Trying Counseling for the First Time: Netflix Versus Reality

City of Denton Counseling Space

A shared perspective from our Clinical Director Dr. Lauren Titsworth, LMFT

Taking the First Step Can Feel Intimidating

If you’ve ever thought about trying counseling but felt unsure about what to expect, you’re not alone. Taking that first step into a counseling room can feel intimidating. Some days you might wonder if it is really for you, what you’ll talk about, what if you have nothing to say, who is this strange person I’m supposed to share my experiences with, or whether it will actually help. But here’s the truth: taking that first step can lead us into a space we may have never imagined was possible. Counseling creates a space to better understand yourself, learn practical skills for coping and self-regulation, and builds emotional resilience that can potentially make the good days better and help with the bad days.

Many people imagine a counseling session as lying on a couch while a therapist silently takes notes and you spill all your deepest and darkest secrets. Kind of like the scenes on Netflix series or from the movies, but real counseling is very different. It is a collaborative and goal-focused experience that can be different than the scenes from what is often portrayed in the movies.

What Counseling is Really Like

People have shared that they remember sitting in their car before their first counseling appointment, hands gripping the steering wheel, wondering if they should just go home or go inside. They felt tired of overthinking, tired of feeling anxious, tired of pretending they had everything under control, and tired of wondering what might help. Spoiler alert: they did choose to go inside and give counseling a try.

After many weeks of work, they shared that going into that first session was one of the best decisions they had made for themselves. They chose to focus on their needs and worked on trying something different. Counseling didn’t magically fix everything overnight, but it gave them something they didn’t expect… the skills to find a way forward. Real, practical tools to manage stress, communicate better, understand themselves, work on self-compassion, provide the tools to find solutions, and celebrate the small victories. It all starts with the first step of deciding that maybe it is time to try something different.

Finding a Way Forward

At Cumberland Youth & Family Services, our team of counselors and clinicians are equipped to help you move from feeling tired to practical solutions through individual, family, and couples counseling. We accept BCBS, Cigna, Ambetter, and Medicaid Superior. And with the help of gracious donations from public and private foundations, we are also able to offer low-cost counseling sessions to people who do not have insurance who meet the low-income requirements.

We have two locations clients can access services. In our Community Counseling in Denton at 1013 Greenlee St. in Denton, Texas. And we have recently opened a satellite office for our Community Counseling in Lewisville. We rent space from First Lewisville United Methodist at 907 W Main St. There is a private entrance in the back of the church. Please note, all counseling services are secular.

If you’re ready to take that first step, we invite you to fill out an interest form for our counseling services to begin your journey today.

Play Therapy Room in Denton Counseling Office