Support to guide your journey.
Our Services
Types of Therapy
We offer the following types of therapeutic and relational support services based on the client’s needs:
Individual Therapy
Clients work one-on-one with a therapist to explore personal challenges, career, education, identity, feelings, relationships, and everyday life. Individual therapy can provide support and companionship as you navigate your journey. Individual therapy is offered to adolescents and adults of all ages.
Couples Therapy
Whether in crisis, or just needing a touch-up, “committing to the (therapeutic) couch” for a bit can be relationship changing. Shared goals are discerned in order to resolve conflict or dissatisfaction and ultimately forge a better relationship. Couples therapy is for any couple at any stage of the relationship; beginning, middle, end (including co-parenting, if needed). Our success rate is pretty high when people are willing and able to work together.
Family Therapy
What constitutes family? Whether it’s family of origin, nuclear, chosen, adopted, extended, biological or cut-off, participating in family therapy can be a gift to the system of which you are a part. Living/doing life with people for long periods of time can present challenges, right?! Often times people do not possess the skills to talk about conflict, therefore perfecting the art of “stuffing” or “brushing off.”
Talking through issues with a skilled therapist, trained to understand and challenge how a system functions, takes bravery - but it only takes one person in the system to create change. Sessions may involve the entire family meeting together and/or individual or smaller group meetings (e.g., siblings, parents) with a therapist.
Therapy for Therapists & Caregivers
Therapist & Caregiver Therapy is geared towards mental health clinicians and other caregivers (e.g., first responders, physicians, nurses, midwives). We need to talk about the very real intersection between our personal lived experiences going on in real time, along with the people we are trying to support. We are often exposed to traumatic or difficult situations in our work but neglect caring for ourselves or understanding the cumulative impact our work has on our wellbeing.
Self-care is something we all talk about in our jobs… let us help you walk the talk.
School Support & Advocacy (6-12)
Feeling confident in school is important for children’s academic and social-emotional success. Many students have learning differences that often make this difficult. Families today have different needs when it comes to advocating for their child within an academic setting. Securing services and navigating the IEP process can be burdensome for everyone involved. Working collaboratively with both you and your child’s educational team, we can help develop a plan for your child that will enable student success.
School Support & Advocacy services start with a comprehensive document review so that the therapist has a complete understanding of the student’s and family’s school history. Individual therapy with the child or family therapy follows to explore personal and/or academic challenges, behaviors or actions that may be impeding progress, social-emotional experiences, and other elements of mental health care. Once the therapist knows your child, they can join school meetings as an advocate to help secure a formal plan that addresses the student’s social, emotional, and academic needs.
Reasons for Therapy
The following are common reasons for seeking mental health therapy:
Addiction
Adoption
Anger Management
Anxiety
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism
Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Body Image
Caregiver & First Responder Fatigue
Chronic Pain
Conflict Resolution
Depression
Disruptive or Harmful Behaviors
Divorce or Separation
Eating Disorders
Family Conflict
Gender Identity
Grief & Loss
Infertility
Intimacy
LGBTQIA+ Support
Life Changes
Marriage Conflict
Mood Irregularities
Neurodivergent Conditions
Occupational Stress
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic Attacks
Phobias
Parenting Challenges
Personality Exploration & Disorders
Pre-Marriage Counseling
Postpartum Depression
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
School Conduct & Refusal
Self-Care
Self-Esteem
Self-Harm
Sexuality
Sexual Abuse & Incest
Substance Abuse
Suicide Assessment & Care
Spirituality & Faith
Stress Management
Trauma & Abuse
Insurance Plans
We are an in-network provider for the following insurance plans. We do not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or most HMO plans.
Aetna
Open Choice PPO & Open Choice POS II
Blue Cross Blue Shield
PPO plans only, including Blue Choice Options, Preferred & Professional
Nationwide Anthem PPO plans and the Blue Card network
Cigna
PPO, Open Access Plus & HMO Open Access
United Healthcare / Optum
PPO & Oscar Plans
If you have one of the above, we will bill your insurance after each session and you will only be responsible for any deductible, copay and/or coinsurance amounts as specified by your insurance plan.
Cancelled appointments are subject to the cancellation policy; missed appointments cannot be billed to insurance and will be the client’s sole responsibility.
Out-of-Network Reimbursement
If you have an insurance plan that we do not accept, we can provide you with a “superbill” after you have made payment for services so that you can seek reimbursement from your insurance provider for any out-of-network benefits.
You are strongly encouraged to contact your insurance provider to learn more about out-of-network benefit coverage prior to scheduling an appointment. Seeking reimbursement is a matter between you and your insurance provider and does not impact your financial obligation to Leap Therapy Chicago for services rendered.
School Support & Advocacy Services
While therapy sessions may be covered by insurance to provide related mental health services, fees for the document review and school meetings are not covered.
Fees & Payments
The following are fees for our most common services:
Diagnostic Evaluation (first session): $220
55-Minute Therapy Session: $180
School Advocacy Document Review (required): $350 flat fee
School Advocacy Meetings: $180/hour
Payments
We accept all major credit and debit cards, as well as HSA and FSA cards, checks, and cash. All clients are required to have a credit or debit card on file. Your card will be charged after each appointment and/or when an insurance claim adjustment is complete, unless you indicate another method of payment. If an insurance claim is denied, you are responsible for payment of the full fee.
Reduced Rate (Sliding Scale)
Each therapist has a set number of appointment slots that are reserved for clients experiencing financial hardship. Clients will be asked to submit an ‘Application for a Reduced Rate,’ if they do not have insurance and cannot afford the published fee. We use a sliding scale based on income, family size, and federal standards to determine the reduction amount. Not all applicants will qualify.
Good Faith Estimate (‘No Surprises Act’)
If you don’t have insurance or don’t intend to use insurance to pay for scheduled non-emergency health care services, federal law requires that health care providers and facilities provide you with an estimate of the expected charges at least one business day before the scheduled services are to be performed, upon request. Please contact our office to obtain your estimate.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, we ask that you provide a 24-hour notice. Failure to provide advance notice or not showing up will result in a charge of $75. Insurance does not cover cancelled or missed appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Starting therapy for the first time and being vulnerable with a stranger can seem awkward or even scary in the beginning. Keep in mind, however, that our therapists are trained professionals and genuinely care about the wellbeing of their clients. During therapy you will share what you wish to share, and our therapists will listen carefully and base their recommendations on what is heard and observed. While you may discuss unpleasant feelings or personal challenges, rest assured that you won’t be judged or treated with disrespect. Our goal is to help you on your journey to deal with whatever problems you may be facing and to enable sustainable change.
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The short answer is, yes! Children above the age of 12 are usually cared for individually by a therapist. While the therapist may wish to meet with a parent and/or guardian on occasion, the adolescent is our client and confidentiality will be maintained as such.
However, for children under the age of 12, we encourage some curiosity with what might be happening between the caregivers (parents, guardians). Many children become “symptom bearers” when there is relational stress around them, so perhaps some couples therapy is first, and then work with the child.
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There isn’t a “typical” number of sessions as every client’s needs and goals are different. Some clients may need to work intensely for a few months, while others may want relational support long-term to process life and stay on track. Clients usually meet weekly with their therapist, but that could change to bi-weekly or even monthly over time. You and your therapist will discern frequency of sessions, and together determine if symptoms have resolved sufficiently to end treatment.
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Yes, telehealth is quite effective! In fact, recent studies have shown teletherapy to be as effective as in-person therapy. Since this mode of therapy is virtual, it can be delivered without the stresses of commuting to an office location, parking, and battling traffic. As long as you have a private space and can engage without distraction, teletherapy is a great option. You can join sessions via our secure video platform from your laptop, tablet, or even a mobile phone. You just need a reliable Internet connection.
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It is common for one member of a partnership or family system to want therapy but for others to perhaps be less interested or even hesitant. Since therapy requires active participation, it is most effective when people want to be present, even if doing so may bring up unpleasant feelings or difficult challenges. If both partners or relevant family members aren’t willing to participate, then it may be best to consider individual therapy until such time that they are ready.
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Family therapy involves understanding how the family system works and its impacts on members (e.g., parents or guardians, children, siblings, grandparents, relatives, close friends, etc.). The presenting issue (e.g., conflict, trauma, grief, anxiety) isn’t usually experienced in the same way or even known by other members of the system. While there could be a large-group meeting, most work is done in smaller groups (e.g., mother and daughter or siblings only) or even individually with select family members.
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We encourage you to review each therapist’s biography from the Therapist page to learn more about their personality, approach to therapy, and specializations. We also offer a complimentary 15-minute phone call or video session for you to ask any questions and get to know more about the therapist. Unfortunately, as is the case nationwide, most therapists have large caseloads which often presents scheduling challenges (day and time conflicts). If a scheduling conflict exists with the therapist you wish to see, you can be added to their waitlist or they can refer you to another suitable therapist.
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None of our therapists prescribe medication. If your therapist believes that medication may be helpful, they can refer you to your primary care physician or a psychiatrist, who after reviewing your presenting issues may deem medication to be an effective part of treatment. While medication has its benefits, the goals of therapy are fundamentally different in that treatment is focused on using techniques and tools to improve relationships, address specific problems or challenges, better understand yourself and your actions, and to reduce stress, anxiety, and unhealthy behaviors.
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Most clients who are seeking a school advocate have experienced repeated challenges over a period of multiple years. These challenges are commonly related to either a) student behavior and related interventions or b) advocacy to obtain accommodations and services for students with learning differences (usually in the form of an IEP or 504 Plan). In order for the therapist to fully understand the student’s experience and needs, and any actions taken by the school(s), teacher(s), and/or administrators, a comprehensive review of school records such as report cards, standardized test results, professional evaluations from school psychologists or other providers, disciplinary records, current and prior IEP/504 plans, and other relevant correspondence is necessary. This review often takes 2-3+ hours.
Individual therapy with the child or family therapy is required before the therapist will attend any in-school meetings. In order to be an advocate, the therapist must know what social, emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges the student is experiencing.
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Each therapist has a set number of appointment slots that are reserved for clients experiencing financial hardship. We use a sliding scale based on income and family size to make therapy more affordable and accessible. Submission of an ‘Application for a Reduced Rate’ is required to request a reduced rate.