Counseling
I am credentialed as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois and certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors. I provide counseling for individuals, couples, and families. My approach will vary, depending on the clients and what they need, but my goal is always to help the process of healing, insight, and growth to the point at which clients can move forward in their lives with strength and dignity. It is always my honor to work with clients, and I am not surprised by research that suggests the client/therapist relationship is an important factor in the growth process.
Because the therapeutic relationship is so important as a predictor of outcome, I encourage all potential clients to take very seriously the process of finding a therapist. Feel free to call several potential counselors for a brief (5-10 minute) conversation. Ask them questions about how they work. If you feel there is a potential match, schedule and attend the first appointment with the goal of finding out if it really is a good fit, and if it seems to be, then set some preliminary goals for your time together.
Good therapists will truly care about you finding a good match, regardless of whether or not it's with them! This is why I love practicing out of North Shore Wellness Services! I have a dozen colleagues -- with different specialties, personalities, approaches -- all of whom are wonderful therapists. If I don't feel I'm the best match for a client, I am happy to refer them to someone whom I feel would be a better fit. Call me directly to talk about what kind of therapist would be best for you.
Counseling sessions are typically 45 or 75 minutes. I encourage couples to opt for the longer session, if this is feasible for them. For clients who want to use insurance, I may need 75 minutes to provide an appropriate diagnosis, which the insurance company will need before they'll reimburse or pay for the session. I will file claims for BC/BS clients. All other clients pay at the time of service, and I provide insurance-ready receipts on a monthly basis.
Different therapists have different policies and procedures for scheduling appointments. I typically schedule week-to-week, with no minimum number of sessions. You can find my policies on line at www.northshorewellness.com -- find the link to "Intake Forms" on the main menu.
The decision to seek counseling may be very natural for you, but for many, it can be a scary and almost surreal experience. The business of the counseling process is what it is -- schedules, payments, a contract -- it sometimes takes newcomers by surprise. Rest assured that once the details are in order and you are knee-cap to knee-cap with your chosen professional therapist, all of that goes away and you can focus on yourself and the issues you need to address.
