Counseling in Chicago

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

  • All counseling and dance therapy sessions for clients in Chicago IL., are currently offered online.

    At Drawing Closer Counseling and Wellness, I’m dedicated to helping you make the most of your therapy sessions. Virtual therapy provides the same meaningful support as in-person sessions, with the added flexibility of meeting from the comfort of your home.

    Through online sessions, I can help you:

    • Feel more attuned to your emotions and gain clarity about your needs.

    • Strengthen your relationships by improving communication and connection.

    • Navigate life’s challenges with tools and strategies tailored to your goals.

    Whether you’re seeking individual counseling to improve your relationships or exploring dance therapy to reconnect with yourself and your body, online sessions offer a space for growth, healing, and transformation.

    If you’re ready to begin, book your free 15-minute consultation today! I’m happy to answer any questions and help you feel confident about starting this journey with me.

  • I do not accept insurance. As an out-of-network provider, I am not in contract with any insurance panel, and all services are considered private pay. You have the option of using your PPO out-of-network benefits by billing your insurance for reimbursement. I’m happy to provide you with the Superbill/special receipt that the insurance will require.

    Download my Benefits and Reimbursement Verification Guide for your convenience. It has helpful questions you can ask your insurance when inquiring about your benefits.

    Obtenga la Guía de Verificación de Beneficios en Español para su conveniencia. 

  • All appointments are paid at time of service. After each session, I will provide you a Superbill, a receipt the insurance company requires for services. You will then submit the claim and Superbill to the insurance company directly.

    For your convenience, I have partnered with Reimbursify, a software platform that helps you get the most out of your out-of-network benefits. Easily submit your claims for out-of-network health insurance reimbursement from your smartphone. Download the app and get your first claim free- courtesy of this practice!

    File my claim

    If you’d like to contact the insurance company directly to verify your benefits, you may find the following handout helpful.

    Benefits and Reimbursement Verification Guide

    Guía de Verificación de Beneficios

  • Here are some of the reasons I decided not to accept insurance: 

    Best care and services for you: I would have to see a higher number of clients a week in order to accept insurance, which would also require additional administrative time associated with managing claims and communicating with insurance companies directly. This would take valuable time and energy that I’d like to spend on my clients, receiving continued education, and participating in clinical consultations to provide the best services possible.

    Increased confidentiality: Your personal and clinical information is not shared with a third party, in this case your insurance company. You have more control of your clinical information which is beneficial when/if a diagnosis is granted. Please note that if you do decide to bill for reimbursement the insurance company does require a diagnostic code and may request clinical information. 

    A diagnosis is not always applicable: Insurance companies require a diagnosis that becomes part of your record and may not always apply. Coverage for couples or marriage counseling for instance, varies widely among providers, and it usually requires one partner to be the identified patient (IP) to receive coverage.

    Integrative care and flexibility: In addition to counseling I also offer wellness services that are not covered by insurance. Offering private pay helps streamline the billing operations, while also providing flexibility for special offers, discounts, and packages without depending on “contracted rates” with insurance panels.   

    Freedom in the amount and length of sessions: Sessions can range anywhere from 45-55 minutes and on many occasions, insurance would only cover a certain amount of sessions. All my sessions are 60 minutes in length, with an additional 15 minutes for Therapeutic Couples Dance sessions. The option of booking a longer session when necessary could also be accommodated. 

  • I offer a flat rate of $195 an hour for all my services.

    Individual relationship counseling

    Individual dance therapy

    Premarital counseling

    Couples counseling

    Therapeutic couples dance, Therapeutic wedding dance-these services are 75 mins long due to the dance portion of the session.

    Therapeutic Couples Dance and Therapeutic Wedding Dance packages:

    4-week- $700

    5-week- $825

    Payment: Cash, Check, HSA, Credit, or Debit are accepted. Payment is required at the time of visit.

    Under the No Surprises Act you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for all private pay services.

  • During our initial appointment, we will review the completed registration forms and general information. We will go over your history and background, what brought you to counseling, and will collaborate in developing your therapy goals. 

    During therapeutic couples dance and therapeutic wedding dance sessions, we will review the registration form, go over the focus of the lesson, warm-up, and dance! The Chicago location for this service will be determined at time of booking.

  • You might have heard or used phrases like “trust your gut”, “keep your head or chin up”, or I need to “get this off my chest”. These figures of speech refer to body language, an experience that is felt in and expressed through our bodies.

    In Dance Therapy or Dance Movement Therapy, movement is used in a psychotherapeutic way to help integrate the emotional, cognitive, social, and physical aspects of the person. The goal is to bring these areas together with the intention of feeling more whole, increasing adaptability, developing new ways of coping, and improving overall well-being.

    Creative expression through dance and movement is encouraged and is at the root of Dance Therapy, however, it is not a dance class as seen in a dance studio for example. The type of dance that evolves is an expression that comes from within the client and the personal experience and emotions that are being processed in the session. Previous dance experience is not necessary to benefit from this therapy, all that is needed is a curious and open attitude to re-engage with and experience your body.

    Dance Therapy can be beneficial in identifying ways that painful relationship patterns and coping strategies have been ingrained and imprinted in the body, and it can help you connect with your intuition, feel more confident, and transform your relationships.

    Reference: American Dance Therapy Association

    Click here to learn how working with a dance therapist can help you feel more connected and improve your relationships!

  • At the beginning of the session, you may decide to check in verbally and then move or, start by moving first and then process verbally. We will discuss and develop the structure of the sessions together.

    Movement is used:

    Collaboratively, never imposed. You will always be invited into a movement experience, not expected to move if you are not ready.

    Symbolically or as a metaphor: to describe or express something that has “no words.”

    Through structured movement sequences: to increase a sense of grounding, connection, strength, flexibility, or greater expressivity.

    Through exploring different qualities of movement, usually connected to temperament and personality: preferences in the use of time, pressure, space, and breath for example.

    The use of music is welcomed and encouraged. You can bring your music or make requests, I may also make suggestions to support the theme or goal of the session.

    Click here to learn how working with a dance therapist can help you feel more connected and improve your relationships!