Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions and Answers
What is a Psychologist? How do they differ from other mental health providers?
A clinical psychologist has a doctorate (PhD or PsyD). They have at least five years of graduate education in psychology topics and treatment models, as well as multiple years of hands-on, supervised clinical experience providing therapy and assessment services. A psychologist is trained to provide therapy and psychological testing.
In contrast, psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD or OD) who may focus on identifying and managing medications to treat mental health symptoms. There are also Masters-level providers trained to provide therapy services, sometimes with specific specializations (for example, an LMFT or Licensed Marital and Family Therapist, is specifically trained in systemic treatment models focused on couples or family treatment.
When are you available?
I generally am in the office and available to see clients Monday through Friday, and I offer evening appointments on Thursdays. I can be available to clients for phone consultation any day of the week or for the occasional weekend appointment if needed.
Our assistant checks phone messages daily Monday through Friday and we will do our best to return routine calls within two business days.
How do I make an appointment?
The easiest way to make an appointment is to click the Request Appointment button at the bottom of this page. There you will see my availability to schedule either a Phone Consultation or an initial intake appointment. This will also give you access to our Client Portal, where we can share important information and send secure messages.
You can also call 773-234-0695 or email info@advancedpsychologyservices.com to ask questions or make an appointment.
Directions and transportation
Advanced Psychology Services is located in the Lakeview/Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, on Sheffield Avenue just above Diversey.
It is convenient to public transportation including the Brown Line (0.1 mi-Diversey stop), Red Line (0.5 mi-Belmont stop), 76 bus (Diversey), 8 bus (Halsted), 22 bus (Clark), 36 bus (Broadway), and others.
Paid street parking is available for $2/hour. Free street parking is also available, although some streets require permit 383 after 6pm.
What if I can’t afford services? Do you offer any reduced or sliding scale options?
I am passionate about helping people access mental health services. I therefore offer a few reduced-fee therapy slots and can potentially offer a payment plan for Psychological Testing services. I will also do what I can to help you find referrals to other providers who may be able to help as well.
Is information about my mental health and treatment services kept confidential?
I value your privacy and adhere to all legal requirements as well as the ethical code of my profession. I will keep your information private unless you want me to share that information and sign a consent specifying what can be shared, or in certain situations required by law. These exceptions include: 1) Threat of harm to self or others, 2) Abuse or neglect of children, elderly people, or dependent/disabled adults, 3) information required by insurance companies for the purpose of collecting payment, 4) Information necessary for supervision or consultation to provide quality care, 5) legally mandated treatment services in which the court has access to all records, 6) In the case of crimes committed on our premises or against our staff, 7) In matters of National Security as authorized by law, or 8) Health oversight activities such as audits by regulating bodies or insurance companies.
Click here for a detailed description of our Privacy Practices.
What happens at the first appointment for therapy?
The first appoint may be a little different than what you would expect. It usually lasts 60-90 minutes. We will spend some time reviewing our policies and completing paperwork. We will then discuss what issues bring you in for treatment, your goals for treatment, and your history. We will discuss any diagnoses or other services I recommend, and then together we will make a plan for treatment (what types of treatment we will do and what sessions may look like, frequency of sessions, how long treatment may last, etc.) .
How long are therapy sessions?
Typical individual therapy sessions last 45-55 minutes. We can schedule longer sessions if we decide together that it is clinically helpful. Couples or Family sessions may be scheduled for longer, up to 90 minutes. Individual sessions with younger children may be shorter and often combined with a parent or family session (for example, a 30-minute play therapy session with just the child and a 30-minute session with parent and child together reviewing child progress and what parent can do to follow up or support the child over the next week).
If you arrive late, we will still have to end the session at the scheduled time. If there is a crisis situation, we will discuss a plan to stay longer or schedule additional time. If for any reason I need to delay or cancel your session due to a crisis, I will do everything I can to reschedule or make sure we get our full scheduled time together.
How long will I be in therapy?
This can vary a lot depending on what the focus of treatment is, your goals, and your individual needs and circumstances.
Research shows that many people can report improvement after just one or a few sessions, and that many presenting problems can significantly improve within 12-20 sessions. Multiple or complex treatment issues, and especially complex trauma or interpersonal challenges, can take much longer.
We will discuss what may be a reasonable time frame for progress during your first appointment, and we will regularly review this throughout treatment.
What kind of records are kept? Are they secure?
The laws and standards of mental health professions require that psychologists keep treatment records. We will maintain these records consistent with federal and state laws that govern both security, record content, and duration of record retention.
We primarily use an electronic, cloud-based system for storage of records. This system is secure and HIPAA compliant. For example, we keep records of the forms you sign, your assessments and treatment plans, testing reports, and session notes, as well as other personal information such as contact information and payment information. I take your privacy very seriously and will be thoughtful about what information is recorded in the record. You have the right to review your records as well, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have about this.
Questions About Insurance
Questions to Ask Your Insurer About Therapy: In Network
Questions to Ask Your Insurer About Therapy: Out of Network
Questions to Ask Your Insurer about Psychological Testing
Do you take Insurance?
Yes, I am currently In Network with BCBS PPO, BCBS BlueChoice PPO, Aetna commercial plans, and UnitedHealthcare (Optum) PPO.
Here is an explanation of some insurance terms to help you navigate the process:
Insurance Terms:
Contracted Fee: If your provider is In Network with your insurance, they have contracted to provide services for a specific fee. For example, even though my regular therapy rate is $175 per 45 minute session, I may agree to provide that service for $150 to people with your insurance plan.
Deductible: This is the amount you may have to pay out of pocket before your insurance company will pay for services. For example, if you have a Deductible of $1000, then you would have to pay $1000 each year before the insurance company starts paying for any medical or mental health services. You may have multiple deductibles (one for each family member on a plan or different deductibles for In Network or Out of Network services).
Coinsurance: This is an amount you may have to pay for services beyond your deductible. It is usually a percentage of service costs. For example, if your insurance pays 80% of costs after your deductible, your coinsurance may be the remaining 20%. So if the fee for your service is $150, your insurance may pay $120 and you would be responsible for the remaining $30.
Co-Pay: A co-pay is a set fee your insurance requires you to pay for a service (instead of a percentage co-insurance). For example, they may require you to pay a co-pay of $30 per visit and they will cover the rest of the service fee. Co-Pays may or may not count toward your deductible.
Medical Necessity: Insurance will usually only pay for services that are “medically necessary,” which in the case of mental health services means that treatment is needed due to an eligible psychiatric diagnosis. You qualify for such a diagnosis when your symptoms cause you significant distress and/or negatively impact your functioning in activities of daily life. Your insurance company may only approve certain services for certain diagnoses.
Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company About Therapy Services
(If I am In-Network with your plan):
Ask Your Insurer:
Is the service I want covered? Ask about the service and CPT codes you are seeking: CPT code 90791 for initial assessment, code 90834 or 90837 for Individual Sessions, 90846 or 90847 for Family/Couples Therapy, 90853 for Group Therapy
Do I have to pay toward a Deductible? If so, how much is it? How much have I already paid toward it this year? How much will I have to pay before insurance starts covering therapy services? When does it reset each year?
Do I pay co-insurance or a co-pay for these services?
Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor for any of the services?
Do I need pre-authorization for any of the services?
Are there any limits to how many sessions I can have (per week/year/etc)?
Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company About Therapy Services
(If I am Out-of-Network with your plan):
Ask Your Insurer:
Do I have any Out of Network benefits for the services I am seeking? CPT code 90791 for initial assessment, code 90834 or 90837 for Individual Sessions, 90846 or 90847 for Family/Couples Therapy, 90853 for Group Therapy
Do I have an Out of Network deductible? If so, how much is it? How much have I already paid toward it this year? How much will I have to pay before insurance starts covering therapy services? When does it reset each year?
Do I pay co-insurance or a co-pay for these services?
Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor for any of the services?
Do I need pre-authorization for any of the services?
What documentation do I need to give you to get reimbursed for these services? How do I or my therapist submit that documentation?
How long will it take to get reimbursed?
Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company about Psychological Testing Services:
Ask Your Insurer:
Is Psychological Testing covered by my plan?
Ask about CPT codes 90791 for initial assessment, and 96130/96131, 96132/96133, and codes 96136/96137/96138/96139 for testing days
Do I need a Referral from anyone for these services?
Do I need Pre-Authorization for these services?
Are there any limits on the number or length of sessions for these services?
Is Testing covered for assessing learning disabilities/ADHD/Autism (whatever your testing question is)?
Is Testing not covered in the case of certain diagnoses? For example, if I am diagnosed with a Learning Disorder of some kind, would it still be covered?
Will what I pay for testing count toward my deductible?