FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Many people ask about the differences between various mental health professionals.  Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD) who specialize in psychiatry and prescribe medications.  Psychologists are doctors (Ph.D. or Psy.D,) who provide psychotherapy and do not prescribe medications. Psychologists are the only professionals who can conduct psychological assessments (such as neuropsychological testing, ADHD comprehensive testing, and other diagnostic testing).

  Therapy or consulting sessions typically last 55-60 minutes for adults, couples, or families. For children, sessions may be split into 25 minutes with the child and 25 minutes with the parent(s), or parent(s) and child together.  Group therapy may last longer than one hour.  Psychological assessment testing may last 2-6 hours, and is spread over multiple sessions.  Fees vary by treatment duration and type of service (therapy, consulting, group, or assessment).  The amount of time for each service will be discussed in the first session.   

Payment is due at the time of service, unless covered by insurance.  We accepts cash, check, HSA, FSA, or the following credit cards: Visa and Master Card.  Please have your insurance card available when you make an appointment. We are happy to verify your benefits prior to your appointment. 

SCC currently works with the following insurance companies: 

• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, CareSource Indiana Medicaid ( Anthem, MDwise, MHS and traditional medicaid) 
• Managed Health Services – Medicare Part B 

If your insurance carrier is not listed here, please contact our office to determine your coverage. 

Psychology services are confidential, which means that most information you share with us will be kept private.  Information can be released with your written permission (or parent’s permission for children under 18) to another doctor, teachers, family members, or other people you designate.  There are a few situations in which therapists are required by law to break confidentiality in order to protect people.  If therapist learns that someone is planning to seriously injure himself/herself or someone else, or gains information about possible child or elder abuse that is currently happening, the therapist has to tell authorities to keep people safe.  Only information about these risky situations needs to be disclosed, and we will not share unnecessary information with outside parties.  If you are discussing something that might require a therapist to talk to other authorities (i.e. hospital or safety services), then the therapist will discuss this with you.  Therapists will go over the parameters of confidentiality in the first session, and this information will also be provided in written format.  

Upon beginning any service, patients must sign a written consent to treatment, which outlines the agreement between patient and provider about what service will be provided.  Other forms may be necessary if you wish for us to share information (such as a testing report or therapy summary) with other people.  Sometimes, therapists request patients, parents, or significant others to fill forms with your permission to assist in the therapy. 

Our treatment approach utilizes the following formats based on the specific needs of our clients: 

• Individual Adult Psychotherapy 
• Couples and Family Therapy 
• Group Therapy – Men’s or Women’s Interpersonal Relations – Substance Abuse 
• Child Therapy – Parent and Child Conjoint Therapy 
• ADHD Screening 
• Psychological Assessment – Fitness for Duty Evaluations – Complicated Psychiatric Diagnosis – Neuropsychological Assessment (both cognitive impairments and learning disabilities) – Emotional and Psychological Testing for Mood, Anxiety, and Interpersonal Difficulties