Common Questions

Is therapy different from counseling?

In our setting these words are used interchangeably.

What is counseling?

Counseling takes place when you, as an individual, couple or family, use the services of a professional counselor to help you resolve problems in your life.

The counselor provides a healthy environment for exploration and healing. In some cases this may include exploration of deep psychological issues and past trauma; in others it may include simpler problem solving, gaining insight, practicing life skills, and enhancing your ability to express yourself emotionally.

Will I have my choice of therapist?

Yes. We want to make sure that the counselor that you choose is compatible with your needs and fits your personality. You may also consider the counselor’s experience and gender. Some of our therapists can accommodate evening and weekend appointments, to fit your schedule.

Can I afford it?

Often the cost of counseling is not a luxury. No matter the dollar price, it may cost far more to not go to therapy when, for instance, the problem is affecting your wellbeing to the point that it impinges on your ability to sustain relationships that are important to you, to be a productive employee or student, or to survive depression, anxiety, or addiction.

Certainly all of these can have ramifications that will far exceed dollar-for-dollar the cost of therapy, even if you pay 100% out of pocket. Some of the consequences of leaving mental health issues untreated include the cost of court, fines, job loss, dropping out of school, hospitalization, divorce, etc.

Generally the earlier a problem is treated the less negative impact it will have on your life, including the financial impact.

Fortunately Kevin Elliott Counseling Inc. has a staff trained to help find a way to make counseling services available to nearly everyone.

Here are some of the arrangements we have enlisted with a variety of Second Party Payers to make counseling more affordable:

Local Insurance Plans
Our therapists are covered under virtually every local insurance plan. Because some of these plans limit the number of therapists included in their network, some plans may not cover every therapist on our staff. We will match you with a therapist who is covered and who fits your needs.

Our staff will confirm insurance benefits and whether or not pre-authorization for services is required. As a service to you we will also handle the insurance billing. You will only be responsible for what the insurance company will not pay, such as deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance.

EAP
Occasionally, clients have benefits that will provide therapy services free of charge to the client. The most common example of this is the employee assistance program (or EAP) benefit provided by many employers. EAP benefits often provide a limited number of therapy or assessment sessions and are usually initiated by the client contacting the human resources office of the employer offering the benefits.

Community Resources
Some clients are able to access services through arrangements with particular agencies in the community who contract with Kevin Elliott Counseling Inc. to provide therapy services. In such cases, there is no charge for services to the client, since services are paid for by the contracting agency. Examples of such agencies include, but are not limited to: Catholic Charities (CC); Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD); The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS); The Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS); Developmental Services Center (DSC); Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI); and several others.

Medicare
We are approved for Medicare payments, and billing is handled similarly to insurance billing.

Medicaid
Kevin Elliott Counseling Inc. is not approved for Medicaid payments; we will always arrange an appropriate referral to a covered provider, or work with you on a sliding scale and payment plan.

What is the fee per session?

(Please see "Can I afford it?" to determine if you are eligible for second party payment.)

The cost of therapy varies a great deal. At Kevin Elliott Counseling Inc., the standard charge for a therapy session is $125.00, with a $150.00 charge for an initial assessment session.

Sliding Scale: If the charge presents a financial hardship, we also have a sliding scale, lowering the charge for a session to as low as $65.00, or whatever level of payment is affordable to a client within that range. The same charges apply to such special services as anger management sessions and reporting.

Group sessions cost $65, with the sliding scale potentially lowering the charge to as low as $35, or whatever level of payment is affordable to a client within that range.

What payment do you accept?

We accept cash and check. Upon request for multiple sessions are able to accept VISA, MC and Discover as well.

Does therapy work?

Yes! Research indicates consistent success at least two-thirds of the time. Matching particular therapeutic techniques to specific issues can increase the chance of a desirable outcome to over eighty percent. Choosing a proven therapist, taking the selection and the work seriously, and investing effort in therapy, all contribute to the likelihood of a positive experience and beneficial results.

Of course your motivation is a contributing factor, as is the nature of the issue. In certain situations a short-term, solution-focused approach is preferred. In this case you will meet on a dozen or fewer occasions. However, many individuals meet with their therapists for several months or years, and this is quite healthy and productive. The course of therapy may also vary according to the philosophy or personal style of the therapist.

How often will I see my therapist?

Together with your therapist you will decide on whether it would be best to meet weekly or biweekly, or more or less frequently. This can vary if you have a schedule that requires flexibility. Occasionally, as with follow-up care, your therapist will likely agree to see you on an “as needed” basis.

How long will each session last?

Sessions will last 50 minutes. Please arrive on time and allow for 60 minutes sessions in case there is a time management issue.

What happens if I have to cancel a session?

Except in an emergency, please cancel at least 48 hours before your appointment. You will not be billed for these cancellations.

Is therapy different for different age groups?

Therapists adjust the therapeutic process to suit the particular needs of the client, and one example of how needs vary is by age or developmental level. Different clients may present different levels of development, be it intellectual, emotional, or social, and the therapist may shape the therapeutic interaction accordingly.

The therapist also may recognize different modes of communication for different ages of clients; for example, children communicate very much through their play activity, so play therapy is often the therapy of choice for children.

In turn, therapists may vary in their experience and preference with regard to working with particular age groups, and so may sometimes refer to colleagues whose specializations better suit the age or developmental abilities of a particular client.

How does individual therapy differ from couples or family therapy?

Individual therapy takes place between a therapist and just one client, with the focus of therapeutic work being solely on that client. Just as importantly, the therapeutic relationship is solely between that client and the therapist.

Couples therapy consists of a therapist working with both individuals who identify as a couple. The focus of the work is on the dynamics of the relationship between the two clients and on issues presented by both. While individual issues emerge in couples work, they are addressed in the context of the couple. The therapeutic relationship exists between the therapist and both individuals … each get "equal billing."

Family therapy involves a therapist working with members of a family. As one might imagine, the process may become increasingly complex in its focus on various relationship dynamics and modes of communication. Often, process tools are taught and utilized which enable the family to continue the therapeutic process outside of the sessions. As in couples work, the therapeutic relationship exists between the therapists and all members participating in family therapy.

What is group therapy?

Group therapy takes place between a therapist (or co-therapists) and a group of clients who usually have no other outside relationship, but who have come together to explore some common ground, whether it is the process of self-exploration and growth, or a particular presenting issue, such as anger management or coping with chronic pain. Groups also may be defined in part by a particular population, so may be limited, for example, by age or gender.

Although each participant brings issues and history into the group, the therapeutic work takes place as individuals interact with each other, bringing this material out into the open and presenting opportunities for change, all within the relationships that are developed between clients with one another and with the therapist. It is the therapist’s responsibility to recognize these dynamics and to facilitate communication. Groups may be ongoing or have a specific end date. Members commit to respecting each other’s confidentiality.

What is confidentiality?

Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of the therapeutic process. In essence, confidentiality is the assurance that a client may share information with a therapist (or group member) without any inhibition that could result from fear that the information will be revealed to any other person, since revealing personal information to others could result in negative outcomes, which could affect relationships or jobs, could result in various forms of reprisal, or could simply result in self-consciousness or embarrassment.

The need for confidentiality extends to children and adolescents too, and it is important for parents to understand that this is needed for therapy to “work,” although it must be identified at the outset that parents also have legal rights to be informed about the course of therapy.

Other limits to confidentiality, that must be discussed with clients (but which will not be described in detail here), include mandatory reporting of child or elder abuse; responding to a subpoena and court order; in certain circumstances, warning potential victims of explicit threats of violence; and certain other conditions, such as releasing limited information for the purpose of receiving insurance payment. Information may also be released to any other party, with the informed consent of the client.

What is my first step?

Talk to our staff to determine which therapist will be right for you, explore benefits and payment options, and set your first appointment. Call 217-398-9066.