FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the process to schedule an appointment?
Please click this link for the information on scheduling an appointment.  

How do I know if my child needs therapy?
Children's behavior reflect their internal world. Sometimes children struggle to manage emotions and are not always able to directly express them, so they come out in their behaviors. These behaviors can range from very minor to severe and may include the following:
  • disruptive behaviors at home or in school 
  • trouble with peer relationships
  • easily angered, frustrated or overwhelmed 
  • over-sensitive or excessively worried and anxious
  • struggles with change or new things
  • difficulty staying focused
  • fearful of separation
  • engaging in self-harm or risky behaviors 
  • shutting down and isolating themselves
Significant life events, for example such as divorce, a loss of someone close, parental substance use, illness or learning problems can have an impact on children's behaviors.

Another thing that can have an effect on children's behavior is if the child is not giving off clear cues or the cues are not recognized by the parent.

If your child is displaying any behavioral or emotional problems or has experienced a significant life event, therapy can definitely help. 
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How might my child benefit from therapy?

Therapy provides guidance and an outlet for children to learn to successfully express their emotions. It provides a safe, consistent, nurturing space for children - outside the home - to explore, process and work through their feelings via talk or play.

Sometimes children are afraid to talk to their parents about how they feel for fear of worrying or upsetting them or causing problems in the family.

Sometimes they do not even know themselves what is wrong.

Therapy can help uncover and resolve children's problems by getting at the underlying issues. Once these issues surface, children are able to process and move through them and handle future problems much easier.

Therapy also builds children's sense of self (i.e., self-esteem, self-regard), which is important for healthy growth and development. With a solid sense of of self, children are better able to manage feelings, contain their behaviors, experience a sense of confidence, and engage in healthy relationships.
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What should I say to my young child about coming to therapy?
Regardless of the exact words parents choose, it is important to be honest, open, and empathic. Parents of young children can say something like, "I know it's been hard for you lately and you've been struggling with these feelings of sadness, anger, worry, or fear. I also know it can be hard to talk about these things and sometimes we just feel confused. So, we get to meet with someone who helps boys and girls make sense of those feelings and feel better. You get to see all her toys, play, and talk about whatever is bothering you. She will help you with that and it will be your safe place to share things."
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What is Temperament and why does it matter?

Some kids are born with more sensitive, intense, reactive, spirited temperaments. This is an important consideration in the therapy process.

These kids experience everything around them in bigger ways and their reactions seem more extreme. They tend to look highly anxious, fearful, inflexible, and easily overwhelmed or angry, aggressive and non-cooperative. 

Temperament is something to be understood, not changed. There are specific and unique ways to help kids with their temperament and learn to manage their emotions and behaviors. It is also important that we help parents understand their child’s temperament and learn how to best interact with, engage and support them.
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Why is the parent - child relationship important?

Part of what makes child therapy successful is strengthening the relationship between you and your child. Parents play a significant role in how their children develop. They serve as models for managing and regulating behavior and they need to act as “containers” for their children’s feelings. 

Our therapists not only serve in this capacity for kids in therapy sessions, but they also help parents with their relationships with their children to help their children be better regulators of emotions and behaviors. 
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What impact does Divorce have on kids?

Divorce changes everything for kids - schedules, routines, living arrangements, holidays, school events, and day to day activities.

Kids experience a roller coaster of emotions, often feel responsible for their parents separating, have mixed loyalties and different challenges in their relationships with each parent.

If you are a family dealing with divorce, therapy needs to be a neutral space where your kids can talk about how the divorce feels to them without worrying about how what they say might affect you or their custody arrangement. 

This is why Child Therapy Chicago therapists do not write court reports, testify in court or get involved in custody matters. Therapy is the protected space for your child. These other court matters are handled by specific court evaluation specialists. We can sometimes offer our thoughts to these evaluators, especially if your child wants us to, but we must stay removed from direct involvement in court matters or kids will not be willing to share with us, and that would be counterproductive to the therapy process.

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What are your credentials?
Child Therapy Chicago clinicians are licensed social workers and counselors with advanced specialty training in child development and mental health.

Our therapists have provided individual, play, group, and family therapy, have taught, been involved in research, conducted seminars and workshops, and written articles on children's issues and parenting.

All therapists are supervised by our Founder and Clinical Director, Dr. Duval Tsioles, PhD, LCSW.

License numbers available upon request.
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With what other organizations are you affiliated?
The Institute for Clinical Social Work, the Institute for Psychoanalysis, Erikson Institute and International High Achievers/Chicago's High Achievers.
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How do we find your Chicago Lakeview office?
We are on the 2nd floor, room 215 at 1300 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657.  The building is just west of the Theater Wit building.  We are in the same building as Rush Primary Care-Women's Health, Lakeview.

Enter on the east side of the building (the opposite side from the parking lot).
Take the elevator to the 2nd floor and please have a seat in the waiting area to be greeted by the therapist.
We are in a shared office building, so we kindly ask that you speak quietly in the waiting area.
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Is parking available at the Chicago Lakeview office?
Free parking is available in the building's parking lot after 5pm. During the day, there is ample free and metered street parking. Neighborhood side street permit parking restrictions do not go into effect until 6pm. However, please carefully check for any signs in case parking has changed.
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How do we find your Naperville Downtown office?
We are on the 2nd floor, Suite 290 in the St. John's Place building at 29 S. Webster St., Naperville, IL 60540.  The building is directly west close to Hugo's Frog Bar Naperville and Chase Bank Naperville at the corner of Webster and Van Buren.

Enter on the east or west side of the building.  If the door is locked, please find your therapist's name using the electronic directory and dial the number.  Come to Suite 290 on the 2nd floor and please have a seat in the waiting area to be greeted by the therapist.
We are in a shared office building, so we kindly ask that you speak quietly in the waiting area.
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Is parking available at the Naperville Downtown office?
Free parking is available in the building's large parking lot.  If necessary, there is also ample street and garage parking.
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How do we find your North Shore Northbrook Downtown office?
We are on the 2nd floor, Suite 210 at 1340 Shermer Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062. The building is directly across the street from the Village Green Park at the corner of Shermer Rd. and Meadow Rd.

Come to Suite 210 on the 2nd floor and please have a seat in the waiting area to be greeted by the therapist.  
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Is parking available at the Naperville Downtown office?
Free parking is available in the building's large parking lot.   
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How can payments be made?
We offer Credit Card, FSA and HSA payment options through our system. Please contact us to discuss any other options.
  • Our system accepts a default payment card and can charge your credit card after each session.   The system will generate a statement or super bill for you on the third day of the following month.
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Is insurance accepted?
If you wish to request reimbursement for sessions from your insurance, please let your therapist know at the first session and ask for a diagnosis DX code to be assigned. After you pay for the sessions, our system will generate a super bill for you on the third day of the following month with all the information you will need to file a reimbursement request with your insurance company yourself. This information includes:
1. Date
2. Service number and description
3. DX diagnosis code that has been assigned by your therapist
4. Therapist information including License number and NPI number
5. Group practice number

IMPORTANT: Make sure to first check with your insurance company regarding reimbursement for an "out of network" provider. Child Therapy Chicago is considered “out of network” with all insurance companies. Some of our clients have told us that their insurance reimbursements are processed quickly and they begin to receive steady reimbursement payments.  Again, make sure to check with your insurance company regarding reimbursement since your plan might be different.

If you have an HSA or FSA account, you may also be able to reimburse yourself for any portion of the session that is not reimbursed by your insurance or could use your HSA/FSA credit card to charge sessions in full, if choosing not to seek insurance reimbursement. Please check with your HSA/FSA provider.
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What is the value of obtaining treatment and not using insurance?
When you are worried about your child, you want to be able to see a specialist who understands the situation, is able to meet your specific needs, and is not restricted by insurance companies.  

There is great value in seeing a psychotherapist that you choose based on factors outside of insurance plan participation. Families choose to work with us based on our specialty expertise, skills, training, experience and reputation. 

More and more families are finding advantages to not using their mental health insurance benefits, including not only high quality care that they choose, but greater privacy and a voice in the treatment process without the insurance company dictating what you can and can't do.
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