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If one of your questions is not answered here, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Please contact any of our therapists directly by phone or email in order to set up an initial appointment. It is helpful to provide information regarding your availability and insurance company. We encourage you to reach out to a couple of therapists in order to decide who feels like the best fit. You can do this by phone, or you can set up appointments to determine how it would feel to work with certain people. Ask yourself: Can I see myself opening up to this person? Do they appear professional, authentic, and straightforward? Can they explain their approach to therapy in ways I can understand? Does this person’s practice fit my budget and my schedule?
Your therapist should be able to describe their method of working and the ways in which it can help with your presenting problem or concern. If the explanation doesn’t make sense to you, or you feel strongly that you need a different kind of help, let them know.
In most cases, telehealth is a matter of personal preference, for the client and the clinician. At ALLIANCE, our clinicians are dedicated to offering both, depending on the treatment goals of the client.
Telehealth can make therapy more accessible, especially when time or transportation is limited. Therapists and clients agree that they still form strong connections and make steady progress in treatment whether working remotely or in person.
The option of meeting in person can be of comfort to some clients, particularly when privacy or confidentiality are a concern. For others, the ritual of taking time for oneself and attending therapy in a special place can be of great comfort.
The most important thing is that you and your therapist decide together on a plan that is sustainable, and meets you where you are!
Therapy is an investment in time and resources. Collaborating with your therapist and insurance company can make it affordable. This should be an explicit conversation, and one that you should feel free to return to if it ends up feeling unmanageable.
Please check to confirm if your therapist is in-network with your particular insurance plan. It is recommended that you confirm eligibility and benefits with your insurance provider prior to your first appointment. Bringing this information to your first therapy session will help you and your therapist establish the clearest plan for financing therapy, one that feels fair and sustainable for both you and your therapist.
If your therapist does not accept your insurance plan, you have several options. You can utilize your “out of network benefits,” pay out of pocket (decide not to use insurance), or you can talk about being referred to a therapist who is in-network with your insurance plan.
At your first appointment, we will focus on what brings you to therapy and what you hope to achieve. Finding out more about your life–who is in it, how you spend your time, how you are feeling day-to-day, will help you and your therapist start to think about your concerns in context.
Establishing a trusting relationship is the cornerstone of effective therapy, so talk openly with your therapist about what works for you and what does not, especially if you’ve had experience with therapy in the past.
Keep in mind that for many of us, change is really hard, and talking about private and personal things isn’t easy. It may be that you are feeling anxious about opening up to ANYONE, let alone this particular therapist. Try to settle into the process and see if you grow more comfortable over time.
Therapy can last from a few sessions to several years, and we encourage you to talk with your therapist from the beginning about how you will know when you are ready to leave therapy.
Everyone’s treatment is different. How long therapy lasts depends on many factors. You may have complicated issues or a relatively straightforward problem that you want to address. Some therapy treatment types are short term, while others may be longer. Practically, you might also be limited by your insurance coverage or financial situation.
Discussing the length of therapy is important to bring up with your therapist at the beginning. This will give you an idea of starting goals to work towards and what you want to accomplish. Don’t be afraid to revisit this issue at any time as therapy progresses, as goals often are modified or changed during treatment.
Contact us:
connect@alliancepsychotherapy.org
connect@alliancepsychotherapy.org
77 W Washington St. Suite 1910
Chicago, IL 60602
2022 © ALLIANCE Collaborative Psychotherapy
LCSW | she/her
Email: kristen@alliancepsychotherapy.org
What would your clients or colleagues say about what it is like to work with you?
Being a therapist is the most difficult and satisfying work I’ve ever done, and my clients and colleagues would tell you that I will work as hard as they do. I am curious, playful and compassionate, and I challenge my clients to think and feel deeply about their presenting concerns. I believe in radical candor in my work, which is based on establishing deep, authentic connection which allows for honest and constructive feedback. When you work with me, we really get to the bottom of the ways you hold yourself back, in order to ultimately set you free.
Who do you like to work with?
I love working with clients who struggle with intimate connections. Either individuals with rich connections who still feel lonely in a room full of people, or passionate types who love deeply and struggle to remain differentiated in relationships. If you’re someone who finds yourself asking the question, “What’s wrong with me? Why is it so hard to get what I need in relationships? What do I really want? How do I find meaning in my life?” you’ve found the right therapist for you.
How does therapy work?
Curiosity and compassion are the sine qua non of meaningful therapy. Therapies of depth, insight and relationship are designed to help clients explore aspects of themselves that they might rather avoid, loathe or dread. When we cultivate curiosity about our reactions to ourselves and others, and compassion for the suffering that we’ve courageously adapted to throughout our lives, our natural capacities for intimacy, growth and healing unfold.
Areas of specialization
Availability & insurance
Offers: In-person & telehealth sessions
Accepting: Self-Pay and Out of Network
LCPC | she/her
Email: elizabeth@alliancepsychotherapy.org
what is a good therapeutic relationship?
A good therapeutic relationship is one in which you feel comfortable, heard, accepted, and understood by your therapist. While it may still be difficult to share feelings or experiences, in a good therapeutic relationship, you will experience nonjudgmental support and care as well as a sense of agency and empowerment.
How would you describe how therapy works?
Therapy helps you better understand yourself and get to the root of your concerns through increased self-awareness. The process is tailored to you individually, as we work together to identify and understand your unique emotional triggers. In time, we use this information to help you make changes to the patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings that aren’t working for you anymore. Therapy helps you learn to cope with and regulate your emotions, think through your choices, identify your deeper needs, and feel at ease expressing them.
What is success in therapy? How do you know therapy is effective?
Success is the ability to function in ways you weren’t previously able to function, both internally within your own nervous system and externally in your relationships. This can look like being able to be present and connected in relationships, making choices for yourself without guilt or shame, no longer ruminating or worrying excessively, viewing yourself as capable and worthy, or being able to be vulnerable and authentic with others.
Areas of specialization
Depression, anxiety, relationship problems, perinatal mental health
Availability & insurance
Offers: In-person & telehealth sessions
Accepting: BCBS PPO and Self-Pay
LCSW | she/her
Email: sharon@alliancepsychotherapy.org
How would you describe your approach?
I approach therapy from a psychodynamic relational lens which promotes self-discovery and allows someone to gain insight into underlying causes of their struggles. In therapy we will work to name and identify issues that present obstacles to living a fulfilled life. I believe people repeat unconscious relational patterns and don’t understand why they are not living the life they desire. In our work together, we will try to understand why things are not working and how to makes changes to allow for more choices in life.
Who Do you like to work with?
I believe that all individuals have the capacity for change. I enjoy working with people who are curious about themselves and want to make changes in their lives. I utilize talk therapy which allows the space for someone to be seen and heard maybe for the first time in their life. I believe a therapeutic relationship can be healing especially for people who have suffered alone.
Areas of specialization
Mood Disorders, Grief and Loss, Trauma, Young Adults
Availability & insurance
Offers: In Person and Telehealth
Accepting: BCBS, USHIP and Self-Pay
LCSW | she/her
Email: sharon@alliancepsychotherapy.org
How would you describe your approach?
I approach therapy from a psychodynamic relational lens which promotes self-discovery and allows someone to gain insight into underlying causes of their struggles. In therapy we will work to name and identify issues that present obstacles to living a fulfilled life. I believe people repeat unconscious relational patterns and don’t understand why they are not living the life they desire. In our work together, we will try to understand why things are not working and how to makes changes to allow for more choices in life.
Who Do you like to work with?
I believe that all individuals have the capacity for change. I enjoy working with people who are curious about themselves and want to make changes in their lives. I utilize talk therapy which allows the space for someone to be seen and heard maybe for the first time in their life. I believe a therapeutic relationship can be healing especially for people who have suffered alone.
Areas of specialization
Mood Disorders, Grief and Loss, Trauma, Young Adults
Availability & insurance
Offers: In Person and Telehealth
Accepting: BCBS, USHIP and Self-Pay
MD | she/her
Email: ashley@alliancepsychotherapy.org
How would you describe your approach?
I am a board-certified general adult psychiatrist and work with people who have a range of emotional problems including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. I use my training in psychiatry to provide comprehensive care to address the well-being of the whole person. I am comfortable using medications to treat these problems when medications are indicated and also enjoy seeing patients for psychotherapy.
Areas of specialization
Depression, Bipolar disorder, Anxiety disorders, Trauma, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Relationship issues
Availability & insurance
Offers: Telehealth sessions
Accepting: Self-Pay
LCPC | he/him
Email: morgan@alliancepsychotherapy.org
What is success for you? How do you know a therapist is effective?
I believe determining the goals of therapy and therefore its’ success is co-created by therapist and client and unique to each individual. However, in general, my hope at the end of working together is that each person feels they are able to live their life with more freedom, authenticity, and agency and have a better understanding of the dynamics that get in the way of the life they want to live.
How would you describe your approach or how therapy works?
I believe that the foundation of any effective therapeutic work is a genuine therapeutic relationship based on trust, honesty, and empathy, and I value creating an environment with you that facilitates this. My approach is collaborative, supporting you in exploring difficult thoughts, feelings, and relational patterns that may have previously felt too overwhelming to embark on alone.
Areas of specialization
Relationship issues, depression, anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem; Couples therapy
Availability & insurance
Offers: Telehealth sessions
Accepting: BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, Self-Pay
LCSW | she/her
Email: juliacf@alliancepsychotherapy.org
What are your influences as a therapist?
I began my work as a therapist after a brief time as a journalist. I think those years prepared me well. I learned how to not just be an empathic listener but also to be the kind of listener who puts together clues, listens closely, and picks out the most important information to explore. Great therapists also continually work on themselves – in our own therapy, consultation, and sometimes from our clients! We need to be open to feedback and have self awareness. When we are in touch with our own feelings we are better able to build an authentic relationship.
How would you describe a successful therapy?
Success in therapy has many levels and it differs per client. Perhaps you are looking to improve communication or maybe you need support to manage stress. Other goals might be to deepen relationships, understand a traumatic experience, or increase self awareness. These are all pieces of a successful therapeutic journey, and it is not my place to choose what a client wants for themselves. In my view, therapy is a space to increase the ability to sit with your emotions and find a way to make them useful to you. This aids in self determination, agency, and helps you make improvements in your emotional well being, work, or family.
What does it mean to have a good therapeutic relationship?
A good therapeutic relationship may start with feeling a “connection” or a “good vibe” but it also takes time to build trust and understanding. The relationship between client and therapist mirrors our intimate relationships and repairs them. It is a relationship in which we explore assumptions and name feelings. I like to solicit feedback, make space for reflection on our sessions, and build a relationship in which my clients trust that I am interested and invested in them.
Areas of specialization
Life transitions, Anxiety, Marital and Premarital work, Certificate in LGBTQA affirmative practice
Availability & insurance
Offers: In-person & telehealth sessions
Accepting: BCBS PPO and Self-Pay
LCPC | she/her
Email: camila@alliancepsychotherapy.org
What would your clients or colleagues say about what it is like to work with you?
“Working with is the right way to phrase it. I always feel like we’re engaged in a worthwhile and rewarding challenge, even (especially) when it is most challenging.” -Client
“It’s an absolute pleasure! Camila makes you feel instantly safe and makes opening up so easy because of her warm and accepting demeanor.” -Client
What does it mean to have a “good therapeutic relationship”?
A “good therapeutic relationship” is essential and fundamentally important to the counseling process. It can enable honesty, trust and openness, paving the way for clients to be their true authentic selves.
What made you want to be a therapist?
Psychotherapy is my second career but it has always been my true passion. I started out as an architect but I grew increasingly interested in doing work that was more transformative, grounding and interpersonal. I found myself drawn toward the exploration of the human experience, healing, and social justice.
Areas of specialization
Life transitions, Grief & Loss, Trauma, Emerging Adulthood, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum
Availability & insurance
Offers: Telehealth sessions
Accepting: BCBS PPO, Aetna, Cigna, Optum, Self-Pay
LCSW | she/her
Email: kirsten@alliancepsychotherapy.org
How would you describe your therapeutic approach?
I enjoy helping clients understand how thoughts, feelings and body reactions are connected.
Areas of specialization
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Availability & insurance
Offers: Not currently accepting new clients
LCSW | she/her
Email: lauren@alliancepsychotherapy.org
What does it mean to have a “good therapeutic relationship”?
A “good therapeutic relationship” is a relationship that doesn’t need to be good all the time but can be used to understand one’s lived experiences, history, and hopes for the future.
What do you consider to be the most important traits for a therapist to have?
It is important that a therapist has examined their own life and continues to do this in an ongoing way. I think this is done best through one’s own psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. I also think it’s important that a therapist be open to the many other ways people can improve their lives aside from traditional psychotherapy and be willing to learn about them. Lastly, a sense of humor goes a long way!
Areas of specialization
Trauma, depression, anxiety , self-esteem, transitions, grief & loss, emerging adulthood, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic
Availability & insurance
Offers: In-person & telehealth sessions
Accepting: BCBS PPO, BlueChoice, Self Pay
MD | he/him
Email: shoaib@alliancepsychotherapy.org
How would you describe your approach or how therapy works?
My initial focus is to foster a bond with you that feels helpful and caring. Once we’ve established that trust, more deeper aspects of your experience can be shared and understood together. Overtime, I believe therapy helps you better understand yourself in a way that can improve assertiveness and agency in life decisions in a powerful way. From this increased understanding, your anxiety and mood will improve as well as your satisfaction in your relationships and comfort in daily roles.
What is success for you? How do you know a therapist is effective?
Most people come in to feel better. When we work together, I find it important to frequently reflect upon how therapy is going and to be forthcoming about how one is experiencing the therapist and the therapy. This type of exchange can help turn a so-so therapy into an effective and even life-changing course of therapy because we tailor our interventions to your specific needs and symptoms.
What does it mean to have a “good therapeutic relationship”?
A good or effective therapeutic relationship is one that creates room for the entire spectrum of emotions that someone would experience in any close relationship. I help you to improve your capacity to hold feelings such as joy and excitement as well as anger and disappointment so that you can better accept and understand these feelings. In turn, you can use that understanding to operate in a way that is more satisfying on a day to day basis.
Areas of specialization
Group Therapy, Couples Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Depression, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Intergenerational trauma, Complex parental relationships
Availability & insurance
Offers: In-person & telehealth sessions
Accepting: BCBS PPO and Self-Pay
LCPC | she/her
Email: emavros@alliancepsychotherapy.org
What made you want to be a therapist?
I wanted to be a therapist because I understand what it is like to be in a room full of people and still feel all alone. My goal is to help people feel less alone and more understood.
What is success for you? How do you know a therapist is effective?
One of my favorite aspects of therapy is when a client shares a “light bulb” moment that has occurred for them outside of session. This is an indication that the client is actively using what is discussed in therapy and applying it in daily life in pursuit of greater self-understanding. This may not happen every week, but when it does, it reinforces to the client that forward movement (even one step at a time) is possible. An effective therapy session provides insight that inspires the client to continue this work outside of session.
How would you describe your approach or how therapy works?
My approach starts with relationship building, as this is a foundational component to progressing and achieving goals in therapy. I believe one’s past impacts their present and future, so I find it helpful to discuss family of origin and past experiences. This allows us to develop a shared understanding of how the past is impacting the client and how the client can best move forward. Another objective is to help clients identify their “blind spots” – key factors influencing their lives that are sometimes only discoverable through therapy.
Areas of specialization
Anxiety, pregnancy, prenatal, postpartum, depression, life transitions, relationship issues
Availability & insurance
Offers: In-person & telehealth sessions
Accepting: BCBS, Cigna/Evernorth
LCSW | she/her
Email: clynch@alliancepsychotherapy.org
How would you describe your approach?
My approach is to create a safe, non-judgmental space for my clients, and then to develop a collaborative working relationship which will allow us to identify important areas of focus. My personal style of therapy utilizes both psychodynamic and attachment-based theories to help foster insight into unhelpful patterns in their lives.
What is your favorite metaphor for describing therapy?
Sometimes I think therapy can be a bit like inspecting your house. The therapist can aid the client in taking stock of what’s there; the good, the bad and the ugly, and help you to rebuild the parts that are no longer working for you. Other times, I think of life as a rollercoaster and therapy is about how to stay on and engaged in the ride while learning how to manage the highs and lows.
Areas of specialization
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Young Adult (18-25 yo), Parenting, Life Transitions
Availability & insurance
Offers: Telehealth sessions
Accepting: BCBS PPO
