Informed Consent

What can I expect from initial visit? 

The first 1-2 sessions are devoted to a comprehensive assessment of your problems and the development of a treatment plan.  After the initial assessment is completed, the treatment plan will be reviewed and recommendations will be provided regarding which Light on Anxiety therapist will be the best fit based on clinical needs and scheduling requirements. Note: the therapist who conducts the initial assessment may not be the therapist who provides ongoing treatment, but all initial findings will be throughly discussed and reviewed with the assigned Light on Anxiety therapist.

What will treatment entail?

Treatment will include one or a combination of the following: individual therapy (which can include family members), referrals to a psychiatrist for medication evaluation, specialized exposure therapy or referrals to a physician for medical evaluation. Exposure therapy may occur on a weekly basis, or may be required on a more intensive basis when your difficulties are more severe. All therapy we offer is empirically supported and provided to you because it is the treatment determined to be the most effective in assisting you or your child in overcoming anxiety or anxiety-related conditions.

What is expected of me?

We expect you to come prepared to work hard and play an active role in treatment.  We will serve as your anxiety coach and teach you the skills and provide you with the support to move forward in living a vital life.  But it is up to YOU to do the hard and transformative work of applying these new skills in your every day life.

How frequently will we meet?

A treatment plan will be customized to your needs and therefore, after the initial assessment, your therapist will be able to provide you with a recommendation for treatment intensity. A treatment plan will be customized to your needs and therefore, after the initial assessment, your therapist will be able to provide you with a recommendation for treatment intensity.

What if I need to reach you in between sessions?

If you or your child are in a mental health emergency and require immediate assistance, please go to the nearest hospital emergency room and leave a voicemail message for your therapist to notify them of the emergency (312.508.3645).  If you are uncertain how to manage a panic attack or an exposure assignment, you are welcome to leave a message for your therapist on their voicemail. Your Light on Anxiety therapist will get back to you with 24 hours on business days.  If you believe that you need therapy that provides 24 hour crisis management, please discuss this with your therapist and they will help you find a referral to a program that can best meet your needs. 

Do you accept insurance?

Currently, Light on Anxiety Treatment Center only contracts as an in network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and United Health.   Your insurance will provide a quote of benefits, not a guarantee of payment.  While the filing of insurance claims is a courtesy we extend to our in network clients, all charges are your responsibility from the date services are rendered. Reimbursement varies depending upon the level of benefits that you and your employer have chosen. Your degree of coverage is a matter between you and your insurance company and/or your employer.  I cannot guarantee that your insurance will cover my services.   You should verify with your carrier that it will be covered and to what extent.  You will be expected to pay all co-payments, deductibles, and for uncovered and ineligible services.  

For clients looking to obtain reimbursement from other insurers, we are happy to submit an out of network claim on behalf of the client to facilitate reimbursement of out-of-network mental health claims.  

We encourage you to contact your insurance company to obtain information about your mental health benefits.  Your insurance company may require us to contact them to discuss your treatment and progress. We are glad to respond to brief requests for information. In the event that extensive information or written reports are requested, Light on Anxiety staff will contact you to discuss the likely fees associated with providing these services. Insurance companies may have different levels of coverage. 

Do you accept Medicare/Medicaid? 

Light on Anxiety Treatment Center is not a covered provider for Medicare or Medicaid.  Therefore you or your legal representative accept full responsibility for payment of all charges. Usual Medicare limits to charges and services do not apply. By choosing to work with Light on Anxiety, you acknowledge that you completely forego the use of these benefits for your treatment at this center and agree that neither you nor any representative will file any claims to Medicare or Medicaid, nor will you ask the provider to do so.  You acknowledge that you freely enter this contract with the knowledge of your right to obtain Medicare covered services from providers who have not opted out of Medicare, and understand that you are not compelled to enter into private contracts with providers who have not opted out of Medicare.        

How much will treatment cost?

Light on Anxiety strives to make treatment as short term and cost effective as possible.  Light on Anxiety therapists know that it is their job to get you back into your life as quickly as possible.  Our current private pay fees are:

Master Level Clinician: 

30 minute session: $90
45 minute session: $135
60 minute session: $180 

Ph.D Level Clinician: 

30 minute session: $130 
45 minute session: $195
60 minute session: $260
 

Add-on services:

Light on Anxiety staff are available for home visits and other out of office exposure based work, when clinically necessary.  These services are pro-rated in 15’ increments at the therapist’s hourly rate. Travel time to and from the office is included in the total charge.  Light on Anxiety staff are also available via email, text and phone, for between session assistance.   In addition, Light on Anxiety staff is available to consult with other providers and write reports.  These services will also be pro-rated in 15’ increments at the therapist’s hourly rate. These calls may, or may not, be covered by insurance. 
 

What is your cancellation policy?

A $100 fee for the missed session is charged for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice, unless your therapist can fill your session time with another patient. Charges for missed appointments are not covered by insurance and are your responsibility. 

Are there any limits to confidentiality?

The information you share in therapy is confidential and will not be disclosed without your written permission except when you may pose a danger to yourself or others or as required under Illinois and Federal law.  If we ever suspect you are at risk to harm yourself or others, we are required to report this to the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) program.  If you disclose information related to suspected child or elder abuse, Light on Anxiety is obligated to report it.  If Light on Anxiety receives a court order signed by a judge to release your information, I am obligated to honor it.
 

What is your policy on electronic communication?

Email/texting/phone based communication with Light on Anxiety will be used for the purpose of simplifying and expediting scheduling/administrative matters only. You should also know that any electronic communication we receive from you and any responses that we send to you may become a part of your legal medical record.

Email/texting/phone based communication is NOT to be used to provide/receive treatment services or take the place of therapy sessions. Therefore, email/texting/phone calls should NOT be used to communicate any clinical matters, suicidal or homicidal thoughts or plans, urgent or emergency issues, serious or severe side effects or concerns, or rapidly worsening symptoms. Light on Anxiety is an out patient behavioral health center vs. an inpatient facility with availability to provide round the clock services.   Clients experiencing life-threatening symptoms, you should: Call 911, proceed to the nearest hospital emergency room, and/or call a crisis hotline such as 512-472-HELP or 1-800-SUICIDE.

Light on Anxiety makes available to our clients a web enabled wellness tool, NeuroFlow. Clients can share behavioral health information with their Light on Anxiety therapists via Neuroflow, but this information will not be reviewed until the next scheduled appointment time and therefore should not be used to communicate clinical information that needs to be managed in an urgent fashion.  Any information clients include in neuroflow is for wellness and educational purposes is not considered an extension of the Light on Anxiety treatment plan.