Individual Therapy and Adult Counseling in Frisco, TX

If you have been feeling stuck, anxious, low, or just not like yourself, talking to someone whose only job is to help you sort it out can make a real difference. I am Megan Corrieri, a licensed therapist in Frisco, and I work with adults across Texas through telehealth. This page covers what individual therapy actually is, the signs it might be time to start, and what working together looks like.

What is individual therapy?

Individual therapy is one-on-one work between you and a therapist in a private, confidential space. It is not advice-giving and it is not someone telling you what to do. It is a steady, judgment-free place to understand what you are feeling, figure out what is driving it, and build practical tools to feel and function better.

The work is collaborative. You bring what is going on, and I help you make sense of it and find a way forward that fits your life. Some of that is talking things through out loud with someone who is genuinely listening, which is more powerful than people expect. The rest is learning concrete skills: how to quiet anxious thinking, how to set a boundary, how to sit with a hard feeling instead of running from it.

People come in for all kinds of reasons. The most common are anxiety and depression, followed by relationship strain, work stress, grief, trauma, and big life changes. You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis to benefit. Plenty of people start therapy simply because something feels off and they want help making sense of it.

Signs it might be time for therapy

There is no bar you have to clear before therapy is “allowed.” But these are some of the more common signs that talking to someone would help:

• Persistent distress. Anxiety, sadness, or anger that sticks around and gets in the way of your daily life.
• Unhealthy coping. Leaning on substance use, overeating, or other habits to manage stress or pain.
• Relationship struggles. Recurring conflict, trouble connecting, or feeling alone even around people. Sometimes this points toward couples work, sometimes toward individual.
• A major life change. A divorce, a loss, a job change, or any transition that has knocked you off balance.
• Low self-worth. Harsh self-talk, a persistent sense of not being enough, or trouble believing good things about yourself.
• Trauma you have not processed. A past event or PTSD that still shows up in your present.
• Feeling stuck. Not in obvious crisis, but unable to move forward, make a decision, or feel like yourself.

If a few of these resonate, that is reason enough to reach out. Therapy is not only for severe problems.

What individual therapy with me looks like

A lot of people picture therapy as lying on a couch being analyzed. That is not what this is.

Sessions are over telehealth, so you join from wherever you feel comfortable, usually your own home. Early on, the work is about understanding what brought you in and what you want to be different. We set a couple of real goals in your words, not clinical ones, then build from there.

From session to session, we name the patterns that keep you stuck, work on practical tools for the things you are facing, and check in on what is actually helping. I tailor the approach to you rather than running everyone through the same script. Progress is rarely a straight line, and that is normal. We measure it in trends over weeks, not single days.

What to expect in your first session

The first session is mostly about getting to know you. I will ask about what brought you in, your history, what you have tried before, and what you are hoping for. You do not need to have it all figured out or be able to explain everything cleanly. Showing up is enough.

It is also your chance to get a feel for me. Trust between you and your therapist is the single biggest factor in whether therapy works, so it matters that you feel comfortable. If it is not the right fit, that is okay, and I will help point you somewhere better. Some people also ask about medication in that first conversation. I do not prescribe, but when medication is part of the picture I coordinate with your doctor or psychiatrist so your care fits together.

Types of therapy and which might fit you

Different approaches suit different people and problems. Here are the main ones I draw on, and what each tends to help with:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): a practical, goal-oriented approach focused on the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Strong fit for anxiety, depression, OCD, and panic.
• Psychodynamic therapy: explores how past experiences and patterns shape the present. Useful for unresolved childhood experiences and recurring relationship patterns.
• Humanistic therapy: centered on growth, self-acceptance, and your own capacity for change. Helpful for self-esteem and finding direction.
• Mindfulness-based approaches (including DBT skills): build emotional regulation and distress tolerance, helpful for stress, anxiety, and intense emotions.

You do not need to know which one you want. We sort that out together, and most of the time the work blends a few of them based on what you respond to.

Individual therapy vs couples or family therapy

A common question is whether you need individual therapy or a different format. The short version: individual therapy is one-on-one and focused on you, your patterns, and your goals. It is the right starting point for anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma, and most personal growth.

When the core struggle lives in a relationship, a different format may fit better. If you and a partner keep landing in the same fight or feel disconnected, couples counseling or marriage counseling works on the relationship itself, with both people in the room. If the tension is across a household, family therapy brings the relevant family members together.

These are not either-or. Plenty of people do individual therapy alongside couples or family work, and sometimes individual therapy surfaces that a relationship piece needs its own space. We figure out the right fit in the first conversation, and I will tell you honestly if I think a different format would serve you better.

Is online therapy effective?

Yes. Research consistently shows telehealth therapy is as effective as in-person for most common concerns like anxiety, depression, and stress. For a lot of people it is actually easier to open up from their own space, and it removes the practical barriers: no commute, no waiting room, no rearranging your whole afternoon around one appointment.

Online therapy also widens your options. You are not limited to whoever happens to have an office near you. Wherever you are in Texas, you can work with a therapist who fits. In-person care makes more sense in some situations, like acute crisis that needs a higher level of care, and if that is where things are I will tell you honestly and help you find the right support.

One underrated benefit: privacy. There is no clinic waiting room where you might run into someone you know, and you get to control your own environment, which helps a lot of people feel safe enough to actually open up.

How long does individual therapy take?

This is one of the most common questions, and the honest answer is that it depends on what you are working through and what you want out of it. Some people come in for a specific, focused issue and feel real relief in a handful of sessions. Others are working on deeper or longer-standing patterns and stay longer because the work is worth it to them.

A common rhythm is weekly sessions to start, while we build momentum, then spacing them out as you stabilize. There is no set number you are signing up for. We talk openly about how it is going, and you are always in control of how long you continue. Therapy should have a direction, and you should be able to feel it working over time, not drift indefinitely.

How much does individual therapy cost?

NorthStar is a private-pay practice, which means I do not bill insurance directly. A standard 60-minute individual session is $200. Private pay keeps your records out of the insurance system and means your care is driven by what you need, not by what a plan will authorize.

There are a few ways to make it work for your budget. HSA and FSA cards are accepted, and I provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Sliding-scale spots are available for qualifying clients. For the full breakdown of session lengths, rates, and payment options, see the therapy cost page. The first 15-minute consultation is always free, so you can get a feel for the fit before spending anything.

How will I know therapy is working?

Progress in therapy is not always dramatic, but it is usually noticeable over time. Some signs the work is helping:

• Your symptoms ease. The anxiety, low mood, or distress that brought you in starts to loosen its grip.
• You handle hard moments better. You have tools, and you catch yourself using them.
• You understand yourself more clearly. The patterns that used to feel confusing start to make sense.
• Your relationships improve. You communicate more honestly and set boundaries with less guilt.
• You feel more like yourself again.

It takes time, and some weeks are better than others. But with a decent fit and a willingness to engage, this work changes things.

How to get started

The first step is a free 15-minute consultation. We talk through what is going on for you, whether individual therapy is a good fit, and what working together would look like. There is no pressure to commit to anything from that call. All sessions are telehealth, so you can meet from home.