and to employ them in a way that both respects and incorporates your faith. 1 Corinthians 2:16 asserts that, as believers, “we have the mind of Christ.” Christian counseling embraces this truth, realizing that God is continually renewing and conforming people as they seek to grow more like Him.
Christian counseling in Plano can be a means for God to do important sifting and refining work, offer comfort, and explore the way you relate to other people, which at its most core level is a reflection of how you relate to God.
Individual counseling in Plano, Texas is especially important if you are dealing with symptoms of anxiety, depression, addiction, or grief. It’s easy to feel shame for not being able to “fix” yourself, but truly, you are not intended to do life alone. There are some life events or stressors that you can work through on your own or in the context of supportive relationships, but many people will face a situation or time period in their life where they need additional support. This is normal and there is no shame in seeking help.
Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” The counselors at Plano Christian Counseling are trained to offer objective wisdom and to reflect your own thoughts back to you to clarify them.
Again, Proverbs counsels, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:20-21, ESV).
It might be that you don’t even know why exactly you’re going to counseling, only that you have a sense that you are “stuck” or struggling. The issue or issues you need to address often crystallize as the work progresses. You don’t need to know exactly why you’re going. Christian Counseling in Plano can be beneficial for those who aren’t currently experiencing mental health symptoms, in the same way that an annual check-up with your MD is recommended.
One of the first questions people have when they start counseling is, “How long will this take?” There is not a set answer to this question, as the process of therapeutic work is highly individual and depends on what brought you to counseling in the first place. After a few sessions, your counselor should be able to give you a better idea of how often appointments might be beneficial, and for how long.
Much of this is also personal preference. Some individuals prefer counseling to be part of their ongoing support system; others want to deal with an issue, gain tools to better cope, and “graduate.” There is nothing wrong with either approach. If you decide to work with a Christian counselor in Plano, you will begin with an intake appointment that focuses on gathering background information about you and orienting the counselor to your life.
You might think, “What does my childhood or past have to do with any of this? I’m dealing with a problem in my current life, not back then!” The reality is that much of our core identity, style of relating, and wounding happens early on in our life, so sometimes going back in time is necessary to move forward in a healthy way.
Depending on your counselor’s training, preferred therapeutic methods, and your own personal needs, your sessions might be more traditional forms of “talk therapy” (this is usually referred to as CBT or DBT), or utilize somatic forms of therapy that deal more with body sensation (examples would be EMDR or brain spotting).
A good counselor will take responsibility for the pace of the work, ensuring that you are able to tolerate any difficult emotions that come up and giving you tools to cope outside of your counseling sessions. Aside from very specific instances (such as the mandated reporting of abuse if a minor is in danger), counseling is always strictly protected by confidentiality agreements. These are taken very seriously in order to preserve your emotional and physical safety.
The topics covered in a counseling session at Plano Christian Counseling can be as diverse as the people who attend the session.
Some common categories include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- OCD
- Addiction
- Eating Disorders
- Trauma
- PTSD
- Postpartum or Prenatal mood disorder
This is not an exhaustive list by any means, and many of these categories overlap. You might schedule a counseling appointment because you’re dealing with a bout of depression, and as your sessions progress it becomes obvious that the depression is a symptom of grief that you’ve never processed. This is completely normal. Don’t be afraid to start where you’re at, knowing that you can delve into other layers of your experience if and when you are ready. Often the body and mind allow for more issues to come to the surface as you become more well-resourced and gain the tools to address them.
If you have a specific area of concern it is wise to look for a counselor with additional training or expertise in that area. Browse our online counselor directory to find the best fit for you and your needs.
Next Steps
If you think you could benefit from individual therapy at Plano Christian Counseling, please reach out! We would love to help you, so give us a call today. Counseling can be one way that God works powerfully in your life, and we hold fast to this hope as we see healing each day.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(469) 943-2631