Questions About Working Together

This is the question I hear most often, usually from the people who would benefit most.

You don't need to be in crisis to deserve support. Most of the people I work with are functioning well by every visible measure. They're showing up, managing their responsibilities, holding things together. Underneath that, something isn't working, and it's been that way for a while.

If you've been wondering whether therapy might help, that wondering is worth paying attention to. You don't have to wait until things get worse.

The first session is mostly a conversation. We talk about what's been going on, a bit of your history, and what you're hoping to get out of therapy. There's no pressure to have everything figured out before we meet.

The first few sessions after that are about getting to know each other. I'm figuring out whether I'm the right person for what you're dealing with, and you're doing the same. We talk about goals, what a typical session might look like, and whether the approach feels like a fit.

Nothing about the first session is a commitment. It's just a starting point.

I take fit seriously. The first few sessions are partly about figuring out whether working together makes sense for both of us.

If I don't think I'm the right person for what you're dealing with, I'll tell you directly and do my best to help you find someone who is. Fit matters more than filling a spot on my schedule.

If you decide after a few sessions that it's not working, you're never obligated to continue. I'd rather you find the right support than stay somewhere that isn't serving you.

That's part of the work. Most people find that having space to feel something without having to manage how it lands is what makes therapy different from talking to a friend.

There's no wrong way to show up. You won't be judged for whatever comes up in the room.

My fee is available upon request for clients paying out of pocket.

I am in-network with Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO, Blue Choice, and most Cigna plans. Because insurance benefits and network status can change, I recommend confirming coverage directly with your plan before scheduling.

If you're using insurance, your cost will depend on your specific plan, your deductible, and your copay or coinsurance. Calling your insurance company ahead of time is the most reliable way to understand what you'll owe per session.

I accept credit cards, HSA and FSA cards, ACH bank transfer, Zelle, cash, and check. Payment is collected at the time of session.

If you have questions about fees before scheduling, you're welcome to ask when we speak.

Research consistently shows that for the vast majority of mental health concerns, virtual therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person sessions. Many of my clients find it easier to be open when they're in a familiar environment, their home, their office, wherever they feel comfortable.

Practically speaking, it also removes a real barrier. No commute, no parking, no rearranging your schedule around travel. You log on, we work, and you're done in about an hour.

I've been practicing exclusively via telehealth and can see clients from anywhere in Illinois.

Tinnitus is a physical symptom. The distress it causes, the anxiety, the sleeplessness, the grief, the way it takes over your attention is psychological, and that part is treatable.

When tinnitus begins, the brain often starts treating the sound as a threat, which causes it to amplify and stay in the foreground of your awareness. 

Psychological treatment helps interrupt that cycle. The goal isn't to make the sound go away. The goal is to change your relationship to it so that the distress eases and daily life becomes livable again.

Most people who come to me for tinnitus have been referred by an ENT or audiologist after medical options have been exhausted. If that's you, I know exactly why they sent you here. This is a specific area of my practice, developed through my work with PTSD, where tinnitus frequently co-occurs. I draw from evidence based protocols created by the Veterans Administration and CBT adapted specifically for tinnitus.

It depends on what you're working on and what you want to get out of it.

Some people come in with a specific, defined concern and are ready to wrap up after a few months of focused work. Others are working through something more layered and stay longer. I don't believe in keeping people in therapy longer than they need to be.

In our early sessions, we'll talk about goals and give you a realistic sense of what the timeline might look like for your specific situation. I check in on progress regularly so we're always moving toward something.

My practice is currently full-fee, and I am in-network with Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO, Blue Choice, and Cigna plans. For clients with insurance, the plan often reduces the out-of-pocket cost significantly. For clients paying out of pocket, I can provide a superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

If cost is a concern for those who are self-paying, I'd encourage you to reach out and we can talk through the options available to you.

A Good Faith Estimate is a document I'm required to provide under federal law before you begin services. It outlines the expected cost of therapy so you have a clear picture of what you might owe.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for any scheduled services before your first appointment. If you have questions about it, just ask when we speak.