Frequently Asked Questions

About Therapy In Illinois

Starting therapy can come with a lot of questions. At Graceful Therapy, we want the process to feel as clear, comfortable, and welcoming as possible.

We provide grace-filled, affirming therapy for individuals, couples, and families in Oswego and Aurora, Illinois, as well as telehealth therapy for clients throughout Illinois.

Below are answers to some of the most common questions people have when considering therapy.

Q: Do I need to know exactly what’s wrong before booking therapy? A: No. You do not need a diagnosis, a specific problem, or even the right words to describe how you’re feeling before reaching out for therapy. Sometimes people begin therapy because they know they’re anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, or struggling with a particular experience. Other times, the feeling is simply, “Something isn’t right,” “I don’t feel like myself,” or “I could use someone to talk to.” That is enough. The Graceful Therapy intake team can help you take the next step and connect you with a therapist whose experience may be a good match for what you’re navigating.

Q: What can I expect during my first therapy session? A: Your first therapy session is an opportunity for you and your therapist to begin getting to know one another. Your therapist will typically ask about what brought you to therapy, what has been happening in your life, relevant history, and what you hope might change through counseling. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for your therapist’s style. You do not need to tell your entire story in the first appointment. Building trust takes time, and therapy should be a collaborative process. At Graceful Therapy, our goal is to create an affirming, judgment-free environment where you can move through the process with grace rather than pressure.

Q: What should I prepare for my first therapy session? A: You don’t need to prepare a perfect explanation of what’s going on. It can be helpful to think about what led you to schedule therapy, any concerns you would especially like support with, and what you hope might feel different in the future. You may also want to write down questions you have for your therapist. Before your appointment, make sure you’ve completed any requested intake paperwork. If you plan to use insurance, have your current insurance information available as well. Most importantly, come as you are. Therapy is a place to begin exploring—not a test you need to prepare for.

Q: Do you take insurance for therapy? A: Graceful Therapy works with insurance, although participation can vary by clinician and insurance plan. Even when a therapist is in network with your insurance company, your individual plan determines how much of your therapy cost is covered. Depending on your benefits, insurance may cover anywhere from none to all of the eligible service fee. Our team is happy to help you understand available coverage. You can also call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your benefits for outpatient individual mental health services. Because insurance participation varies by therapist, we recommend contacting Graceful Therapy before scheduling if using your insurance benefits is important to you.

Q: What are my mental health insurance benefits? A: Mental health benefits are the portion of your health insurance plan that applies to services such as outpatient therapy. Your benefits may include a copay, coinsurance, deductible, or other cost-sharing requirements. Coverage varies considerably between insurance plans, even when two people have insurance through the same company. To learn about your specific benefits, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your outpatient mental health benefits. You may want to ask about your deductible, copay or coinsurance, whether authorization is required, and whether your chosen therapist is in network. Graceful Therapy can also help you explore what coverage your plan may offer.

Q: What if I don’t have insurance or don’t want to use it? A: You can choose to pay for therapy out of pocket. Graceful Therapy’s current self-pay rates are $200 for an intake session and $175 for a 50-minute therapy session. Equine therapy sessions are $200. Some additional services, including report writing and case management, may not be covered by insurance and have separate fees. Please contact Graceful Therapy for the most current rates and information before scheduling.

Q: What if I can’t afford therapy? A: Please reach out rather than assuming therapy is out of reach. Graceful Therapy offers a limited number of reduced-fee sessions for individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. We also have master’s-level intern therapists who provide lower-cost counseling under supervision. Current intern rates are $35 per session for individual counseling and $50 per session for couples or family therapy. Availability for reduced-fee services may be limited, so contact our team to ask about current options.

Q: Is therapy confidential? A: Yes. Therapy is designed to provide a private and confidential space for you to talk openly with your therapist. There are certain situations in which therapists may be legally or ethically required to disclose information, such as specific safety concerns or other circumstances required by law. Your therapist will review confidentiality, its limits, and your privacy rights with you so that you understand how your information is protected. For telehealth appointments, Graceful Therapy uses HIPAA-compliant practice management technology to help keep your information secure and private.

Q: Do you offer online or virtual therapy in Illinois? A: Yes. Graceful Therapy offers telehealth therapy for clients throughout Illinois, in addition to in-person therapy at our Oswego and Aurora offices. Telehealth allows you to meet with your therapist through secure video using a computer, tablet, or compatible mobile device. Graceful Therapy uses Sessions Health EHR for scheduling, case management, telehealth, and therapy documentation. Virtual therapy can be especially helpful when getting to the office is difficult, you have a busy schedule, or you simply feel more comfortable meeting with your therapist from home. For privacy, we recommend attending virtual sessions from a quiet, private location where you can speak comfortably.

Q: Where does Graceful Therapy offer in-person counseling? A: Graceful Therapy has two Illinois therapy offices: Oswego: 113 Main Street, Suite 203, Oswego, IL 60543 Aurora: 31 W. Downer Place, Suite 100, Aurora, IL 60506 We also offer telehealth options for clients throughout Illinois. Our physical spaces are intentionally designed to feel relaxing, inviting, and peaceful so that clients can feel comfortable from the moment they arrive.

Q: How long are therapy sessions, and how often will I attend? A: A standard Graceful Therapy session is approximately 55 minutes. How often you attend therapy can depend on your needs, goals, therapist recommendations, schedule, and insurance coverage. Some clients may benefit from meeting more frequently during certain periods, while others may eventually space appointments farther apart. You and your therapist can discuss what frequency makes the most sense for you as part of your treatment.

Q: Can I switch therapists if my therapist isn’t a good fit? A: Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with matters. Every therapist has a different personality, communication style, background, and approach, and sometimes the first match isn’t the right one. If you have concerns about the fit, you can talk with your therapist or contact the Graceful Therapy team about your options. Our goal is for therapy to feel supportive, collaborative, and aligned with your needs. You are allowed to have preferences about the person you trust with your story.

Q: Do you offer medication management? A: Graceful Therapy primarily provides psychotherapy and counseling services rather than psychiatric medication management. Therapists can support you in exploring your mental health concerns and, when appropriate, may work alongside or help you connect with medical professionals who can evaluate, prescribe, or manage psychiatric medications. If you are specifically looking for medication management, contact our team so we can clarify available resources and help you determine an appropriate next step.

Q: What’s the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist, and therapist? A: The biggest differences involve education, licensure, services provided, and whether the professional can prescribe medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. Psychiatrists can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication, and some also provide psychotherapy. A psychologist typically has a doctoral degree in psychology. Depending on their training and role, psychologists may provide psychotherapy, psychological assessment, testing, and diagnosis. In Illinois, prescribing authority is limited to appropriately qualified prescribing psychologists who meet additional state requirements. A therapist is a broader term commonly used for licensed mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy. Therapists may have backgrounds in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or related fields. Graceful Therapy has a diverse team of mental health professionals with different credentials, experiences, specialties, and therapeutic approaches.

Q: Are counselors, therapists, and social workers the same thing? A: Not exactly, although there can be a lot of overlap in what they do. “Therapist” is often used as an umbrella term for professionals who provide psychotherapy. Licensed professional counselors, clinical professional counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists may all provide therapy, depending on their credentials and scope of practice. Their education and professional training can differ, but each can bring valuable skills and perspectives to the therapy relationship. Rather than focusing only on the letters after someone’s name, it can be helpful to consider their experience with your concerns, therapeutic approach, availability, insurance participation, and, most importantly, whether you feel comfortable working with them.

Q: Can I bring my partner to therapy with me? A: Graceful Therapy works with individuals, couples, and families, so relationship and family involvement can be part of therapy when clinically appropriate. If you are attending individual therapy and would like your partner or another support person to join a session, talk with your therapist first. Your therapist can help determine whether including that person would support your therapeutic goals and explain how their involvement could affect confidentiality and the structure of the session. If the primary goal is to work on your relationship together, couples therapy may be a better fit.

Q: What if I can’t find childcare for my therapy appointment? A: We understand that childcare can be a real barrier to making time for yourself. If childcare is preventing you from attending an in-person appointment, ask your therapist or our intake team about available options. Telehealth may offer more flexibility for some parents and caregivers, although you will still want to have as much privacy and freedom from interruptions as possible during your session. Because every situation is different, please talk with your therapist before bringing a child to an appointment so you can determine what will work best.

Q: What kinds of concerns does Graceful Therapy help with? A: Graceful Therapy provides counseling for individuals, couples, and families experiencing a wide range of challenges. Our areas of focus include anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, postpartum and perinatal mental health concerns, adjustment disorders and life transitions, ADHD, relationship concerns, family conflict, and challenges affecting children and adolescents. You do not need to know which category your experience fits into before contacting us. Our intake team can learn a little about what you’re looking for and help connect you with an appropriate therapist.

Q: Does Graceful Therapy provide therapy for children, teens, couples, and families? A: Yes. Graceful Therapy offers services for individuals, couples, and families, and our team includes clinicians who work with children, adolescents, adults, parents, relationships, and families. Because each therapist has different areas of focus, availability, insurance participation, and populations they work with, our intake team can help you identify a therapist who may fit your needs.

Q: Is Graceful Therapy LGBTQ+ affirming and inclusive? A: Graceful Therapy is committed to providing an affirming, inclusive environment where people of all identities, backgrounds, and belief systems are welcome. We believe therapy should be a place where your story, identity, experiences, relationships, and values are treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is to offer a grace-filled space where clients can feel seen, heard, and supported without judgment.

Q: How do I start therapy with Graceful Therapy? A: You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. To get started, you can call Graceful Therapy at 630-733-9108 ext. 1, schedule a call with the intake team, or complete the online intake form. Our team can talk with you about what you’re looking for, insurance and payment considerations, therapist availability, and whether you prefer in-person therapy in Oswego or Aurora or telehealth therapy in Illinois. Taking the first step can feel like a big one. We’re here to make that step a little easier—and to help you find grace in the healing process.