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Wildflower Center for Emotional Health

Resources

Having the right information can make all the difference when it comes to starting psychotherapy. Explore our informational resources to guide and support you every step of the way.

Helpful Information

From what to expect in your first session to payment details, access all the essential information tailored to support your journey with us.

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Get a clear understanding of the financial aspects of our services, including insurance details and fee structures.

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Financial Information at Wildflower

Out of Pocket Psychotherapy Fees

Our out of pocket psychotherapy fees range from $170 to $220, depending on the type of service and the education/experience of the provider. Please contact us for more information.

Insurance

Most Wildflower clinicians are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and Blue Choice plans. Some members of our team are also in-network with United/Optum and Aetna PPO. If you plan to utilize your mental health benefits, we will file claims to insurance for you. We are also out-of-network providers for many insurance companies, which means that we do not bill them directly. We will give you a statement that you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement.

We encourage you to call your insurance company and carefully check your mental health benefits as you are ultimately responsible for the full cost of therapy. Here are some questions you should find answers to:

  • Do I have mental health benefits?
  • Is my therapist in-network?
  • What is my deductible and has it been met?
  • Do I have a copay?
  • How many mental health sessions per calendar year does my insurance plan cover?
  • How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network mental health provider?
  • How do I obtain reimbursement for therapy with an out-of-network provider?
  • Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Reduced Fee Psychotherapy

We believe that psychotherapy should be available to everyone. Wildflower is committed to providing services to clients for whom finances are an obstacle to access. We are proud to offer reduced fee options to those who are in need of our services, face significant financial difficulty, and/or are uninsured. The fees are determined based on your specific financial and other life circumstances.

Our team of licensed clinicians offers a limited number of reduced-fee openings. Our advanced clinical intern is able to see clients at more deeply discounted rates. Please note that not every provider at Wildflower has current availability for reduced-fee appointments. There may be times when all of our reduced fee openings are full. In such an event, we will seek to connect you with other reduced-fee resources in our mental health community.

Cancellation Policy

The time that is allotted for your therapy session is reserved for you. For this reason, we require a 24-hour cancellation notice. Appointments canceled with less than a 24-hour notice will incur the full session fee which is not covered by insurance.

Good Faith Estimate

As of January 1, 2022, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical services.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services.
  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider and any other provider you choose for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.

Frequently Asked Questions

Using your insurance policy to pay for psychotherapy allows you to substantially reduce your cost per session. This being said, there are certain disadvantages associated with utilizing your insurance benefits that you should be aware of. In order to pay for services, insurance companies mandate that we provide a clinical diagnosis and sometimes release additional information such as a treatment plan or copies of your clinical record. We will make every effort to release the minimum information needed to satisfy such requests. Some clients are uncomfortable with this limit of confidentiality and choose to pay for services privately.

Your first session will be 60 minutes in length. During this time, your therapist will want to learn about what brings you in, your current struggles, symptoms, goals, past experiences, history of mental health treatment, relationships, strengths, and challenges. Based on this evaluation, your therapist will share with you impressions about what your work together might entail. You will be able to ask any questions about this process, voice preferences, or concerns. You will find that empathy, nonjudgment, and positive regard are cornerstones of our approach to psychotherapy. It is very important that you find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable; the first session will help you determine if your therapist is the right fit for you.

Please call the general number or use the form on our website if you would like to inquire about our services, are looking to explore which therapist would be the best fit for you, or would like to gain assistance in figuring out whether to pursue any of the services we offer. In case we are not available to speak with you when you call, kindly leave a voicemail message with your phone number and email address and we will respond to you within 24-36 hours during business days or within the next two business days following weekends and holidays.

During the initial phone conversation or email exchange, we will inquire about your reasons for seeking services, answer any questions or concerns you may have, and discuss the fee, location, scheduling, and goodness of fit.  We will also ask you to complete the new client paperwork prior to your first session.

Hours vary by clinician. We offer early morning, morning, afternoon, and evening appointments Monday through Friday. We also offer morning and afternoon appointments on Saturdays. We are currently closed on Sundays.

Yes, buses and CTA trains operate near our office.  River North office: If using CTA, take the Brown Line to the Chicago stop and walk one block west on Chicago Avenue. Turn right on N. Orleans Street and walk ½ block north. Wildflower is located on the west side of the street in a red brick building. The entrance is on the north side of the building. Oak Park office: If using CTA, take the Green line to Harlem/Lake stop and walk one block north to Lake Street. Head east on Lake Street. We are located on the north side of Lake Street just east of the Lake Theatre. You can also take Metra and exit at Oak Park station. Should you choose this option, you will need to walk one block north to Lake Street. Boulder office: N/A (currently teletherapy only).

River North: Paid parking is available in the parking lot just north of the building. There is also street parking available, both free and metered, in the surrounding area. Oak Park: Paid parking garage is available at Lake Street and Forest Avenue. Street parking is also available on Lake Street and surrounding streets.

While we do not have psychiatrists on staff who can prescribe medication, we have strong relationships with providers in the community. We will refer you for consultation with a psychiatrist if your symptoms warrant exploration of whether medication would be an effective adjunctive treatment.

We recommend to all clients that they commit to weekly sessions. This frequency of sessions is most associated with positive outcomes in psychotherapy. Over time, this frequency may be increased or decreased depending on your needs. If you are experiencing a more acute crisis, having twice-a-week sessions may be warranted. At other times, if you have already made significant strides toward achieving your goals in therapy, it may be appropriate to come in every other week or even monthly.

The success of psychotherapy has a lot to do with the goodness of fit between you and your therapist. It is a special kind of relationship that exists specifically for the purpose of helping you overcome and cope with the struggles that you wish to address. It is critical that you feel comfortable with your therapist, can trust her/his/their expertise, and sense that the therapist respects you, cares about you, and is fully committed to your well-being. 

If for any reason you feel uncomfortable, the first thing is to consider sharing your concerns with your therapist. We assure you that you will be met with respect and desire to help and understand. The therapist will not be offended or upset if you tell them you would feel more comfortable with another therapist. We all recognize we cannot possibly always be the right fit for our clients. If you would rather not speak with the therapist directly, please reach out to the intake coordinator at Wildflower who has helped you schedule your initial appointment. We will help you from there.

Unfortunately, as an outpatient practice, we do not have the ability to respond immediately to crisis. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 911 and/or proceed to your nearest emergency room.

Infants are welcome to join you. You are welcome to feed your baby while in session and attend to his/her/their other needs. Once your baby becomes an active toddler who needs more focused attention, we would encourage you to secure other childcare arrangements so you can attend your session alone.

Please note that we do not offer childcare or have the ability to watch your child for you while you are attending a session. However, we offer flexible early morning, daytime, evening, and weekend appointments in hopes of making psychotherapy more accessible to busy parents.

In addition to English, we currently offer psychotherapy services in Spanish, Polish, and Portuguese.

All therapists at Wildflower are graduates of accredited programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical social work, or marital and family therapy. They engage in rigorous postgraduate training to ensure provision of the highest quality of service to Wildflower clients. Clinical supervision is a process whereby a psychotherapist meets with a member of Wildflower’s supervisory team on a weekly basis to review their clinical work, engage in reflective practice, and continue their learning process. Psychotherapists receiving such clinical supervision are pursuing a higher level of licensure. All client information shared with the supervisor remains confidential.

There are many benefits to working with a supervised psychotherapist at Wildflower. These psychotherapists have acquired relevant clinical experience, training and graduate education prior to joining our practice, and have been invited to continue their professional careers at Wildflower due to their exceptional track record of clinical excellence and commitment to ongoing growth.

They demonstrate this commitment by engaging in intensive training at Wildflower while receiving ongoing support from their assigned Clinical Supervisor. Supervised therapists are intentional and reflective — qualities that are key to effective psychotherapy. Their clinical tools and knowledge are continually updated, ensuring the care you receive is based in sound methods and interventions. Here you can learn more about our clinical philosophy.

The letters refer to the type of clinical license the therapist carries and can also denote special certifications and endorsements they may have. All therapists at Wildflower are graduates of accredited programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical social work, or marital and family therapy. They also engage in rigorous post-graduate training to ensure they can provide the highest quality of service to Wildflower clients.

Let’s demystify some of the most common acronyms you will encounter at Wildflower:

LCSW

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) must meet strict educational and training requirements which includes two one-year practicums, a Master’s degree in clinical social work, 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate clinical experience and successful completion of state licensing examination. LCSW’s are also required to earn continuing education units to maintain their clinical license. An LCSW has been trained in psychotherapy and helps individuals deal with a variety of mental health and daily living challenges to improve overall functioning. An LCSW is steeped in academic studies including sociology, human growth and development, mental health theory and practice, human behavior in the social environment, psychology and research methods. Credit: Tim McDaniel, LCSW

LCPC

A Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) must meet strict educational and training requirements, including: a Master’s degree in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or psychology, 600 hours served in clinical internship, and 3,360 hours of supervised post-graduate clinical work experience with 1,920 hours of direct, face-to-face counseling. LCPCs must also successfully complete a state licensing examination. LCPCs are additionally required to earn continuing education units to maintain their clinical license.

An LCPC has been trained in psychotherapy and helps individuals deal with a variety of mental health and daily living challenges to improve overall functioning. An LCPC’s requisite academic studies include human growth and development, counseling theory, psychopathology and maladaptive behavior, and research and evaluation. Credit: Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association

PsyD/PhD

A Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PsyD; PhD) must meet strict educational and training requirements at the doctoral level. Psychologists may hold either a Ph.D. or Psy.D. (Doctorate of Psychology), requiring at least 4 years of graduate study, a dissertation, and clinical training. In addition to 2-3 years training in clinical practicums, all psychologists must complete a pre-doctoral internship and a postdoctoral fellowship, which are full-time training positions (3750 hours total). All told, many psychologists will have obtained around 6000 hours of supervised training while on the path to licensure. Psychologists must also pass a national licensure exam. Once licensed, psychologists are permitted to work independently and must pursue continuing education to maintain licensure.

Psychologists apply expert knowledge in human psychology to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health problems. In practice, psychologists may use different tests to assist in diagnosing problems or understanding an individual’s functioning, or they may employ evidenced-based therapies to help their clients improve their lives. Importantly, in Illinois, psychologists do not prescribe medication but will assist individuals through a variety of behavioral treatments.

LMFT

A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) works with individuals, couples, families, or groups using a systemic and relational framework. LMFTs conceptualize problems as embedded within the overlapping contexts of our lives, including our individual psychology, relationships, and communities, and this framework guides an active approach to finding healthy alternative solutions. While LMFTs typically receive extensive training to address relational and familial concerns, they are also skilled in treating individual problems and respecting the reciprocal relationship our personal issues can have on our various relationships.

An LMFT must meet strict educational and training requirements including a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from an accredited program, a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience (including a required minimum of relational clinical hours), and successful completion of a state licensing exam. Like other psychotherapists, LMFTs are required to earn continuing education units to maintain their clinical license, which they obtain through various trainings and seminars.

LSW

A Licensed Social Worker (LSW) has a Master’s degree in clinical social work, has completed two one-year clinical practicums, and passed a state licensing exam. Therapists with this type of licensure are trained to provide mental health services to a wide variety of clients utilizing a systems approach. This entails considering the ways in which familial, social, political, cultural and other forces illuminate the client’s symptoms and behavior. At Wildflower, clinicians with an LSW are in the process of obtaining additional training and consultation to achieve an additional level of licensure, that of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

LPC

A Licensed Professional Counselor is a Master’s level mental health provider trained to work with individuals, couples, and families. These clinicians have also met clinical practicum requirements and passed National Board for Certified Counselors’ National Counselor Examination (NCE). They are authorized for the practice of professional counseling. At Wildflower, clinicians with an LPC are obtaining additional training and consultation towards becoming Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC) which will enable them to supervise other clinicians as well as practice independently.

CADC

CADC refers to Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse certification. Therapists with this certification have completed additional coursework and clinical supervision and taken a specialty exam enabling them to claim advanced expertise in the addiction field.

PMH-C

Therapists who are Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) have been practicing in the field of perinatal mental health for at least two years, have completed specialized post-graduate coursework and passed a specialty exam. This credential is conferred by Postpartum Support International.

RYT

Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) are yoga teachers whose training and experience in yoga has met the strict requirements established by Yoga Alliance.

R-DMT

Registered Dance and Movement Therapists (R-DMT) have attained the basic level of competence in dance/movement therapy via specialized training and academic coursework. The distinction is conferred by American Dance Therapy Association.

EdS, MA, MSW, or M.Ed.

If one of these acronyms follows the therapist’s name and no other acronyms are provided, this means the therapist has graduated from an accredited program in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical social work, or marital and family therapy, and is currently pursuing post-graduate clinical license such as LSW or LPC. The therapist is receiving in-depth training and clinical supervision towards this goal.

AMFT

An Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) has a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, has completed a qualifying clinical practicum, and passed a state licensing exam. These therapists work with individuals, couples, and families and have a particularly strong background in relationships-focused therapies. AMFTs work under supervision for two or more years to gain eligibility to take a licensing exam to become licensed as Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).

Psychotherapists are both similar to other medical practitioners and yet very different from them. Some similarities include the fact that we engage in the process of carefully assessing mental health-related symptoms and formulating a diagnosis, and many of us are on insurance panels which allows the client to utilize their insurance policy to pay for services. The key differences stem from the fact that the most essential ingredient of successful psychotherapy is the relationship between the client and the therapist. The strength of that collaborative alliance has been shown again and again by research to be absolutely critical to the effectiveness of many respected treatment modalities.

Given the nature of psychotherapy and the significance of the relationship between therapist and client, therapists cannot possibly see the same volume of clients as a primary care physician. They would not be able to remain present and provide effective care. Furthermore, to build a sense of momentum in psychotherapy, consistent (typically weekly) appointments are important – thus the therapist tends to have more limited availability for new clients.

All this means that when your therapist has an opening for you, it truly is an opening that has been reserved for you. We charge the full fee for late cancellations and no-shows for this reason.

At the same time, we recognize that sometimes you might not be able to make it to your weekly appointment. As long as you give advance notice of at least 24 hours, you will not be charged. Your therapist sometimes might be able to offer you a different slot just for that week as there could have been another client who gave advance notice as well, enabling the therapist to accommodate you. None of that is possible when you cancel late or do not show to your appointment. Please know that we recognize you may be well-justified in failing to give advance notice – you might be sick, get delayed at work, etc. The late cancellation/no-show policy that we have in place is not meant to suggest these are invalid cancellation reasons. It has been created to safeguard our ability as psychotherapists to provide you with the most effective, attuned care possible.

Workshops are structured learning sessions led by experts and typically focus on education and skill-building, while support groups offer a safe space for individuals to share experiences and receive emotional support from peers or other family members facing similar challenges. In addition, workshops emphasize learning and active participation whereas support groups prioritize mutual support and solidarity among participants.

We’re here to support your journey towards mental wellness.

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