How often are sessions scheduled?

We offer flexible appointment times so that your sessions will work with your schedule. Typically, weekly sessions are most helpful to gain momentum, at least initially. Crisis appointments are also available on a limited basis.

Is what I talk about confidential?

Yes—what you say in our office stays in our office, within the limits of the law. Clients are protected by privacy regulations set forth by HIPAA. Notice of Privacy Practices

How long does therapy take?

Therapy sessions are about 53-55 minutes long. How long you stay in therapy, whether weeks, months, or years, is entirely your choice and varies based on your needs. Your therapist will work with you to determine the best course of treatment.

What are the typical issues that you treat with therapy?

A wide variety of concerns could lead someone to seek support from psychotherapy. The most common challenges are struggles with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, marital problems, job dissatisfaction, grief and loss, family problems, or difficulties with stress management.

What’s your cancellation policy?

If you need to miss an appointment, we require at least 24 hours of notice of cancellation. If for any reason you do not provide 24 hours’ notice, you will be charged a $135 fee for your appointment. Payment is due at the time of your session.

Where are you located and does the office have ADA accessibility?

Our office is located at 25 East Washington Street, Suite 1835 in the downtown Chicago loop. The building, bathrooms and all offices in our suite are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

What are the parking and public transit options available nearby?

Parking: To find the cheapest parking, we recommend using the spot hero app, there is valet parking at the Macy’s next door, parking under Millennium/Grant Park, and other garage options in the area. Public Transportation: The office is located very close to several train stops right in the heart of the Chicago loop. The Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Line is at the Washington/Wabash stop right outside the building. Additionally, the Washington Blue line and Lake Red line are just a few short blocks away.

Do you take insurance?

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, and Aetna Medicare Advantage. We are also in network with two BCBS HMO groups: Northwestern Physician Partners (BCBS HMO Site Numbers 475 and 489) and Advocate (BCBS HMO Site Numbers 099, 124, 294, 302, 331, 357, 398, 464, 474, and 600). If you have a BCBS HMO insurance plan your HMO Site number is listed on the front of your insurance card. Please note that we are only in network for the site numbers listed above. 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

What insurance plans do you not accept?

LifePath does not accept the following insurance plans: Medicaid plans BCBS Community Meridian Cigna

Do you accept any forms of Medicaid?

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.

How do I verify my insurance benefits?

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.

What if you don’t accept my insurance or I choose not to utilize my mental health benefits?

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 .

Can I still use my Insurance if LifePath is Out of Network?

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.

What payments are accepted?

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.

EMDR therapy in chicago

EMDR Therapy

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps people heal from the symptoms and emotional distress left behind by disturbing or traumatic life experiences.

It works with your brain’s natural capacity to heal, so painful memories can lose their charge and stop running the present.

Healing that starts with the body.

EMDR is a bottom-up approach. It begins with what you notice in your body, including sensations, emotions, and memories, and doesn’t require you to talk through every detail of what happened.

How EMDR Works

Your brain has a natural information processing system that helps you make sense of experiences and move through them. When something overwhelming happens, that system can get stuck, leaving memories that still feel raw years later.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or tones, to support that system so it can finish the work it started.

EMDR works across three timeframes: past, present, and future.

The past. Reprocess distressing memories from childhood or earlier in life that may have formed the root of your current pain, including core beliefs and patterns your mind and body developed to protect you.

The present. Work with current triggers, daily stressors, and situations that are sparking intense reactions right now.

The future. Build new, supportive responses for upcoming situations, so you can face them feeling prepared and with a sense of agency.

Distressing experiences can happen in any season of life, from a difficult birth to the loss of someone you love. EMDR can help with recent experiences as well as long-ago ones.

“How you respond to the people in your life, and how they respond to you, is based just as much on past experiences as it is on whatever either of you does or says in the present.”

― Francine Shapiro, Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy

How to Get Started With EMDR Therapy

At LifePath, we don’t see EMDR as an outside protocol applied from the top down. We believe it works best inside a connected, supportive relationship with your therapist, and that the groundwork matters as much as the reprocessing itself. Because readiness matters, we begin with trauma-informed therapy rather than going straight to reprocessing.

Our intake team will match you with a LifePath therapist to start the assessment process: understanding your history, what you hope for from therapy, and what feels safe for you.

In those early sessions, you’ll build the foundation EMDR depends on: connecting with internal resources, learning ways to soothe yourself, and developing greater stability.

When you’re ready and EMDR is a good fit, we’ll connect you with an EMDR-trained clinician for desensitization and reprocessing within LifePath as openings allow, a trusted referral partner, or both.