Frequently Asked Questions
New Rhythms Therapeutic Center offers a range of counseling approaches designed to support children, teens, adults, couples, and families. Our therapists use evidence-based and experiential therapies including EMDR therapy, play therapy for children, sand tray therapy, internal family systems and trauma-informed counseling. Each clinician may incorporate different techniques depending on the needs of the client.
What types of counseling does New Rhythms Therapeutic Center offer?
The first therapy session is an opportunity for you and your therapist to get to know each other. Your therapist will ask about what brings you to counseling, your goals for therapy, and any relevant background that may help guide the work together. You will also have time to ask questions and get a sense of whether the therapist feels like a good fit for you.
You can find out more information specific to the first appointment by checking out Your First Appointment | New Rhythms Therapy. Scroll down toward the bottom for the overview!
What happens during the first therapy session?
Many people begin counseling when they are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to move forward. Others come to therapy because they want to understand themselves better, improve relationships, or work through past experiences that continue to affect their daily life.
Common reasons people seek therapy include anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, parenting challenges, grief, trauma, life transitions, or simply a desire for greater self-understanding and emotional well-being.
If you're unsure whether counseling could be helpful for you or someone in your family, we invite you to learn more in our blog post: When to Seek Counseling: A Counselor’s Perspective
This article explores common signs that additional support may be helpful and what you can expect when beginning the counseling process.
How do I know if I need counseling?
Yes. Research consistently shows that therapy can be effective in improving mental health and overall well-being. Evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed counseling are widely used to help people navigate concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. One of the most important factors in successful therapy is a supportive and trusting relationship with your therapist.
Does therapy actually work?
Finding the right therapist often begins with identifying the type of support you are looking for, such as help with anxiety, trauma, relationships, or counseling for children. At New Rhythms Therapeutic Center, our team includes clinicians with a variety of specialties and therapeutic approaches. If you are unsure where to begin, our office can help connect you with a therapist who fits your needs and goals. Fill out this form to get started.
How do I find the right therapist near me?
Yes. New Rhythms Therapeutic Center offers counseling for children, teens, adults, couples, and families. For younger children, therapists may incorporate approaches such as play therapy, sand tray therapy, and sensory-aware techniques to help children express and process emotions in developmentally appropriate ways. Family counseling can also support improved communication, understanding, and connection within the family system.
Do you offer therapy for children and families?
Trauma-informed therapy recognizes that past experiences can affect how we think, feel, and relate to others. At New Rhythms, our counselors approach therapy with an understanding of how trauma impacts the nervous system, relationships, and emotional regulation. The goal is to create a safe environment where clients can process experiences and develop healthier patterns of connection and coping.
What is trauma-informed therapy?
EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most researched treatments for trauma and post-traumatic stress. It is also used to help with anxiety, panic, grief, and other distressing experiences. EMDR helps the brain reprocess difficult memories so they become less overwhelming and easier to integrate into everyday life.
What does EMDR treat?
Play therapy allows children to express emotions and experiences through play, art, and imagination rather than relying only on words. Because play is a child’s natural language, this type of counseling can help children process feelings, build emotional skills, and strengthen relationships with caregivers.
How does play therapy help children?
Sand tray therapy is an expressive therapy that uses a tray of sand and miniature figures to explore thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a symbolic way. It can be helpful for both children and adults who may find it easier to process feelings visually or creatively rather than only through conversation.
What is sand tray therapy?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), somatic therapies, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) are therapeutic approaches used to support people experiencing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional overwhelm, and relationship challenges. CBT focuses on patterns of thoughts and behaviors, DBT teaches practical skills for managing emotions and relationships, somatic therapies help people understand how stress and trauma show up in the body, and IFS explores the different “parts” of ourselves that influence thoughts and feelings. Therapists may draw from one or several of these approaches depending on a client’s needs and goals.
What are CBT, DBT, somatic therapies, and IFS used for?
Yes, but with some limitations. Therapy is a confidential process designed to provide a safe space for open conversation. At the beginning of counseling, your therapist will review important information about your right to privacy and the limits of confidentiality, as required by professional and legal guidelines. If you have questions about confidentiality or your counseling records, your therapist will be happy to discuss them with you.
Is everything I share in therapy confidential?
It’s very common to feel nervous about beginning therapy. Meeting with a therapist for the first time can feel unfamiliar, and many people wonder what to expect or whether they will feel comfortable opening up. At New Rhythms Therapeutic Center, our goal is to create a welcoming, supportive environment where you can move at your own pace. Your first sessions are simply a chance to get to know your therapist, share as much or as little as feels comfortable, and begin exploring what support might look like for you.
You can find out more information specific to the first appointment by checking out Your First Appointment | New Rhythms Therapy.
What should I do if I feel nervous about starting therapy?
At NRTC we recognize two important truths about our community. The first, is that for many individuals, faith and spirituality are some of the most important components to their emotional well-being. However, the second, is there is also a large community who have experienced religious or spiritual abuse, and/or have deconstructed from the Christian faith for a variety of reasons.
Because our mission is to serve the diverse needs of the East Texas community, NRTC seeks to hold this tension with professionalism and integrity. We believe that our role as Licensed Counselors is to hold space for both of these truths. For clients who hold strongly to a Christian faith, we seek to employ counselors who are highly-skilled and trained to integrate this appropriately, AND who know when to refer clients for Spiritual Direction when the spiritual questions are outside the scope of the therapeutic relationship. Similarly, we also employ counselors who are passionate about treating religious trauma and remaining faith-neutral in the counseling setting. For these reasons, you will notice that some NRTC counselors indicate specializations in “faith-integration” in their bio’s. Please feel free to indicate your preference for faith-integration or faith-neutral counseling in your request form.
Is “Faith-Based” or “Christian” counseling available at NRTC?
We believe transparency and collaboration are important parts of the therapeutic process. If you have questions about your counseling records or would like to request access, we encourage you to start by speaking directly with your counselor. In many cases, your counselor can answer questions, review information with you in session, or help clarify what is included in your record.
If you would like to submit a formal request for records, we are happy to support you through that process. Requests are handled in accordance with Texas law and professional standards.
For detailed information about record requests, timelines, and any applicable limitations, please review our full policy here:
👉 HB4224 InformationHow do I request access to my counseling records?
Your experience matters to us. If you have a concern about your care, services, or experience with our practice, we want to hear from you and work toward resolution whenever possible.
We encourage clients to begin by using our internal feedback and concern form, which allows us to address issues thoughtfully, confidentially, and with the goal of repair and improvement. Many concerns can be resolved through open communication and collaborative problem-solving:
👉 https://forms.gle/DapMHqFwoxLGyzwG6
If you prefer, you may also choose to discuss concerns directly with your counselor or request support from practice leadership.
Clients always have the right to file a formal complaint with the appropriate licensing board. Information about external complaint options and procedures, as required by Texas law, is available here:
👉 HB4224 Information
Our goal is to provide ethical, respectful, and responsive care, and we are committed to taking concerns seriously.
What if I have a concern or complaint about services?
Counseling in Longview and Greater East Texas
New Rhythms Therapeutic Center is proud to provide professional counseling services in Longview, Texas and throughout the East Texas region. Our therapists work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families seeking support for concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and life transitions.
Whether you are looking for EMDR therapy in Longview, play therapy for children, trauma-informed counseling, or attachment-based therapy, our team is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care in a welcoming environment.
If you have been searching for a therapist in Longview, TX or counseling in East Texas, we would be honored to support you or your family as you move toward greater healing, connection, and well-being.
To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit our Contact page. Our team is happy to help you find a therapist who is a good fit for your needs.