How do I find the right therapist?

Finding a therapist who feels like a good fit can be daunting. You may find someone who feels like a good fit right away - or it may take a few tries. Locating the right therapist can impact your experience in therapy. We are happy to provide a 15-minute, complimentary phone consultation prior to scheduling an appointment to answer any questions that you may have.

What can I expect from our first session? How long do sessions last?

During our first appointment, we will get to know each other. Your therapist will ask questions about your life and explore what brings you to therapy. Together, we will come up with a plan to address what you want to work on. Sessions are approximately 50-55 minutes in length.

How often should I attend therapy?

This depends entirely on you and what you think feels right. Most clients are seen once a week in the beginning and then, as time goes on, less frequently. We will trust you to tell us what feels right. The frequency of sessions should feel manageable with your schedule and provide you with the level of support that you decide is right for you. 

How long will I be in therapy?

Therapy is a highly individualized experience. The frequency and longevity of our work together is entirely up to you and what you’d like to work on - what works for you may not feel right for someone else. It’s perfectly understandable to be unsure of how long you want to be in therapy, some people meet for only a few sessions while others are seeking something more long-term. 

Do you prescribe medication?

No. However, we regularly work with clients who are curious about whether medication is right for them, have tried medication in the past, or who wish to begin medication in the future. If you decide that you want to seek medication assistance, we can offer a referral to a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or primary care physician.

Do you take insurance? Do you offer a sliding scale?

Yes, we are in-network with Aetna, United Healthcare/Optum, Cigna/Evernorth, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. We accept traditional BCBS PPO insurance, as well as the BCBS "Blue Choice Preferred" PPO policies. We do not accept BCBS HMO insurance. If you have an alternate insurance type, you are welcome to self-pay. We will provide a receipt for you to submit for out of network reimbursement from your insurance company. Please contact us for further details regarding self-pay and sliding scale rates.

How do I know if my insurance covers my appointments?

Each individual insurance plan is different. It can feel confusing and frustrating to figure out what all your plan details mean when it comes to how much therapy will cost. You can verify your specific coverage by calling the Member Services/Benefits 1-800 number on the back of your insurance card or by logging in to your member account via your insurance website. We are here to help you through this process and can do our best to answer insurance questions to the best of our ability.

How do I make an appointment?

Please reach out to us via email at Intake@SageStoneCounseling.com or by phone at (312) 588-6852 for all scheduling questions or requests. We will assist you from there! We will do our best to respond to appointment requests the same day, however it may take us up to 48 hours.

Do I need to bring anything to my first appointment?

Before your first session, you will receive an email invitation to access your client portal and complete various new client paperwork. Please be sure this paperwork is completed before your first session. We will have gathered your insurance information prior to our meeting time, however please have this information handy in case any questions arise. Before your telehealth appointment time, you will receive an email invitation - once you click to join the session you will be connected to your therapist!

How do I get to your office?

Our Lakeview neighborhood office address is 2835 N. Sheffield Ave., Suite 524, which is located in Chicago just a couple of blocks north of Diversey Ave. (between Diversey and Wellington) on the east side of the street. You will need to be assisted with access to the building on weekends or evenings. We will help you with this as needed. When you arrive, you can check in with the receptionist on the 2nd floor or head up to the 5th floor and have a seat in the waiting room. Your therapist will come out to greet you when it's time for your appointment. Paid street parking is available as well at nearby CTA routes.

Our suburban office location is 50 N. Brockway St., Suite 3-1, which is just off of Palatine Rd. in the BMO Harris Bank building. When you arrive, please take a seat in the waiting area inside the suite. Your therapist will come out to greet you when it's time for your appointment. Parking is available at no cost in the lots near the bank, as well as nearby street parking.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

Sometimes canceling or rescheduling an appointment is necessary, and we are happy to work with you to reschedule your appointment to best fit your needs.  Please note that due to a limited number of sessions available per week, cancellations must be made no less than 24 hours in advance. Cancellations made outside of this time frame will incur a late cancel/no show fee of $150 that is not covered by your insurance.