Frequently Asked Questions

What’s your background and professional training?
I am certified as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois (Lic. # 180-004659). I completed my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Northwestern University in 1999. I have a BA in Sociology from Wheaton College. My theoretical orientation has been shaped by a variety of influences, including family systems, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and Jungian therapies, along with my own clinical work and life experience.

I am a bilingual counselor with a twelve-year professional history of providing individual and group therapy across a broad developmental and cultural spectrum, with particular emphasis on adolescents and young adults. For two and a half years, I served as a consultant to DCFS through the Erikson Institute, providing clinical assessment and recommendations for child victims of severe abuse and neglect, and their families. Prior to Erikson, I worked for seven years in school-based settings with minority young people, and I’ve supervised bilingual/bicultural staff. As a Northwestern intern, I provided therapy to graduate and undergraduate students at DePaul University Counseling Center, and worked for two years with Spanish-dominant families in Lake County. A copy of my curriculum vitae is available for review upon request.

What about using my insurance to pay for sessions?
Most clients feel there are both advantages and disadvantages to using insurance benefits to cover outpatient therapy. Many times, insurance coverage is a significant factor in making counseling an affordable option. It is always worth checking to see what specific terms for mental health services are included in your insurance plan. I am typically able to bill as an out-of-system provider.

The nature and extent of paperwork varies according to your insurance company. When possible, I prefer that you pay for each session on the same day we meet, and that you deal directly with your insurance provider to obtain reimbursement. I will provide you the information needed in order for them to pay you directly (this usually includes my license number, periodic billing statements from me, and any necessary diagnostic codes). I will discuss diagnostic codes with you prior to notifying your insurance company, and will never contact an insurance provider without your written permission.

Reduced confidentiality is perhaps the biggest down-side of using insurance benefits to help pay for your sessions. For some people, this is significant enough that they prefer to pay out-of-pocket rather than risk compromising the confidentiality of their therapy. Information forwarded to an insurance company becomes part of your medical record, and once disclosed, can no longer be guaranteed against re-disclosure. If insurance coverage is an option for you, feel free to discuss this with me at greater length before deciding how you wish to proceed.

How many sessions will I need?
The length of therapy varies a lot from person to person, in relation to many factors. These include the nature of the issues you wish to address, your personal goals in treatment, and your level of motivation, to name a few. For some people, having specific and focused goals helps them to make use of the counseling relationship in a more specific and focused way. Other people discover that what appeared to be a simple problem has roots in deeper personal and family dynamics that may be harder to change.

In general, two things are worth keeping in mind regarding the number of sessions you may need: First, the issues that prompted you to seek counseling usually have developed over time. It’s reasonable to expect they may require some time to get resolved as well. And second, the number of sessions you choose is always ultimately up to you. It is your decision when to start therapy, and when you’re ready to stop. However, consistency is a strong predictor for making the best use of your sessions, and for achieving your own goals as effectively as possible. Please talk freely with me about this during your first session, and as often as you need to after that.

What about medication?
It is not within the scope of my licensing to prescribe medication. However, it is often helpful to explore the possible pros and cons of prescription medication, and any fears and feelings you may have about it. As appropriate, we can discuss referral to your primary care physician or other professional for consultation about the use of medication in your particular case. With your informed consent, your doctor and I may also exchange information that will help us both provide the best possible service to you.

What happens when I’m ready to stop?
If you decide that you’re ready to discontinue counseling, it is most helpful to let me know at least one session in advance. That ensures we will have appropriate time for closure: to look back over changes you’ve made, to reflect on what helped and what didn’t, and to think about next steps. Navigating a smooth, positive termination is an important part of a healthy therapeutic experience. If for any reason you are dissatisfied with our work together, I strongly urge you to talk freely and directly with me about it before deciding to stop.

Your file is kept in a locked room, and will be retained for a minimum of seven years after the date of your last session. Files that are older than seven years may be shredded (rather than thrown away) in order to preserve confidentiality.

Many clients note that formal closure makes it easier to come back if circumstances change at some point in the future, and you sense a need for further contact with me or another clinician. With or without formal termination, be assured that the door to renewed contact with me always remains open.