WHY DO PEOPLE SEEK THERAPY / DO I NEED THERAPY? People seek therapy for a variety of reasons. Some common presentations include but are not limited to: Past Trauma, Childhood Sexual, Physical, and Emotional Abuse, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociative Disorders, Addictions/Substance Abuse, Relationship Problems, Personality Problems, Sexuality Issues, Anxiety/Depression, Anger Management, Parenting Strategies, Grief/Loss, Separation/Divorce Concerns, Adoption Matters, Domestic Violence, Eating Disorders, Self Injury
WHAT’S THE PARKING SITUATION? There is ample parking at the Barrington office location.
DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE? Yes, we currently accept BCBS of IL PPO plans. If this is not the type of insurance you carry, we can supply you with a statement to submit to your insurance company for potential out of network reimbursement. Every plan is different, some helpful questions to ask your insurance company are:
- • Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
- • What is my deductible and has it been met?
- • How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
- • What is the coverage amount per therapy session with an out-of-network clinician?
- • Is pre-authorization required?
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PAYMENT? What you will owe per session will depend on your insurance situation. Payment is due at the time of service rendered. Cash, check and all major credit cards are accepted for payment. Please note that Reduced fee services are available on a limited basis. Please contact us directly to discuss sliding scale options.
WHAT’S YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY? If you need to miss an appointment, we require at least 24 hours of notice; otherwise, you will be charged the full fee for your appointment. This fee is charged even if you do not attend the session if you do not cancel your appointment within 24 hours of the session. Payment is due at the session.
HOW OFTEN ARE SESSIONS SCHEDULED? You can schedule your sessions to meet your needs and finances. However, often clients find that initially weekly or at times, bi-weekly appointments are useful until they see an improvement in their situation, and then they can decrease the frequency.
WILL I BE ABLE TO CONTACT YOU OUTSIDE OF OFFICE HOURS? We do not have an on-call emergency answering service. On nights and weekends, you may leave us a voicemail or send an email, but we may not respond until our next opportunity during regular office hours. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
IS WHAT I TALK ABOUT WITH YOU CONFIDENTIAL? Yes—what you say in our offices stays in our office, within the limits of the law. We abide by privacy regulations set forth by HIPAA.
HOW LONG DOES THERAPY TAKE? Therapy sessions are about 50-60 minutes long (depending upon therapist). How long you stay in therapy—be it five weeks, five months or longer—is entirely your choice. We will work together to determine the best course of treatment for you.
DO YOU WORK WITH YOUNG CHILDREN? At BCMFT we have a therapist for every population and developmental stage. We offer a child-centered play space for therapy that involves our littlest clients.
DO YOU OFFER THERAPY FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES? Yes, BCMFT offers therapy to any couple seeking assistance.
DO YOU PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS? No, we are not licensed psychiatrists. If we determine together that medications may be an option for you, we can provide referrals for qualified psychiatrists and help coordinate care with that provider.
YOU’RE A THERAPIST—BUT NOT A DOCTOR. DO YOUR SERVICES DIFFER FROM THOSE OFFERED BY DOCTORS? We are licensed therapists, not a doctors, so there are some psychological evaluations and testing we can’t provide. But in all other aspects, we offer expert therapy. We never provide services for which we are not qualified. If we determine you need services that we cannot provide, we will work with you to find the best provider and coordinate care.
WHAT ABOUT MY PRIVACY? BCMFT takes every precaution to protect you privacy and data. Read our complete privacy policy here.
WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT? Contact us to begin services by calling 224.698.1180 or emailing jackie@bcmft.com