About PS Counseling Frisco

About Counseling

What is Professional Counseling?

It’s a trained, licensed therapist providing guidance.

How Can Counseling Help?

Counseling is a lot of things, but it is not magic. What a good counselor offers is a safe and comfortable environment. One where you feel like you are sitting with a trusted friend who gets you, knows how to help, and most importantly, will not share your story. And providing that experience is one of my strengths. PS Counseling Frisco is a safe place for you to explore the hard things in life. 

mother with two daughters

In counseling, you will feel seen, heard, and understood. For 50 minutes we pause “life” and focus on one thing – what you need.

Counseling is where generational patterns are broken. The explosive anger that overtakes you like a dark cloud can be tamed. New ways of managing the difficulties in life are explored, and you will soon be modeling healthier patterns for your children. Can you imagine how your life would have been different if your parents had sought the help they needed?

  • Counseling is where the labels you have been given are removed
  • Haunting memories are quieted
  • The emotional storm in your body is calmed
  • Beliefs are challenged
  • Hope is renewed

Counseling Can Change So Much!

Why Do People Seek Counseling?

People seek counseling for a variety of reasons. Some examples are:

  • Feeling stuck
  • Being in a strained relationship
  • Experiencing major life changes
  • Having a history of trauma
  • A recent trauma or medical emergency
  • Wanting to learn from a prior relationship so they don’t make the same choices again
  • Wanting to understand themselves better

Desired outcomes include:

  • Quieting painful memories
  • Making sense of the incomprehensible
  • Healing strained relationships
  • Enriching quality of life
  • Adjusting to major life changes
  • Ending or altering generational patterns

What Is It Like to Work With Me?

You will be working with a more active therapist than most. What that means is that I will ask clarifying questions and be curious about what is being said, as well as what is not being said. I will ask you to consider alternative points of view and may challenge what you are certain is true. I will encourage you to risk change, while at other times I will help you accept that you have little control over your situation.

You will learn to discern what is yours to own and what is not yours to own. When no one else is willing to change, I will remind you that even if you are the only person who changes, the overall picture will be different.

I will encourage you to not settle for a “band-aid repair” that is effective only until the next crisis. Rather, you will become skilled at untangling your thoughts and learning how to connect the dots. By doing so, you will understand what drives your behavior, and it is in that understanding that lifelong change is found.

My strength is in my ability to form an authentic connection with my clients, provide a safe and encouraging environment while also supporting them in their hard work.

I have been in your shoes, and I understand the courage it takes to choose counseling. You have to make the first contact, however, once you do, I will show you that counseling isn’t scary after all.

There Are So Many Therapists. How Do I Choose?

Unless you know someone who can recommend a counselor, it can feel like you are choosing blindly. By taking advantage of my free 15-minute phone consultation, you will get a glimpse of my personality and counseling approach. You can also see what my clients have to say about working with me here. 

Feeling comfortable with your therapist is critical. Therefore, trust your instincts and always remember that you are in charge. I may suggest goals to complement your own goals and a plan for how we will achieve your goals, but you have the final say.

You have already put so much effort into finding the right therapist. Now is the time to take what is often the hardest step and schedule your free 15-minute consultation. This link will take you to my office schedule where you can choose a day and time that works for you. It’s that easy!

The Technical Stuff

We therapists love our abbreviations… CBT, DBT, ACT, EFT, AFT, IFS… you get the idea. I am happy to explain any of these to you if interested; however, there are two in particular that often stand out. The first is EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

EMDR is a well-researched and respected therapy intervention that was originally used to treat the effects of trauma. However, we now know that it can be beneficial in a variety of situations besides trauma. A therapist must go through extensive training to provide EMDR to clients. In 2020, I completed a 60-hour in-person EMDR training program provided through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA). Just as important, since completing training, I have continued to strengthen my skills through supervision and further education.

The second abbreviation that clients often seek is EFT: Emotionally Focused Therapy. EFT applies to both individuals and couples. It is based in attachment science, and its efficacy is supported by numerous studies.

EFT helps couples turn toward each other. By helping couples understand themselves and their partners, they are better able to regulate emotions and create new meaning in interactions. EFT offers authentic connections and relationship healing.

My EMDR Profile
About EMDR Therapy
More About EFT Therapy
EFT Outcome Research

About Renee

Renee Cagle
Renee Cagle, LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor

Education

Hello, I’m Renee, and I hope to get to know you soon. But first, let me share a little about myself.

I married my high school sweetheart and we went on to have 4 kids within 6 years… YIKES! I definitely fell into the trap of trying to be everything to everyone… at my own expense. Showering on a regular basis became a luxury. Eating my kid’s leftovers was a meal. And a late night trip to Target alone was “Me Time”.  Maybe you can relate. 

How I Got Here

I have always had a heart for walking alongside others and offering healing to those who are hurting. Nursing was my first career, and it was during those years that I witnessed the power of  self-talk and its ability to alter our quality of life. Mental health was not a concept I was exposed to in my childhood. I learned that emotions were simply uncomfortable feelings, and if ignored long enough, they go away… but they don’t really. They are stuffed, hidden, and disguised and often lead to resentment. In some cases, unacknowledged emotions can even lead to medical problems such as GI symptoms or auto-immune diseases.

I have experienced the tornado inside, and once I understood that I would not be consumed by my emotions if I acknowledged them, my life changed.

My Hobbies

With four children, it seems that until recently, my hobbies were related to my children and their needs. I’m sure other parents can relate. Long walks became an enjoyable way to pass time while I waited for their activities to end. My walking companion, George, our rescue dog who is both a fierce protector and a scaredy-cat, often accompanies me.

I also enjoy curling up with a book. I will read any book from any book club list, and recommendations are always welcomed. And if I never cook another meal, it would be a dream come true. But since reality is not cooperating with my dream, for now, I treasure the occasional dinner out with my husband and the rare but amazing home-cooked meals prepared by my culinary son.