All FAQs
What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist, and counselor/therapist?
A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who is trained to diagnose and treat psychological and behavioral problems. This is done through a detailed face-to-face interview, followed by the implementation of psychotherapy and the use of medications where necessary.
A psychologist has a doctoral degree in psychology who diagnoses mental health issues and treats them with various psychotherapeutic techniques. Psychologists have limited medication prescribing rights in some states.
A counselor is a Masters-level graduate who has additional clinical training in the mental health field to assess and treat psychiatric and behavioral health problems. A counselor generally focuses on providing therapy to individuals, couples, or families. Counselors do not prescribe medications.
Should I schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist or a therapist?
Our psychiatrist will work with the patient to discuss medication options, prescribe medication, and set up periodic appointments to monitor the effects of the medication. The therapist will meet with the patient to provide aid in such matters as relationship conflict, self-esteem/confidence issues, anxiety/OCD/ADHD disorders, life transitions, or other personal stressors.
Do you take insurance?
Yes, we take BCBS, Cigna, Naperville Health Care, DuPage Medical Group, Aetna, PHCS Value Options, and Medicare.
Do you take self-pay patients?
Indeed! We do have a self-pay rate accessible for you if you currently have no insurance or if your insurance falls outside of the accepted insurance. To speak with one of our intake specialists, please call our office.
How long is a therapy session?
Generally, therapy sessions are 45–50 minutes. Psychiatrist sessions are 45 minutes for initial evaluations and then 15–20 minutes for follow-up appointments. For treatment of adolescents, our psychiatrist requires to see parents separately one time for 30 minutes. This is done in order to understand the family dynamics, which will help in formulating a specific treatment for the adolescent. A follow-up session of another 30 minutes may be needed sometime in the course of the treatment to gauge the progress and get feedback from parents.
What are your hours?
Office hours are 9-6 Monday-Friday and 9-12 Saturday
Can you provide any helpful links?
http://www.adhdandyou.com
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
http://www.nami.org
http://www.dbsalliance.org
