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Frequently Asked Questions
Starting therapy involves a lot of small unknowns. How long are sessions, what does the first one feel like, will my insurance cover it, can we meet online. Here are the questions we hear most often, answered the way we would answer them on the phone.
What would you like to know first?
Jump to the section that's most relevant, or scroll through. If you do not find your answer here, call us at (630) 447-8818 or send a message through the contact form. We respond within one business day.
Getting Started
The basics: who therapy is for, how to schedule, and what happens before your first session.
Counseling is not just for people in crisis or with a diagnosed mental illness. Most of our clients come in because something in their life feels stuck. A relationship that keeps hitting the same wall, anxiety that has been building for months, grief that has not eased, a transition that turned out harder than expected.
If something has been weighing on you for weeks and the usual ways of coping are not working, that is reason enough to talk to someone.
The fastest way to start is our online intake form. It takes under two minutes. Once you submit it, our Care Coordinator will call you back to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with the therapist who fits your needs.
You can also call us directly at (630) 447-8818 or email support@panahicounseling.com. We respond to every inquiry within one business day.
It is a short phone call with the therapist you would be working with, not a sales pitch. You tell them briefly what is going on, they tell you how they typically work with that issue, and you both decide whether it feels like a fit. If it does not, we will help you find someone who is a better match, even if that means referring you elsewhere.
Fit between client and therapist is one of the strongest predictors of whether therapy works, which is why we offer this call before you book.
No. Asking for help with something that has been hard to carry takes more strength than continuing to push through alone. We hear the worry behind this question often. It usually sounds like "what will people think" or "I should be able to handle this myself." Most of our clients arrive having tried to handle it themselves for a long time before they made the call.
You can read our therapists' bios and specialties to get a sense of who works with what. When you submit the intake form, our Care Coordinator will reach out to schedule the free consultation and recommend a match based on what you are bringing in, your scheduling needs, and whether you prefer in-person or online sessions.
If after a session or two the fit is not right, tell us. Switching therapists within the practice is straightforward, and we would rather you find the right person than stay out of politeness.
Our office is at 128 S County Farm Rd, Suite C, Wheaton, IL 60187, in DuPage County. We serve clients from Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Carol Stream, Winfield, Warrenville, and the surrounding suburbs. We also offer secure online therapy to anyone located in Illinois.
What to Expect
What happens in sessions, how long therapy lasts, and how to know if it is working.
Sessions are 50 minutes. For couples and some intensive trauma work, your therapist may suggest 80-minute sessions if that fits better. You will discuss session length during your consultation.
The first session is mostly about getting to know each other. Your therapist will ask about what brought you in, some background on your life and family, and what you are hoping therapy will help with. You do not need to come in with a polished story. Most people are not sure where to start, and that is fine.
By the end of the first session, you and your therapist will have a working sense of what to focus on. Some clients leave feeling lighter just from saying things out loud. Others feel a little tender, which is normal.
Most clients start weekly. Weekly sessions build momentum, which matters in the first month or two when you and your therapist are still mapping out the patterns. Once things stabilize, many clients shift to every other week, then monthly as needed.
If you are in a crisis, weekly is usually best until things settle. Therapy is not meant to last forever. Your therapist will check in regularly about how often makes sense.
It depends on what you are working on. Some clients come in for a specific issue, like preparing for a wedding or processing a single difficult event, and finish in eight to twelve sessions. Others working through long-standing patterns, attachment wounds, or complex trauma may stay for a year or more.
You and your therapist will set goals together and revisit them. When the goals are met, you talk about wrapping up. You are not locked into anything.
You set the pace. If a topic feels like too much right now, you can simply say so. A good therapist will respect that and come back to it when you are ready, or not at all if you prefer. Pushing through something you are not ready for is not how healing works.
Our therapists are trained in several evidence-based approaches and tailor them to what you bring in. The most common are:
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for anxiety, depression, and unhelpful thought patterns
- EMDR for trauma and PTSD
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) for clients stuck in avoidance, perfectionism, or chronic worry who want to build psychological flexibility
- EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) for couples and individuals working on attachment, emotional connection, and recurring relational patterns
- Attachment-based therapy for relationship patterns rooted in early experiences
- Mindfulness and somatic approaches for clients who get stuck in their head and need to drop into their body
- The Gottman Method for couples
You do not need to know which one you want. Your therapist will recommend an approach based on what you describe.
It rarely looks like one big moment. Most clients notice small shifts first. A conflict that used to spiral now ends in twenty minutes. You catch a thought spiraling before it takes over the day. You sleep through the night for the first time in months. You speak up at work when before you would have stayed quiet.
Your therapist will check in periodically about progress against your goals, and you should feel free to bring it up anytime.
Fees & Insurance
What sessions cost, which insurance plans we accept, and our cancellation policy.
Yes. We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO), Aetna, and Cigna Behavioral Health. We also accept HSA and FSA cards, and many clients choose to pay out of pocket.
If you have a different insurance plan, you may still be able to use out-of-network benefits. Call your insurance carrier and ask about reimbursement for an out-of-network licensed therapist. For full details, see our Insurance & Fees page.
The initial session is $175. Follow-up sessions are $150. If you are using insurance, you may be responsible for these amounts until your deductible is met, after which your plan typically takes over. Your Care Coordinator can help you understand what to expect based on your specific plan.
We ask for at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice but before the session start time incur a $100 late cancellation fee. No-shows or cancellations after the session start time are charged $100.
Life happens, and we understand. If something urgent comes up, just let us know as soon as you can. The full policy is on our Cancellation Policy page.
We keep a credit card, debit card, HSA, or FSA card on file in our secure client portal. Payment is processed automatically after each session, so you do not need to handle anything at the office. If you are using insurance, your copay or deductible amount is what gets charged.
Online Therapy
How telehealth sessions work, who they are a good fit for, and what you need to participate.
Yes. We offer secure, HIPAA-compliant online therapy to clients located anywhere in Illinois. About half of our sessions happen by video. Many clients alternate, coming in person when they can and going online when work, weather, or scheduling makes it easier.
For most issues, yes. Research consistently shows that video therapy is comparable to in-person therapy for anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and many other concerns. The biggest factor in whether therapy works is the relationship with your therapist, not the medium.
That said, some clients prefer the in-person setting for certain kinds of work, like EMDR or processing intense trauma. Your therapist will tell you honestly if they think in-person would serve you better.
A private space, a stable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, or phone). We send you a secure link before each session. Headphones help if anyone else is at home.
Choose somewhere you can talk freely. Many clients use a parked car, a home office, or a quiet room. Driving while in session is not safe and we cannot conduct sessions that way.
No. Licensing rules require that you be physically located in Illinois during the session. If you are an Illinois resident who occasionally travels, talk to your therapist before the session about where you will be that day. If you have moved out of state, we can help you find a licensed therapist in your new state.
Couples, Teens & Specifics
Common questions about working with partners and adolescents.
Yes. We work with couples at all stages, from premarital counseling and early-relationship tune-ups to long-term partners working through a specific rupture or pattern. Our couples therapists are trained in the Gottman Method and emotionally focused approaches. Learn more on our Couples Counseling page.
Yes. We work with teens starting around age 13. Common reasons families reach out include anxiety, depression, social struggles, school avoidance, big transitions like divorce or moving, and identity questions. Our teen therapy page has more detail.
That depends on the teen and the situation. Most teen sessions are one-on-one with the therapist, with periodic parent check-ins to share themes (not specifics) and align on how to support things at home. Younger teens or those with significant family conflict may have more parent involvement built in.
What is shared with parents and what stays in the room is something your teen's therapist will discuss openly in the first session, so everyone knows what to expect.
No. We are licensed therapists, not psychiatrists, so we do not prescribe. Many clients work with both a therapist and a psychiatrist, and we can coordinate with your prescriber if that is helpful. If you think medication might be worth exploring, we can refer you to trusted psychiatrists in the area.
Privacy & Confidentiality
What stays private, what we are required to share, and how we protect your information.
Yes, with a few legal exceptions that every licensed therapist in Illinois is required to follow. We are required to break confidentiality only when there is an imminent risk of harm to you or someone else, when there is suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, or when a court order requires us to release records.
Outside of these specific situations, everything you share in sessions stays in sessions. We will not call your spouse, your employer, or your family.
Your insurance company sees only the basics required to process your claim: the date of service, session length, the type of session (individual, couples, or family), and a diagnosis code. They do not see your session notes or what you discussed.
If you are concerned about a diagnosis being on your record, you can pay out of pocket and we will not bill insurance.
We use HIPAA-compliant systems for everything: our electronic health record, the client portal where you store your payment method and sign forms, and the video platform we use for online sessions. We do not send clinical information by regular email or text.
Yes. You have a right to your own records under HIPAA. If you need a copy, send a written request to your therapist or our administrative team, and we will provide them within 30 days.
Let's talk before you commit.
The 15-minute consultation is free and there is no pressure to book. If we are not the right fit, we will help you find someone who is.