Let’s Talk by Phone or Online
Online Therapy, Phone Therapy & Business Consultations
If you live in Illinois, our therapists are able to provide therapy by phone or online via Zoom or Skype for your convenience. Some insurances cover this service, others do not and you would need to pay for it out of pocket. We offer telehealth services as a way to reduce interruptions and help you get the support you need when you are unable to meet in person.
Understand Yourself & Make Better Decisions
Improve Personal Relationships & Communication
Reduce Depression, Worry, Stress & Self-Criticism
Increase Confidence & Your Ability to Get Things Done
The goal of treatment is to understand the underlying causes of your symptoms and difficulties. You may not realize how your symptoms came about, or that they’d become a burden in your life, but with the first step of contacting us, you and your therapist can learn how to overcome these concerns. The therapist’s job is to think with you about your symptoms from a different perspective – one that is empowering and hopeful. Together, you will make productive changes and find better ways to deal with issues like:
ADHD
Anger
Anxiety & Stress
Codependency
Depression
Divorce
Grief & Loss
Low Self-Esteem
Mood Disorders
Phobias
Relationships
Stress
The new information and insights you gain about yourself in therapy will empower you, help you create new coping skills, and gain a new appreciation for your life.
We're in-network with BCBS PPO & Cigna. We accept self-pay clients from $150 per session, depending on the therapist, and can provide out-of-network services. Please call our office with any questions at 847-477-8244.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
To get started with the Center for Creative Arts Therapy, schedule an appointment or call 847-477-8244.
During the scheduling process, we will ask questions to match you with the therapist who will best meet your needs including service type, emotional symptoms and availability.
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BUSINESS CONSULTATIONS BY PHONE
We offer state of the art phone consultations to help business face challenges. Take a look at our Corporate Wellness Site to see examples of what we can do for you. We help improve things like:
Workplace Culture
Employee Turnover
Conflict Resolution
Crisis Management
Leadership Development
Employee Retention
Our company has a strong track record of actionable outcomes that improve company culture and resilience.
FAQs About Telehealth Online Therapy
HOW DOES TELEHEALTH WORK?
You’ll be sent a link for the video appointment. Click on it when our appointment is scheduled to start or open it through the Telehealth by SimplePractice app (download free in the app store). You can use the camera and audio on your computer or mobile device.
HOW DOES CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY WORK WITH TELEHEALTH?
During your online session you may choose to use your own art materials such as crayons, pencils, pens, paints, play-dough, etc. if you're working with one of our Art Therapists. In addition to that, your therapist may come up with many images and metaphors as you talk. This is such a powerful way of communicating your experiences and hopes for how you’ll grow and heal. You may also like to use art materials in between appointments, sparked by what comes up in the session.
If you're working with one of our Dance/Movement or Drama Therapists, you may be asked to get up and move, demonstrate an emotion with your body, or read a script!
DOES ONLINE THERAPY REALLY WORK WITH CHILDREN?
Yes! It’s possible for a therapist to conduct creative arts therapy online. Kids enjoy making art, creating movement and playing games with their therapist that can teach them coping strategies that will help them with anxiety, behavioral issues, or whatever concern brought them into counseling. Our current child clients in therapy are enjoying the connection and attention provided by their therapist in online sessions; parents are loving the structure -- and improvement in behavior -- that it provides.
In addition, we also offer parent-child interactive sessions that can improve your parenting and relationship with your child, thereby helping your child with his or her symptoms. In addition, we offer Parent Behavior Management Training sessions to help you learn how to manage your child’s behavior. Give us a call at 847.477.8244 to learn more and dial extension x3 to schedule your first session.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
To participate in Telehealth appointments from your home, you will need one of the following devices:
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Desktop computer with a webcam, speakers, a 2.5 GHz processor, and 4 GB of RAM OR
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Laptop computer with built-in webcam and speakers, a 2.5 GHz processor, and 4 GB of RAM OR
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Tablet device with built-in webcam and speakers, OR
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Smartphone with at least iOS 10 or Android 6.0
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You will also need an internet connection that is at least 10mbps. For optimal results, a reliable, high-speed internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 10 mbps will minimize connection issues and provide the best quality.
(Note: To use a smartphone, you must first download Telehealth by SimplePractice - available for iOS or Android in the app store.)
THE DAY OF THE CALL
Using a Desktop or Laptop Computer
If you plan to use a desktop or laptop, there is nothing to download prior to your appointment. Here are the steps to join:
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Approximately 10 minutes before your appointment, you'll receive an email appointment reminder.
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Click the unique link embedded in the reminder. You may have to copy and paste the link into your web browser if clicking the link does not work. Your video call screen will now open in a new tab.
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If I have already joined the call, you will see my face on the screen. If I have not, you will see yourself, as shown below.
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You will also see the Welcome prompt. Click Play test sound to test the your camera and microphone settings.
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When you are ready, click Join Video Call. This will take you straight into the video call.
Note: If you have already consented to receiving text and/or email reminders, you will continue to receive them for Telehealth appointments as well. For new clients, make sure you have provided your email and or mobile phone number so that we can enable email or text reminders.
Using a Smartphone or Tablet
If you plan to use a mobile device, here are the steps to join:
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Download Telehealth by SimplePractice (for iOS or Android) in the app store. Approximately 10 minutes before your appointment, you should receive an email appointment reminder.
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Open the reminder email on your device and click the unique link. This will open the Telehealth by SimplePractice app.
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If your therapist has already joined the call, you will see their face on the screen. If your therapist has not, you will see yourself.
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When you are ready, click Join Video Call. This will take you straight into the video call.
Note: There may be a slight delay for your therapist to join the appointment if they are finishing with a previous appointment. Please be patient and they will join momentarily.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
We recommend joining the video appointment a few minutes early to test your settings.
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If you can connect to the Internet, but are having trouble joining the video, you can use our recommended Pre-call Tool.
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To use a smartphone to join a video chat, you must first download the Telehealth by SimplePractice app available in the app store for iOS or Android.
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If you need to cancel or have questions about the appointment, please contact your therapist immediately.
What should I do if I didn’t get the reminder with the link?
Contact your therapist directly if you did not get the link so I can send it to you via email or secure messaging.
What can I do to do improve the quality of the connection?
If you live in an area with slow internet, this can really affect the speed of your connection. Here are some basic steps that can improve the overall quality:
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Use wired Ethernet instead of wifi whenever possible. Wifi will work, but you may experience a lag and interference, which can make your video and audio choppy. If you experience a lag or interference while using Wifi, we recommend moving closer to your router. However, wired internet will give you a much smoother, more consistent experience.
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Test your internet connection speed. Google provides an easy way to test your internet connection directly from the google homepage. Simply search: internet speed test. Click the blue button that says Run Speed Test. If it is under 10mbps and you’re using wifi, try using a wired internet connection or restarting your router.
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Close other programs. If you have several programs running in the background, closing them will almost certainly improve the quality. Also, make sure you’re not downloading any large files.
Note: If you are unable to connect, please contact your therapist as soon as possible to see if they can help you troubleshoot.
PREPARING YOUR SPACE
How should I prepare my space for a Telehealth appointment?
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Identify a suitable room that is quiet, private, and free of distractions.
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To keep background noise to a minimum, make sure to close any doors, shut windows, turn off the television, and keep loud pets in another room if possible.
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Consider hanging a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to avoid interruptions.
TELEHEALTH PRIVACY
Just like a face-to-face appointment, your Telehealth visit will be private and confidential.
Will the appointments be recorded?
None of our appointments will ever be recorded or stored.
Why should I try telehealth?
We are very excited about this new option because it means we can limit exposure of COVID-19 to you, your family and the community at large during this pandemic, and you can rest assure that we will continue providing necessary mental health services virtually. While we will miss our face-to-face encounters, we can still connect in a virtual space. Plus, it’s 100% HIPAA compliant and secure.
COST
Your cost for a video appointment will vary depending on the coverage you have with your insurance provider. Most insurances charge a copayment just like traditional appointments, and it most likely will be the same amount. We can determine your exact coverage and what your copay will be before we schedule an appointment. If insurance denies coverage for whatever reason, you will be responsible for the full amount of the session.
Special Note: We will continue to bill insurance companies for these telehealth services. We recommend that you contact your insurance company to see if Telehealth is covered under your insurance policy. We can be reached via email or phone if you have any questions. Our Office Administrator, Shannon Kett, can be reached at 847-477-8244 ext 2 or skett@c4creativeartstherapy.com if you have any questions regarding insurance and/or billing.