What should I expect from therapy?

Therapy can offer relief but it does require work. Therapy won’t change the people in your life, it will ask you to look at the ways you engage with the world and invite you to make changes to your behavior or your outlook. Our sessions will begin by setting some goals for therapy and also learning about the story you tell regarding your life and where things feel stuck.

Do you take insurance?

I take both BCBS IL PPO plans and AETNA PPO plans. If you aren’t sure if your insurance is covered, please reach out. If your insurance does not cover therapy with me, you have the option of seeking Out of Network (OON) benefits through your insurance carrier. I will provide you with a receipt of services (Super Bill) and your insurance may provide a percentage of the cost through reimbursement to you. This situation is different for every plan and client. Please reach out to your insurance provider for more information about this benefit.

What is the difference between a therapist and a life coach?

There can be some overlap in coaching and therapy. However, mental health therapists have specific training and certifications, which are required to practice in any state. Coaching is often focused on a specific and tangible goal (meeting a partner, for example). Coaches have a more direct approach. Coaching can be a wonderful resource. Therapy, however, is less prescriptive and often, more open ended. Many times clients feel an issue needs to be resolved only to find that therapy exposes some deeper wounds or issues that are actually central to understanding any given problem.

I want my teen/young adult to seek therapy. Can you help?

Therapy is for everyone…..that wants to be in therapy. While I love when parents or loved ones care enough for there child or partner to help them navigate the process of finding a therapist, the client has to want to be in therapy for things to work. Therapy is a relationship. Clients don’t have to be fully trusting to get started in therapy but there has to be some buy in. I always recommend that if you want your child to seek therapy, consider therapy for yourself. Modeling how to seek help and also learning ways of detaching from the emotional strain of loving someone in pain can transform relationships.

Is Telehealth a good option for me or should I see you in person?

The answer to this is personal. I have clients that really benefit from being in person and others that don’t. I love that Telehealth is so accessible. A few things to consider when doing virtual counseling to make the most of it: find a private space where you aren’t worried about eavesdropping, limit distractions by turning off notification and even silencing incoming texts and calls, resist the urge to multitask, keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas, change the view so you cannot see your image on the screen but always have your camera on when possible. With a little preparation, Telehealth is every bit as good as being in person and sometimes reduces the stress of having to make it to another appointment. It can also be comforting to be in your own space when discussing tough topics.