Questions
Questions people ask before they call.
Your questions are answered here. If you don’t see what you are looking for, give us a call. We are happy to help.
Before you call
I’ve never done this before. What actually happens on the first call?
You talk, we listen. There’s no form and no questionnaire - just tell us what’s been going on, in whatever words you have. At the end we’ll tell you who on the team we think fits and why. It takes about 15 minutes and it’s free.
What if I can’t explain what’s wrong?
Most people who call us can’t. That isn’t a problem - it’s what the call is for. You don’t need a diagnosis, a label, or the right vocabulary. “Something’s off and I don’t know what” is a complete sentence here.
What if it’s not bad enough to need therapy?
People call us because they’re stuck on a decision, because they’re more tired than they should be, because something happened years ago that still comes up. None of that has to reach a crisis to be worth an hour a week. If we think you’d be better served somewhere else, we’ll tell you that on the call.
I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help.
That’s worth saying out loud on the first call - including what didn’t work. A poor match is the most common reason therapy doesn’t take, and knowing what went wrong last time makes this match better.
Do I have to write down what’s wrong before I speak to anyone?
No. Nothing on this website asks you to type out what you’re going through. If you book, you’ll get intake and consent forms afterwards, and those are handled inside our practice software rather than by email.
Will I have to talk about my childhood?
Only if and when it’s useful. You set the pace. Nobody is going to open a door you’re not ready to walk through.
What it costs
What does a session cost?
With a licensed counselor, $165 a session. With an associate counselor, $125. First sessions are longer and cost a little more - $185 with a licensed counselor for 75 minutes, $150 with an associate. There’s a small card processing fee on top of each session.
All of it, including the sliding scale, is on the insurance and fees page.
Why is the first session more expensive?
It’s longer. We take a full history at the start, which takes more than an hour and is worth doing properly. If you’re using insurance, sessions are 60 minutes instead.
Do you take my insurance?
The plans we bill are listed on the insurance and fees page. Which clinician takes which plan varies, and that’s ours to work out. Tell us your plan on the call and we’ll tell you who you can see.
What if you don’t take my plan?
Two things usually help. Many plans have out-of-network benefits that work out better than people expect, and we’ll look yours up with you on the call. If that doesn’t work, ask about the sliding scale. And if we can’t accommodate you, we’ll refer you to community partners who do take your insurance.
Do you have a sliding scale?
Yes - $150 a session with a licensed counselor, $100 with an associate. Ask on the call. You don’t need to explain or justify it.
Can I pay privately even though I have insurance?
Yes, and people do. Some would rather keep therapy off their insurance record entirely. That’s a legitimate choice and we won’t ask you to justify it either.
Do I have to give you a card?
Yes, to hold the appointment. It’s kept on file for future sessions. That’s because of the cancellation policy below.
What’s your cancellation policy?
24 hours. Inside that, the session is charged in full. It’s there to protect your therapist’s time and to free the slot for someone else who needs it - if something genuinely comes up, tell us and we’ll work with you.
Getting started
How quickly can I be seen?
We can get you scheduled within 24 hours, often within the same week you call. If you’re in a bad stretch right now, say so on the call - we’d rather move something than leave you waiting.
Do I book online or call?
Either. The consultation can be booked from any of the buttons on this site, or you can call 469-731-8369 and speak to someone.
Who will I be speaking to?
Bonnie King, the practice’s founder and clinical director, takes the first call herself. She isn’t taking new clients at the moment, but she’s the one who decides who you should see.
How do you decide which therapist I see?
From what you tell us on the call - what’s going on, what you’ve tried, when you can actually come, and anything else that matters to you. We’ll usually give you one or two names and the reason for each. If you’d rather read about them first, we’ll text you the links and you can take your time.
Can I ask for a specific therapist?
Yes. If you’ve read the team page and someone stands out, say so.
What if it isn’t the right fit?
Tell us. Switching within the practice is normal and it isn’t awkward - it’s information about what you need, and we’d rather know at session three than have you quietly stop coming.
Appointments
How often will I come?
Weekly, at least at first. We usually suggest planning for about twelve weeks of weekly sessions, because change is hard to build on a fortnightly rhythm. Life happens and we’ll work around it, but that’s the recommendation.
How long is a session?
Fifty to sixty minutes. Insurance requires at least 53, and therapists often run to the full hour, which is why we say fifty to sixty rather than pick a number. First sessions with a licensed counselor are 75 minutes if you’re paying privately.
When can I come?
We run into the evening, to 8pm - those are the hours everyone wants, so we’ll tell you the truth about what’s left rather than let you hope. For students, 3pm and later means nobody has to miss class to get here; there aren’t many of those slots, so it’s worth asking early in the term.
What if I can’t find a time that works?
We’ll tell you that on the call rather than putting you on a list.
Online sessions
Do you offer therapy by video?
Yes, and plenty of people prefer it. Some are simply more honest on their own couch than in an unfamiliar room. Video sessions are available across Texas.
Can I switch between in person and online?
Yes - including at the last minute. If you’ve booked in person and you don’t feel up to leaving the house that day, tell us and we’ll switch it.
What do I need for a video session?
A private space and Google Chrome. Our software works best in Chrome, and using it saves a lot of small frustrations at the start of a session.
Who you’ll be seeing
What’s the difference between a licensed counselor and an associate?
A Licensed Professional Counselor practises independently. An LPC-Associate has completed the same graduate training and is completing supervised clinical hours toward full licensure, working under a licensed supervisor who is accountable for their work. Associates are often earlier in their careers and their sessions cost less. Every associate on our team is named with their supervisor on our team page, because Texas requires it and because you should know.
Who supervises your associates?
Bonnie King supervises most of the team. Paul Fuentez is also supervised by Kimberly Joiner King, Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S, and Zainab Jarju by Lisa Grubbs, Ph.D., LPC-S, CSC, GC-C, NCC. Both names appear wherever those clinicians are named.
Can I see Bonnie?
Not at the moment - she’s not taking new clients. She still takes the first call and supervises most of the team, so her judgement is in the match even when she isn’t in the room.
Will my therapist understand where I’m coming from?
Tell us what matters on the call - faith, culture, the language spoken at home, what your family expects of you. We’ll match for it rather than making you raise it later, in the room, with a stranger.
Do you see teenagers and children?
We see teenagers, and the youngest age depends on the clinician. Paul Fuentez and Deborah Silva see clients from 12; the rest of the team starts between 13 and 17, and each clinician’s own page says which. Tell us who the sessions are for and we’ll match accordingly.
Can you prescribe medication?
No. Counselors don’t prescribe in Texas. If medication seems worth exploring, your therapist can work alongside your doctor or a psychiatrist.
Walk & Talk
What is a Walk & Talk session?
A session held outdoors, walking, rather than sitting in a room. Some people think more clearly moving, and some find it easier to say hard things side by side than face to face. More about Walk and Talk.
Where do they happen?
On the trails at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, Plano. Our office is in Frisco - the name refers to how we work, not where we are.
Are they available all year?
Weather permitting, which in North Texas means not in August. Not every clinician offers them, so ask on your call.
What do they cost?
$200 a session, private pay only - insurance does not cover it.
Privacy
Is what I say confidential?
Yes, with the narrow exceptions every therapist is legally bound by - risk of serious harm to you or someone else, or abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. Your therapist will explain those at the start, before you’re asked to share anything.
Will this show up on my insurance record?
If you use insurance, your plan receives a diagnosis and dates of service, the same as any medical claim. If that matters to you, paying privately keeps therapy off that record entirely - and it’s a common enough reason that nobody will ask you why.
Are my sessions recorded?
No.
Practical
Where are you?
5899 Preston Road, Ste. 904, Frisco, TX 75034 - between lebanon and wade.
If you need help now
This website isn’t a crisis service.
Messages here aren’t monitored around the clock. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, please use one of these instead - they answer at any hour.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988, any time, free.
- Your nearest emergency room If you are not safe where you are.
- 469-731-8369 Our office, during working hours. We are not a crisis line, but we will help you find one.
Still have a question?
Ask it on the call - that is what it is for. No charge and no paperwork.
Call 469-731-8369 or book a free consultation below.
Counseling and Nature Therapy Center
Tell us what’s going on in one short call, and we’ll tell you which of our clinicians fits and when they can see you.
We offer trauma and PTSD therapy, EMDR therapy, anxiety and depression therapy, grief therapy, postpartum therapy, therapy for teens, ADHD therapy and Walk and Talk sessions.