Bryan Ferguson

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Management from the University of Hawaii and a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Texas-Dallas.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I’ve always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives through counseling and returned to graduate school at an older age with more personal life experience and perspective.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

My greatest happiness comes from spending time with my family. I have been married to my amazing wife for 30 years, and we have three adult sons, who are also some of my closest friends. We have a mischievous Rat Terrier named Kingston, who never leaves my side when I’m at home. We moved to Texas from Kane’ohe, Hawaii, where my lifelong passion has been surfing.

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Anxiety and chronic worry
• Depression
• Men’s issues
• Marriage and couples counseling
• Relationship Difficulties
• ADHD in adults and relationships
• Faith and spiritual concerns
• Religious/spiritual trauma
• Grief and life transitions
• Teen counseling
• Abandonment and Neglect
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Autism
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chemical Dependency
• Coaching
• Codependency
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Lifespan Integration
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Premarital Counseling
• Professional Development
• Psychiatric Care Services
• Sex and Porn Addiction
• Sexual Abuse
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues

ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder can be a complex challenge for teens or adults who may also experience co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, or learning disabilities. Although a medical doctor may prescribe medication to manage these symptoms, there are also many tools and behavioral strategies that can help. I believe that ADHD should not always be viewed as a “negative,” but as a superpower, of sorts. People with ADHD can be spontaneous, passionate, creative, enthusiastic, and have unique problem-solving abilities. By nurturing and encouraging these talents, a person can grow in self-esteem as they also navigate the challenges. I uniquely understand this issue, and as a therapist, can help my clients with ADHD develop healthy life skills and confidence.

Anxiety

Being a human involves experiencing anxiety. We attempt to deal with our daily stress by distracting ourselves with things like food, shopping, or technology. These methods are a temporary band-aid and do not deal with core issues of fear, loneliness, or the uncertainties of life. In Philippians 4:6-7, we find that God will give us peace beyond understanding when we surrender our anxieties to him. By openly discussing your anxieties together, we can learn to reduce worry by identifying our sometimes-irrational beliefs and thought patterns that hold us back from living a happier life.

Depression

Sometimes our stress or difficult life circumstances can leave us with feelings of prolonged sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness. This can affect every area of our lives, including sleep, relationships, and overall physical health. We often blame ourselves for feeling depressed, but this is not accurate. As a compassionate therapist, I can help you explore negative, distorted thought patterns and the spiritual aspects of depression in a safe, supportive counseling environment. By working together, we will identify the root causes of your emotions, set goals, and find effective ways to manage anxiety through healthy routines.

Grief and Loss

Losing a pet, friend, or family member can create a cascade of difficult and sometimes confusing emotions. The emotions of grief and loss can also happen during life stages such as job loss, relationship break-ups, or the dissolution of a dream. Common stages of grief can include denial, anger, bargaining, and depression. These stages do not always happen in order, and these feelings can repeat themselves and make you feel as if your life is out of control. As a Christian therapist, I can help you navigate through these difficult valleys of life with compassion, guidance, and reassurance. As it says in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Spiritual Abuse

At times the emotional arrows we receive in a church setting can be the most painful. As it says in Psalm 55:12-14 (NIV): “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.”

We sometimes enter a church or spiritual fellowship with our hearts completely exposed to others and through other’s harmful actions or abuse, become emotionally or even spiritually damaged. This experience may even cause us to question the beliefs we’ve held our entire lives. The deep, emotional pain can be difficult to articulate and describe, but I can help you to navigate these complex feelings in a safe, compassionate environment.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• McKinney West – Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
• Plano – Tuesday and Friday
• Online – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals, couples, and families looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express).