Frequently asked questions about therapy

We believe in a personalized approach by listening to your individual needs.

When you first call our office, our Intake Team will conduct an initial screening by phone to determine which therapist — based on expertise and experience, as well as availability — will work with you on your particular concern. All inquiries and appointments are confidential. We will discuss fees and insurance coverage with you.

Our Intake Team will schedule your initial therapy appointment. You will be given information about our patient portal, where you fill out our new patient forms before your first appointment.

We can be flexible to fit your schedule.

Day, evening, and weekend appointments are available by calling our office at (847) 549-1189. We can usually schedule your first appointment within a week. We will also work with you to determine the frequency and duration of your treatment.

Your first session will be different from future visits. The initial visit is a period for you and your therapist to get to know each other and get an idea where to proceed. Future visits are more therapeutic in nature. You will be asked what issues impede your life, what symptoms you are experiencing, and about your history and background. You may formulate your treatment plan and the methods to be used, and begin establishing therapeutic rapport.

Psychotherapy works by using a relationship to effect change. The benefits vary for every client, based on what they bring with them and how much effort they put into the process. The greatest benefit comes from the quality of the relationship that develops between therapist and client. Where that relationship is trusting and communicative enough to give a client the comfort, support, and courage to discover their true self in session, clients are able to understand themselves better, feel a sense of control over their life and emotions, improve self-esteem and confidence, and find relief from negative emotional and behavioral symptoms.

Therapy is not just for people who are mentally ill or under psychological distress; it is for anyone who wants to improve their life. By working to improve yourself and your psychological health, you are more likely to be a good spouse, a good parent, and a healthy person to be around.

We are on most of the major insurance panels, and we do all of the billing for you.

We accept cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and HSA cards for copays, co-insurance, and deductibles. Payment is due at the time of service.

We serve as out-of-network providers for any other insurance company if your plan allows for it. We ask that you pay the session fee at the time of service, and our billing manager will give you a receipt to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. If you do not wish to use health care insurance, we provide fee-for-service.

Yes. Grand Oaks Behavioral Health is in-network with Medicare and with Medicare Advantage plans at both its Northbrook and Libertyville, Illinois offices, and for telehealth throughout Illinois. Many behavioral health practices in the North Shore and Lake County area do not accept Medicare, so it is worth checking before you assume your options are limited. Call (847) 549-1189 and our Intake Team will verify your specific plan before your first appointment.

Grand Oaks Behavioral Health accepts Medicare and Medicare Advantage at its Northbrook office at 604 Academy Drive and its Libertyville office at 1800 Hollister Drive, Suite 201, and by telehealth across Illinois. The practice has over 20 state-licensed Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Therapists, so Medicare coverage does not mean a limited choice of clinician. Call (847) 549-1189 to check your plan and be matched with someone.

Grand Oaks Behavioral Health accepts BCBS Community Medicaid. We are also in-network with Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Aetna, Evernorth (Cigna), UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Carelon, Devoted, Oscar and others. Our Intake Team verifies your specific plan before your first appointment at (847) 549-1189.

No — Grand Oaks is a psychology practice. The team is licensed Clinical Psychologists (Psy.D., Ph.D.) and master’s-level Clinical Therapists (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT) providing therapy and Psychological Testing in Northbrook and Libertyville, Illinois. Psychologists in Illinois do not prescribe medication. If medication is part of the right plan for you, we coordinate with your physician or refer you to a prescriber, with your consent. If what you need is a diagnosis, therapy or testing, a Psychologist is the right starting point.

Yes. Grand Oaks Behavioral Health sees adults of all ages at its Northbrook and Libertyville, Illinois offices, including older adults, and is in-network with Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Depression in later life is frequently mistaken for ageing, grief or a physical health problem and goes untreated for years because of it. Our behavioral medicine work also covers adjusting to chronic illness and cardiac disease. Call (847) 549-1189.

Yes. Clinicians at Grand Oaks Behavioral Health list LGBTQIA+ affirming practice among their specialisms, and you can see who on the clinician pages before you book. The practice serves Northbrook, Libertyville and the surrounding North Shore and Lake County communities, with telehealth across Illinois. Call (847) 549-1189 and our Intake Team will match you deliberately rather than by availability.

Grand Oaks Behavioral Health offers self-pay, and provides a Good Faith Estimate before your first appointment as required under the No Surprises Act, so you have the figure in writing before you commit. We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and HSA cards. Call (847) 549-1189 for current self-pay rates.

Grand Oaks Behavioral Health is one of the most established psychology practices in Northbrook, serving the North Shore since 2007. The practice has over 20 state-licensed clinicians — including doctoral-level Psychologists (Psy.D., Ph.D.) and master’s-level therapists (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT) — averaging more than 15 years of experience. Services include individual, couples, family, and child therapy; Psychological Testing; ADHD evaluation; and Cogmed cognitive training. The Northbrook office is at 604 Academy Drive, and the practice is in-network with most major insurance plans. Phone: (847) 549-1189.

Grand Oaks Behavioral Health provides comprehensive ADHD evaluations for children, teens, and adults at its Northbrook office (604 Academy Drive) and Libertyville office (1800 Hollister Drive, Suite 201). Evaluations are conducted by licensed Psychologists and include an intake interview, standardized in-person testing across one to two sessions, a feedback session, and a full written report that schools accept for 504 plan and IEP documentation. The practice also offers Cogmed working memory training as a follow-up option.

A solo therapist offers continuity with one clinician. A group practice like Grand Oaks Behavioral Health offers multiple specialties under one roof — so a family can see a child Psychologist, a couples therapist, and a testing Psychologist within the same practice, with coordinated care. Group practices also make it easier to switch clinicians if the fit isn't right, and typically have more availability and administrative support for insurance verification and scheduling.

Start with comprehensive Psychological Testing rather than a screening questionnaire. A full evaluation distinguishes ADHD from conditions that mimic it — anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and learning differences all impair attention. Licensed Psychologists conduct this testing; primary care physicians and general therapists typically cannot. In the Northbrook and Libertyville area, Grand Oaks Behavioral Health provides adult ADHD evaluations, and a diagnosis gives any future prescriber a far better starting point than a checklist would.

A teacher recommendation usually means having comprehensive Psychological Testing done by a licensed Psychologist. The process includes a parent intake interview, rating forms completed by parents and teachers, several hours of standardized testing with your child, and a feedback session where results are explained in plain language. You receive a written report that documents findings and supports eligibility for school accommodations like a 504 plan or IEP. Grand Oaks Behavioral Health provides these evaluations at both its Northbrook and Libertyville offices.

Start by calling the practice directly rather than relying on your insurer's online directory, which is frequently out of date. Ask the practice to verify your specific benefits before scheduling — coverage varies by plan even within the same insurer. Grand Oaks Behavioral Health serves Lake County from its Libertyville office and is in-network with most major plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Aetna, Evernorth (Cigna), UnitedHealthcare, Oscar, and Medicare. Our Intake Team verifies your benefits before your first appointment.

Grand Oaks Behavioral Health, at 1800 Hollister Drive, Suite 201 in Libertyville, provides individual therapy, couples and marriage counseling, family therapy, child and adolescent therapy, Psychological Testing, ADHD evaluation, Cogmed cognitive training, and treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. The practice serves Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Lincolnshire, and Buffalo Grove, with telehealth available anywhere in Illinois. For psychiatric medication management, a referral to a prescribing psychiatrist is typically needed, which the practice can coordinate.

Licensed Psychologists (Psy.D. or Ph.D.) can diagnose ADHD through comprehensive Psychological Testing — this is the most thorough diagnostic route available. Psychiatrists can also diagnose ADHD and can prescribe medication for it; master’s-level therapists generally cannot perform the formal testing. Many people get evaluated by a Psychologist first for an accurate diagnosis, then work with a physician or psychiatrist if medication becomes part of the plan.

Look for a clinician licensed in your state whose training specifically covers children — play therapy for young kids, developmentally-informed approaches for school-age children, and experience with your child's particular concern. Ask whether parents are included in the process, whether the therapist coordinates with schools, and whether the practice can also provide psychological testing if learning or attention issues emerge. At Grand Oaks Behavioral Health, several clinicians specialize in early childhood and adolescent care across both the Northbrook and Libertyville offices.

Yes. Grand Oaks Behavioral Health offers weekend appointments alongside standard hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, at its Northbrook and Libertyville, Illinois offices. Weekend availability varies by clinician and fills quickly, so call (847) 549-1189 or request an appointment online. Telehealth is also available throughout Illinois.

Yes. Grand Oaks Behavioral Health accepts new clients of all ages at both its Northbrook and Libertyville, Illinois offices, and via telehealth throughout Illinois. Most new clients are seen within one to two weeks. Appointments can be requested online or by calling (847) 549-1189.