New Patients - Anxiety Treatment Center

What to Expect

To request an appointment, please call our office at 877.559.0001 and leave a brief message on our secure voicemail stating your location preference (Deerfield, Chicago or Springfield), preferred therapist (if known), and best number to reach you. You may also submit a request via our contact form. We will get back to you within one business day to schedule your appointment. The initial assessment is scheduled for 60 minutes to review your history and begin the consultation process.

Upon arriving for your first appointment, sign in on the iPad in the waiting room if available, and take a seat. Your therapist will come out to greet you and bring you into the office at the appointed time. In order to maximize this first appointment with your therapist, please bring your completed forms with you (links to the forms are at the bottom of the page).

The assessment phase usually takes anywhere from one to three sessions, and includes a review of treatment history, your concerns, and analysis of the difficulties you are experiencing. Your therapist will share their initial treatment recommendation with you, and provide you with expectations for the range and length of treatment. We use a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, mindfulness training, and behavioral modification. Treatment will often include collaboration with outside providers, psychiatrists, or school personnel as part of an effective treatment plan. We promise you the most clinically effective, action-oriented therapy that will enable you or your child to conquer your fears and overcome anxiety.

Costs of Therapy

Our Psychotherapists charge $276 – $375 for the initial 60-minute assessment appointment. Subsequent appointments are $216 – $315 for 60 minute sessions and $162 – $236 for 45 minute sessions, depending on the experience and professional expertise of your clinician. Sessions that are not conducted within the standard time-frames are pro-rated correspondingly in 5-minute increments for longer and shorter duration services. Your therapist will discuss the optimal appointment length with you.

Payment is expected at the time of service, and may be made by check, cash, debit or major credit card. We require a credit card on file for forgotten payments, missed appointments, and out-of-office appointments. This is also a convenience for children or teens who may attend a session without their parents.

Exposure Sessions that occur outside the office are billed at the same rate as treatment that is provided inside the office. Therapists also charge for travel time to offsite locations, including your home, pro-rated in 5-minute increments. All efforts will be made to minimize travel expenses by matching you with a therapist who lives or works closest to your location.

We recognize that payment for patients undergoing intensive exposure therapy protocols may pose a financial hardship for some patients or their families. If this is true for you, you have the option of negotiating a payment plan with your therapist. The two of you will work together to decide upon a monthly amount that you will pay until your balance is paid in full.

Appointment times are reserved especially for you. If you are late, we will have less time together and you will still be billed for the entire session. If you need to cancel, please provide at least 24 hours notice. Except in the case of emergency, cancellations without 24 hours notice are charged at the standard rate.

Good Faith Estimate

Beginning January 1, 2022, You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises, call 800.985.3059, or contact us directly at 877.559.0001.

Insurance

The Anxiety Treatment Center of Greater Chicago does not participate in any insurance networks, including Medicare or Medicaid; however many insurance policies provide out-of-network reimbursement for licensed psychologists. While we do not bill insurance directly, we will provide you with a statement that includes all the required information that can be submitted for reimbursement.

By choosing not to contract with any insurance companies, including Medicare, we have the freedom to make optimal treatment decisions regarding length and type of therapy without the limitations imposed by third party payers. Extended, more frequent, or intensive treatment team services may be more cost-effective in the long run, though insurance may not reimburse for such services. We are committed to providing you with the best, most effective treatment available without having to fit into generic constraints often imposed by insurance companies. Although our initial fee may be higher, ultimately we believe that our method of cost-effective, results-oriented therapy will result in shorter treatment cycles and lower out-of-pocket costs for you.

If you would like to use your insurance, we recommend that you verify out-of-network mental health benefits before submitting a claim. We are also happy to complete any necessary paperwork that your insurance company provides. If an extensive report is needed, we will charge you our hourly fee prorated according to the time required.

Many patients use their Flexible Healthcare Spending Accounts to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for their therapy. Check with your plan about its rules and policies.