anxiety and depression therapy in chicago

Anxiety and Depression Therapy

We heal when we can develop a new relationship to our feelings and experiences. For many of us, the complexity of being fully alive is difficult and we struggle to be with all it holds - loss, grief, pain, aloneness, illness, and fear. And as a result we may struggle with anxiety or depression. At LifePath we believe that anxiety and depression are not feelings, but states that our body and brains move into in an attempt to manage what feels unmanageable.

Man with tangle of cables in front of his face to represent anxiety
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Your anxiety or depression is a signal that something needs tending to.

Our task is to support you in figuring out what that is! You can change your relationship to anxiety and depression, so that overwhelming fear or deep despair is no longer holding you back. 

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Anxiety Therapy

What starts out as fear may snowball into a panic, avoidance, overwhelm, and feeling out of control.

You may feel caught up in intrusive or obsessive thoughts, or stuck in engaging in behaviors or choices that feel compulsive. Sometimes it’s hard to even understand why we are feeling so anxious. We may have a cognitive answer - worry for our loved ones, the conflict in our relationships, flying on an airplane, being overwhelmed at work, worry about what others think about us, concern about the challenges our world is experiencing.

But understanding our anxiety doesn’t necessarily lead to change in how we experience it. Our therapists are here to support you in creating real change, going beyond cognitive understanding of healing. How do we do this? By using the container of therapy to help you develop deeper insight, try on new ways of being and doing, and empowering you to choose how you want to respond to your anxiety and help you step out of reactive patterns.

Man with tangle of cables all around him for symbolism

“I used to think healing meant ridding the body and the heart of anything that hurt. It meant putting your pain behind you, leaving it in the past. But I’m learning that’s not how it works. Healing is figuring out how to coexist with the pain that will always live inside of you, without pretending it isn’t there or allowing it to hijack your day. It is learning to confront ghosts and to carry what lingers.” 

― Suleika Jaouad, Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted

Man with head in hands in yellow sweater

Depression Therapy

When we experience depression, it can take every ounce of energy to get out of bed or attempt to care for ourselves. The things we “could do to help” often just feel too overwhelming and burdensome. The things that used to matter to us can feel empty and pointless. Sometimes the things we want most for ourselves are also connected to our deepest pains and fears.

When you’re in this place it can feel overwhelming to even think about seeing a therapist - maybe there’s a fear you have around feeling like you need to fill the space with words when you don't have the energy to engage, or a worry that talking about sad things will just make you more sad.

But therapy is not a place of pressure, expectation, or just sinking into sadness. You are not alone, and there is no rush to hurry up and fix it. Together we can work at a safe pace to understand and care for the underlying difficulties contributing to your depression.

Woman looking sad on her couch
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Engaging in therapy for anxiety and depression can look like:

  • Inviting unconscious patterns into awareness and opening opportunities for greater agency and meaningful change

  • Building skills to manage the activation of anxiety or depression, understanding your nervous system response

  • Identifying and understanding thought patterns of perfectionism, control, preservation, or self-loathing 

  • Developing increased capacity for mindfulness to differentiate between core values and anxiety/depression patterns

  • Attuning and attending to self with kindness and curiosity

  • Developing a toolkit to manage panic attacks, urges for self harm, or suicidal ideation

  • Understanding the role of shame in your experience of anxiety and depression

  • Engaging in an exploration of what you most deeply want for your life, and identifying what’s getting in the way

Therapy won’t make you more depressed and anxious. We promise. Come to therapy even though you might be skeptical and scared to start.

Insurance & Billing FAQ

  • LifePath Therapy Associates is an “in-network” insurance provider for Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO, BCBS Blue Choice plans, Blue Edge, BCBS Anthem, United Healthcare/Optum, Medicare (for ages 65+), Aetna Medicare Advantage and Humana. We are also in network with Northwestern Physician Partners BCBS HMO Site numbers 475 and 489. We are also an “out of network” provider for Cigna and confirm benefits and submit claims on your behalf directly to these insurance companies.

    While our team accepts all of the insurances listed above, not every clinician is paneled with every insurance listed. Please see our clinicians’ profiles to see which insurances they each accept. You are responsible for any co-pays, co-insurance, or deductibles as outlined in your plan.

    If you are utilizing insurance for therapy, please note that we are required to submit a diagnosis to your insurance company for services to be covered

  • LifePath’s billing team is available to support you with understanding your insurance benefits. While LifePath will verify coverage at the beginning of services, we encourage you to call your insurance’s customer service line and ask for Outpatient Mental/Behavioral Health. Ask the following questions:

    • What is the benefit eligibility for in-network and out-of-network providers?

    • What is the co-payment or co-insurance amount?

    • Is there an annual deductible for my plan?

      • With a deductible, although your insurance may cover a percentage of the costs, you may have to pay a certain amount out-of-pocket until you meet your annual deductible so clarify the current balance.

      • What is the percentage paid after the deductible is met?

    • Is pre-certification or authorization required? If so, the LifePath Billing Department can discuss this with you more in detail.

  • Item descriptionInsurance co-pays range from $0-$50, on average. Our Intake Specialists can help you verify your insurance co-pay and coverage details. Call 312-940-3655 ext 2 for assistance.

  • You can elect for a self-pay, out of pocket fee, if you choose not to use your insurance benefits or if LifePath Therapy Associates is not an in-network provider. Payment by the patient is expected at the time of service. Self pay clients have the right to a Good Faith Estimate.

  • If LifePath is “out of network” with your insurance provider, we are still able to determine an estimate of your out of network costs prior to the first session. For Cigna, we are able to submit “out of network” claims on your behalf. For other insurance providers, we can provide superbills to facilitate partial reimbursement directly from your health insurance company back to you, in accordance with your policy.

  • You can pay by cash, personal check, or credit card. All clients are required to have a credit card on file, but we do not bill for co-pays or deductibles until we submit and receive the claim back from your insurance. You are also able to utilize a Health Speaking Account or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) debit card for payment.

  • No, we do not accept any forms of Medicaid or Meridian, which includes BCBS Community. We are also unable to accept self pay for individuals with any form of Medicaid.