Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need therapy? 

Everyone can benefit from therapy. Therapy can be used to process and cope with symptoms of mental illness, grief, life transitions, family, friendships, intimate relationships, difficulties with work or school, and other life stressors. It is also a space to solve problems, explore identities, set goals, and process past experiences. There are truly infinite subjects to explore and address in therapy. If you find yourself desiring a safe space and objective environment to process, cope, and explore what is on your heart and mind, therapy can be beneficial for you. 

How long are sessions?

Sessions are 50 minutes long. 

How frequent are sessions?

When beginning therapy, it is important to establish consistency in treatment and to develop a trusting, working relationship. Sessions are typically scheduled weekly for the first 6-8 sessions and may be adjusted based on treatment plan goals and progress and through a collaborative discussion to determine the best frequency for you. 

How do I get started?

Fill out the contact form to schedule a brief 10-15 minute consultation. After the consultation, we will schedule your first session as soon as possible based on your schedule availability. 

Can you see clients outside of Illinois?

Unfortunately, I cannot see clients outside of the state of Illinois due to licensure laws. There is pending legislation at a national level that would allow counselors to see clients in other states without needing to be licensed in that state; however, as of now I am not able to do so. I recommend consulting with your insurance company or using an online search to find a licensed therapist in your state. 

Do you prescribe medication?

I do not prescribe medication. However, if you are interested in receiving an evaluation for psychotropic medication, I am happy to refer you to a psychiatrist or write a letter to your Primary Care Provider (PCP) for an evaluation. 

How long does it take to see change?

Change in therapy depends on a number of factors including the nature of your goals, your time and effort spent working towards your goals, and your consistency in the therapeutic process. During our treatment planning process, we will break down your goals for change into actionable steps so we can objectively see progress being made, even if it appears small. For more information about seeing change in therapy, please see this article.

How do I support my child in therapy?

Parents have an extremely important role in supporting their child in therapy. Parents should expect to attend the first session and be available for check-ins before each of their child's sessions to discuss recent developments and treatment plan progress. Additionally, I have family sessions once monthly with the child and their parents to discuss goals, progress, and to teach skills for both the child and parent to improve communication. I love working with parents! I can see their love for their child and appreciate their active involvement. 

Parents support their child best when they approach therapy with a consistent, teachable attitude, when they implement the skills they learn to better their relationship with their child, and when they consistently reinforce identified limits on their child's behavior. For more information about parental involvement in therapy, please see this brief article. 

Are sessions confidential?

Yes, all sessions are confidential. I will not share any information about you or our sessions to a third party without your written consent. However, there are certain circumstances in which I am legally required to break confidentiality including the immediate danger of hurting yourself, hurting another person, or reports of abuse towards a child, elder, or a person with a disability. Please see the limits to confidentiality question below for additional details. We will talk about confidentiality during our first session, so please feel free to bring up any questions or concerns about this topic. 

What are the limits to confidentiality?

The purpose of legal limits to confidentiality is to keep you and others safe. As a mandated reporter, I have to break confidentiality and report to the appropriate authorities (hospital, law enforcement, or DCFS) if you are an immediate danger to yourself or someone else, or if you report the abuse of someone who cannot protect themselves including children, elders, or someone with a disability. For more information about limits to confidentiality, please see this article. 

Are my child's sessions confidential?

As a parent, you have the right to know the details of the treatment your child is receiving and I encourage you to be an active participant in the therapeutic process. At the same time, it is important for me to develop trust with your child to be able to engage in effective treatment. The way I handle this delicate balance is by sharing important information with you including progress towards therapeutic goals, general themes discussed during sessions, and all safety concerns that arise. I always discuss the information I share with you beforehand with the child to develop trust, a sense of autonomy, and to avoid any surprises or feeling blindsided. Specific circumstances regarding your child can be discussed during our initial consultation and the first session. 

What is telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of phone, video, and online technology to receive medical care. Our therapy sessions will be held exclusively through telehealth using a HIPAA compliant video calling platform. 

Is telehealth as effective as in-person sessions?

Therapy through telehealth is equally effective as therapy in-person and has higher rates of consistency.

Telehealth has advantages and disadvantages when compared with in-person therapy. Advantages of telehealth include accessing therapy in the comfort and privacy of your own home, increased accessibility to therapy for people with busy schedules or young children, for people who live in remote areas, and for people with disabilities. It also limits spreading germs and illness and avoids stress caused by traveling long distances, worrying about traffic, difficulty finding the office, and parking. For additional benefits, see this article. 

Disadvantages of telehealth include technological difficulties, difficulty reading nonverbal cues or behavior, and potential lack of privacy in shared living situations. Telehealth is not the best option for everyone and I respect an individual's choice to choose telehealth or to choose in-person therapy. During our initial consultation, I will ask several questions to determine whether telehealth is appropriate based on your presenting symptoms, access to technology, technological ability, and living situation. If it is determined that in-person therapy is a better fit for your needs, I am happy to provide referrals for other providers with in-person offices. 

Why don't you have an in-person office?

As a mental health provider, I choose not to have an in-person office in order to maintain work-life balance and to provide the most effective care for my clients. I conduct all sessions in a private environment to ensure patient confidentiality.  

What technology is necessary to use telehealth?

Reliable internet access through a smartphone or computer, a microphone, and a webcam are needed to use telehealth. Most devices including phones, laptops, and tablets already contain built-in microphones and webcams. 

What platform do you use for video calls?

I use a HIPPA-compliant telehealth platform through SimplePractice. After scheduling our first session, you will be provided with all the information you need to be able to access and use the telehealth platform and to access your client portal. 

What if we get disconnected?

If we get disconnected during our session, I will call you on the phone and attempt to reconnect the video call. Additional information about steps to take if we are disconnected will be provided to you during our first session. 

Do you take insurance?

Yes! I am in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (including BCBS IL, Anthem, Highmark, and other affiliates), UnitedHealthcare/Optum, and Aetna. 

What is the cost of each session?

If you are using health insurance, the cost of each session will depend on your insurance plan. It may require a copay or coinsurance payment and may be subject to your insurance plan's deductible. I will call your insurance company before our first session and provide an initial benefit check to determine your estimated cost per session. (*Please note that the benefit check is an estimate and the final cost per session will be determined after insurance claims are complete.) 

Without using health insurance, the cost of each session is $150. If you have financial concerns or do not have health insurance, I offer a limited number of weekly sliding-scale sessions. Sliding-scale rates are based on income, family size, and overall financial circumstances and will be verified through a paystub or employment letter. 

How do I know if you are in-network with my insurance plan?

You can call the member benefits phone number on the back of your insurance card or visit your insurance website to verify that I am in-network with your plan. 

What methods of payment do you take? 

Payment must be made in full (entire session fee, sliding scale fee, copay, and/or coinsurance) at the time of service through debit or credit card. You will be able to make payments and store a credit card on file through your patient portal with encrypted payment processing to ensure your security.