HOW DO I START THERAPY WITH YOU?

Please send an email to ariel@gainespsychotherapy.com letting me know that you are interested in beginning therapy, your general scheduling availability, and a good number where I can reach you, and we can set up a call to discuss how we might work together.

​

WHAT IS YOUR FEE?

My fee is $185 for a 53-minute individual therapy session.

​

DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?

Yes! I am in network with BCBS of Illinois, PPO. If I am not in network with your insurance provider, I can offer monthly invoices (superbills) to submit for reimbursement (this typically covers a good percentage of my fee). Please check directly with your plan to verify coverage. You may be asked for a CPT code to verify their reimbursement rate--the CPT code for a 53-minute individual therapy session is 90837.

​

DO YOU OFFER A SLIDING SCALE?

Yes! I believe therapy should be accessible to everyone, and I reserve some reduced-fee weekly appointments, based on financial hardship. Please contact me to discuss further.

Note: I currently do not have openings for sliding scale appointments but would be happy to help connect you with someone who does. 

​

HOW OFTEN WILL I SEE YOU?

Holding regular therapy sessions allows for the work to develop and deepen, which is important for depth psychotherapy. I typically see my clients one or two times per week and can adjust based on need.

​

DO YOU OFFER TELEHEALTH SESSIONS? DO YOU OFFER IN PERSON SESSIONS?

I currently hold my sessions via a telehealth platform. I do plan to open a physical office in the future, but for now all my work is remote.

​

CAN I SEE YOU IF I LIVE OUTSIDE ILLINOIS?

Possibly!  I belong to the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which allows me to provide telehealth services in participating states. To see a map of participating states, please click here.

​

DO YOU SEE COUPLES OR FAMILIES? DO YOU OFFER PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING?

I do not currently see couples or families or perform psychological testing. I am trained in these areas, however, and am happy to help unpack the findings of any testing reports or couple's therapy sessions during our individual work. I would be happy to share referrals with you for local couples or family clinicians and testing psychologists I know and trust.

​

WHAT IS YOUR LATE CANCELLATION POLICY?

I will hold a regular spot just for you, so I do ask that you let me know as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. A $150 late cancellation fee will be applied to any missed session not cancelled or rescheduled with 24 hours notice. This excludes unavoidable emergencies such as illness.

​

HOW WILL I KNOW IF YOU ARE THE RIGHT PSYCHOLOGIST FOR ME?

This is an important question. Therapeutic work involves allocating time, resources, and vulnerability. I recommend considering logistical factors (scheduling availability, insurance coverage) as well as personal factors (my training and areas of expertise, therapeutic approach, and how you feel when we’re together). You may wish to think through some of the questions that will inform your decision and schedule a complementary 15 minute phone introduction. We can also schedule a first session and talk about any concerns in a deeper and more ongoing manner.

​

DO YOU OFFER CLINICAL SUPERVISION AND CONSULTATION, AND TEACHING TO OTHER CLINICIANS?

Yes! I have years of experience offering clinical supervision, consultation, and teaching--this work is very meaningful to me. Please see the Clinical Consultation, Supervision, and Teaching section for more information or contact me about availability.

​