diff --git a/src/serena/util/text_utils.py b/src/serena/util/text_utils.py
index e3c63e77..8f10fe0b 100644
--- a/src/serena/util/text_utils.py
+++ b/src/serena/util/text_utils.py
@@ -523,3 +523,35 @@ class ContentReplacer:
                 "Please revise the expression to be more specific or enable allow_multiple_occurrences if this is expected."
             )
         return updated_content
+
+
+@dataclass
+class TextCoords:
+    line: int
+    """
+    0-based line number
+    """
+    col: int
+    """
+    0-based column number
+    """
+
+
+def find_text_coordinates(content: str, regex: str) -> TextCoords | None:
+    """
+    Finds the line and column number of the first match of a regex pattern in the given content.
+
+    :param content: the text content to search through
+    :param regex: the regular expression pattern to search for; it must match part of a single line,
+        and contain exactly one group that captures the position of interest (e.g., the exact variable name to find the coordinates of)
+    :return: a tuple of (line_number, column_number) for the first match found, both 0-based, or None if no match is found
+    """
+    pattern = re.compile(regex)
+    for line_number, line in enumerate(content.splitlines()):
+        match = pattern.search(line)
+        if match:
+            if len(match.groups()) != 1:
+                raise ValueError(f"Regex must contain exactly one group to capture the position, but found {len(match.groups())} groups.")
+            column_number = match.start(1)
+            return TextCoords(line_number, column_number)
+    return None
diff --git a/test/solidlsp/ruby/test_ruby_symbol_retrieval.py b/test/solidlsp/ruby/test_ruby_symbol_retrieval.py
index 5d969094..ef0c50fe 100644
--- a/test/solidlsp/ruby/test_ruby_symbol_retrieval.py
+++ b/test/solidlsp/ruby/test_ruby_symbol_retrieval.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import os
 
 import pytest
 
+from serena.util.text_utils import find_text_coordinates
 from solidlsp import SolidLanguageServer
 from solidlsp.ls_config import Language
 from solidlsp.ls_types import SymbolKind
@@ -583,15 +584,17 @@ class TestRubyLanguageServerSymbols:
         """Test request_defining_symbol for a method call."""
         # Test finding the definition of a method being called
         file_path = os.path.join("examples", "user_management.rb")
-        # Position at a method call like create_user
-        defining_symbol = language_server.request_defining_symbol(file_path, 30, 15)
 
-        # Verify that we can find method definitions
-        if defining_symbol is not None:
-            assert "name" in defining_symbol
-            assert "kind" in defining_symbol
-            # Should be a method or constructor
-            assert defining_symbol.get("kind") in [SymbolKind.Method.value, SymbolKind.Constructor.value, SymbolKind.Function.value]
+        # Position at a method call like create_user
+        with language_server.open_file(file_path, open_in_ls=False) as fb:
+            pos = find_text_coordinates(fb.contents, r"user = @service\.(create_user)")
+
+        # Verify that we can find the method definition
+        defining_symbol = language_server.request_defining_symbol(file_path, pos.line, pos.col)
+        assert "name" in defining_symbol
+        assert "kind" in defining_symbol
+        assert defining_symbol.get("name") == "create_user"
+        assert defining_symbol.get("kind") == SymbolKind.Method.value
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("language_server", [Language.RUBY], indirect=True)
     def test_request_defining_symbol_nested_function(self, language_server: SolidLanguageServer) -> None: