Frequently Asked Questions
Please call us at (773) 442-2048 if you have additional questions
Do you take insurance?
No. We are happy to provide the relevant invoices/paperwork that can be submitted to insurance companies for reimbursement under your insurance plan. Our clients have been successful with receiving reimbursement through this process. We do not submit/accept insurance at this time because we believe that this process unfairly limits client's choice in providers when client-therapist fit is one of the most important predictors of therapy success. In addition, participation in insurance panels requires excessive bureaucratic time commitments and has few, if any, quality controls while unfairly lowering provider reimbursement to below market rates.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. As of this writing, psychologists are not licensed to proscribe psychotropic medication in the state of Illinois (though recent laws are changing this). We are happy to consult with you on when medication might be appropriate and will happily provide referrals to psychiatrists in the area. We are very comfortable working in concert with a prescribing psychiatrist or physician as needed. We believe that a team of providers (including psychologists, psychiatrists, and other relevant professionals) with strong communication is the best approach to helping with complex mental health issues.
Do you attend IEP Meetings?
Yes. School team meetings are a common way for a multidisciplinary team of specialists to coordinate their efforts to help a child/teen. Often a youth's performance in school can be a bell weather for his or her functioning in general and improving their behavioral and academic performance in school can add significantly to their self-esteem and overall mental health. As part of our commitment to creating multidisciplinary teams to help children reach their goals in therapy, we regularly consult with IEP teams and participate in meetings when necessary.
How long does therapy take?
The answer to this question can vary enormously from person to person. Small phobias or behavior problems can be addressed in as few as 4 therapy sessions while complex, lifelong problems with social interaction and emotion regulation, such as those seen in individuals on the Autism Spectrum, can require many months or even years of therapy. In general, the more information we have about your case, the better we can estimate how long therapy might take. Research suggests in most cases, you should start to see noticeable change within the initial 4 sessions and the majority of benefit from evidenced-based therapy occurs within the first 12 - 16 sessions. Please give us a call to discuss the specifics of your case so we can provide you a more detailed answer.
How effective is "talk" therapy?
Again, this question is quite varied from person to person but the general response is that the overwhelming majority of people report that therapy was helpful for them. A famous survey conducted by Consumer Reports in 1994 showed that 87% or more of people who reported attending therapy reported feeling much better afterwards! "Talk" therapy has been around for over 100 years and continues to evolve and improve. Today an enormous body of scientific research informs clinical practice and solid research evidence supports stronger and stronger interventions for nearly every mental health condition. This is a long way of saying that "talk" therapy is very effective and continues to improve. Our clinic specializes in bringing the most cutting-edge evidenced-based therapy to you and your family.
