Individual Counseling Services
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Individual Counseling and Therapy
Individual counseling is one-to-one work with a counselor on whatever is going on for you — a situation you are stuck in, a pattern that keeps repeating, or a stretch that has been harder than it should be.
It is a place to think out loud without managing anyone else's reaction while you do it. What you work on is set with your counselor, based on what you bring rather than a fixed programme.
What happens in a therapy or counseling session?
The first appointment is mostly conversation. Your counselor will ask what brought you in, what you have already tried, and what you would want to be different. You do not need a diagnosis, a plan, or a tidy account of the problem — working out what is actually going on is part of the process rather than something to have finished beforehand.
After that, sessions tend to find their own shape. Some weeks you will arrive with something specific that happened. Other weeks you will arrive with nothing in particular and find that something surfaces anyway. Both are normal, and neither is a wasted session.
Your counselor sets the approach with you, based on what you bring rather than a fixed programme. Some draw on cognitive behavioral therapy, some on DBT or EMDR, and most combine methods depending on the person and the week.
How long people come varies. Some work through a specific situation over a few months and stop. Others stay longer, or come back later when something new comes up. That is a conversation you have together, not a schedule set at the start.
Should I Go to Therapy?
Most people wait longer than they need to, usually because they are waiting to feel bad enough to justify it. There is no threshold you have to cross first.
A more useful question is whether something is getting in the way of your ordinary life. That might be worry that will not switch off, a low mood that has outstayed its explanation, or a physical restlessness you have started noticing more than you would like. It might be that the same argument keeps happening, or that you are managing everything and enjoying none of it.
It can also be simpler than that. Some people come in because they want to make a change and keep not making it, and want to understand why.
Any of those is a reasonable place to start from.
Issues that individual counseling can address are:
Insurance and payment
We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna, Cigna and United Healthcare, and Medicare for Illinois clients.
Accepting a carrier is not the same as every plan under that carrier covering the same things, so it is worth checking your specific benefits before you start. If you are not sure what your plan covers, tell us who you are insured with and we can look at it with you rather than leaving you to decode it alone.
Self-pay is straightforward if you would rather not use insurance, or if your plan does not cover the service you are after.
Getting started
You can choose your counselor yourself, or tell us what you are facing and we will match you to someone whose focus fits. If the first match is not right, we will help you find a better one.
Sessions are available in person in Chicago and Phoenix, or by video anywhere in Illinois, Arizona, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington DC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the first session?
Mostly conversation. Your counselor will ask what brought you in, what you have already tried, and what you would want to be different. You do not need a diagnosis or a plan before you come in.
How do I know if I need therapy?
There is no threshold you have to cross first. A more useful question is whether something is getting in the way of your ordinary life, or simply weighing on you more than you would like. That is reason enough to start a conversation.
How long will I need to come?
It varies. Some people work through a specific situation over a few months. Others stay longer, or come back later when something new comes up. It is decided with your counselor rather than set at the start.
What if I do not know what to talk about?
That is common, and it is not a problem. Some weeks you will arrive with something specific. Other weeks you will arrive with nothing in particular and find something surfaces anyway. Both are normal.
Do you take my insurance?
We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna, Cigna and United Healthcare, plus Medicare for Illinois clients. Coverage varies between plans under the same carrier, so it is worth confirming your specific benefits before your first session.
How do I choose a counselor?
You can choose your counselor yourself, or tell us what you are facing and we will match you to one. If the first match is not right, we will help you find a better one.
Can I do sessions online instead of in person?
Yes. Sessions are available in person in Chicago and Phoenix, or by video anywhere in Illinois, Arizona, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington DC. Many people mix the two as their schedule changes.