Therapy & Counseling Services in McKinney
If you're feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from your partner, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, therapy can help you find your way back to yourself. I'm Dr. Lori Runge, a licensed marriage and family therapist with a PhD and over two decades of experience, serving McKinney through my nearby Frisco office and secure online sessions. I help individuals and couples stop just surviving their days and start being present in them.
Hi, I'm Dr. Lori Runge - Your McKinney Therapist
What makes my approach different? I combine the depth of clinical training with something most therapists don't have - twenty years of corporate leadership experience as a Senior Vice President. I'm also Gottman Method trained (Level I & II certified), meaning my couples work is grounded in over 40 years of research on what actually makes relationships succeed. I understand the pressures of demanding careers, the complexity of family dynamics, and what it feels like when your personal life starts to suffer because you're pouring everything into work. Whether you're navigating a difficult season in your marriage, managing anxiety that follows you from the office to the dinner table, or simply feeling stuck, I provide a warm, nonjudgmental space to explore what's really going on. My approach is grounded in mindfulness - helping you develop awareness of the thought patterns that keep you locked in cycles that no longer serve you.
In-person & Online Therapy Options
My private practice is located at 5300 Town and Country Blvd in Frisco - a short 10-minute drive from downtown McKinney via US-75 or the Sam Rayburn Tollway. I also have an office at 207 E. Virginia Street in McKinney for select appointments. For McKinney clients who prefer the flexibility of virtual sessions, I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant teletherapy that you can access from the comfort of your home or a private space at work. Many of my McKinney clients appreciate the option to alternate between in-person and online sessions depending on their schedule. Evening appointments are available Monday through Wednesday for those balancing demanding work hours.
What Brings McKinney Residents to Therapy
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Couples Who've Stopped Talking - Really Talking
You're sharing a house, raising kids, managing careers - but somewhere along the way, the conversations that matter stopped happening. Many McKinney couples I work with describe a slow drift: you're functioning as partners in logistics but no longer connecting as partners in life. Through mindfulness-based couples counseling and the Gottman Method, we'll uncover what's underneath the surface tension and rebuild communication patterns that bring you closer instead of pushing you apart.
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Anxiety That Won't Quiet Down
The mental load of managing a career, a household, and the expectations you carry can become relentless. You might look like you have it all together from the outside, but inside your mind is racing with worst-case scenarios and an inner critic that never takes a day off. I help McKinney clients develop a different relationship with their anxious thoughts - not suppressing them, but learning to observe them without being controlled by them.
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Life Transitions That Leave You Unsteady
McKinney is a city of growth - new developments, new opportunities, new chapters. But transitions that look exciting on paper can feel destabilizing in practice. Whether you're navigating a career change, an empty nest, a relocation, or the end of a relationship, therapy provides a grounded space to process what you're experiencing and move forward with clarity rather than confusion.
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Patterns From Your Family That Keep Showing Up
Sometimes the relationship struggles you're experiencing today have roots that go back decades - to the family you grew up in. The roles you learned, the conflicts you witnessed, the emotions that were or weren't allowed. Through family of origin work, we'll gently explore how your past shaped your present patterns, giving you the awareness and freedom to choose a different path.
A Mindfulness Approach That Meets You Where You Are
Mindfulness isn't about emptying your mind or sitting in silence. It's about learning to pause between a trigger and your response so you can choose how to show up - with your partner, at work, and in the moments that matter most. I believe you are the expert in your own life. My role is to walk alongside you with guidance and tools that help you uncover your strengths and live fully in the present.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy in McKinney
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My Frisco office is about 10 minutes from downtown McKinney, just off US-75 and the Sam Rayburn Tollway. I also have a McKinney office at 207 E. Virginia Street for select appointments. And if you prefer to skip the drive entirely, online therapy is always an option.
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I am a private-pay practice, which means I do not bill insurance directly. However, I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Many of my McKinney clients find this process straightforward and appreciate the added privacy that comes with private pay.
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Your first session is about getting to know each other. I'll ask about what brought you to therapy, what you're hoping to work on, and what your life looks like right now. There's no pressure to share more than you're comfortable with. My goal is for you to leave feeling heard and hopeful about the path forward.
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Every person and every relationship is different, so there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Some clients find meaningful shifts in 8 to 12 sessions. Others choose to continue longer as they work through deeper patterns. We'll check in regularly to make sure therapy is moving at a pace that feels right for you.
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Yes. Individual therapy focused on your relationship can be incredibly effective, even when your partner isn't ready to participate. Many of my clients start on their own and find that the changes they make naturally shift the dynamic at home. Sometimes a partner decides to join later, and sometimes the individual work is exactly what's needed.
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Mindfulness-based therapy helps you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and reactions without judgment. It's not meditation or sitting in silence. It's learning to notice your patterns so you can respond to life intentionally rather than reacting on autopilot. For couples work, I also incorporate the Gottman Method, a research-backed approach to understanding and strengthening relationships. This combination is especially helpful for managing stress, quieting your inner critic, and improving communication.
