Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs: About the Approach

  • Narrative therapy is a well-researched counseling approach developed by Michael White and David Epston. The core idea: you are not your problems; you are the author of your own story. This approach helps you to externalize your issues as the counselor guides you through exploring the events of your life.  Together you will look for the moments that contradict the negative stories you tell yourself and the negative identity these stories can produce.

  • Existential Therapy, spearheaded by thinkers such as Rollo May, Irvin D. Yalom, and James Bugental, posits that mental health issues are rooted in lack of meaning and purpose in life. By exploring philosophical ideas, proponents of this approach discuss these themes with clients. They then use these ideas to empower you to decide what gives your life a sense of meaning, and tools to move toward your purpose.

  • A Table Top Role Playing Game is a collaborative story-telling game, made up of Players, and a Game Master (or Dungeon Master). The GM serves as a narrator by setting the scene, and creates scenarios for the players to interact with by presenting obstacles to overcome, playing characters to engage with, and controlling monsters to fight, thus bringing the story and the fictional world to life. The Players each control a character in the story, and respond to the curated prompts given by the GM. Dice are used to add an element of randomness to the players’ successes and failures that is often seen in the real world, adding elements of realism.

  • While still offering traditional talk therapy to those who are interested in a more formal approach, here at Healing Word Counseling, we specialize in integrating creative expression through story-telling into the therapeutic process. What really makes us different is our Narrative Adventure Groups. Integrating popular Table Top Role Playing Games - such as Dungeons and Dragons - into a group therapy setting, we aim to make therapy more accessible to those who would be uncomfortable in a more formal setting.

FAQs: Practical & Logistics

  • A 15-minute phone call to talk about what you're dealing with, how therapy here works, and whether we're a good fit. No paperwork, no commitment, no cost.

  • We accept private pay only. If desired we can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement, which many clients use to recover a portion of session costs through their insurance.

  • Sessions take place over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You'll receive a link via email before your appointment. All you need is a private space, a device with a camera/microphone, and a stable internet connection. Currently accepting clients physically located in Texas as you must be in-state at the time of your session.

  • While only occasionally utilized prior to 2020, Virtual Counseling has now become standard procedure in the counseling field. Research is already showing comparable results to counseling in a physical space. Many clients — especially teens and young adults who may feel uncomfortable in a clinical office setting — prefer it.

FAQs: Parents of Teen Clients

  • During your teen’s first session around 20-30 minutes will be dedicated to including parents in the intake process, which includes filling out paperwork, goal setting, and evaluation. Our counselors will then meet with parents approximately every 3 or 4 sessions to provide updates and work through your role in supporting your teen’s progress (While maintaining client confidentiality). This greatly impacts the effectiveness of your teen’s counseling journey.

  • The Healing Word approach doesn't look like traditional therapy. For a teenager who loves gaming, storytelling, or just doesn't want to "talk about feelings" in a clinical setting, the story-driven and character-based format removes a lot of the self-consciousness that may otherwise arise. Many teens who resist standard talk therapy find that they engage more deeply in this way.

  • If you find yourself asking this question, the answer is most likely “yes”. In short, everyone can benefit from counseling in one way or another. From day-to-day stressors, to life transitions, to more severe struggles such as anxiety and depression, teens deal with a wide variety of mental health struggles. That is exactly why counseling exists: to provide support in the midst of difficult circumstances.

    However, if you are still unsure of what your teen needs, reach out for a free consultation to discuss your situation. Every individual has unique needs, struggles, and assets that they bring into their mental health journey. Let us help you find the treatment that is best for you!