When are appointments offered?

Appointments are offered Mondays thru Sundays between 8:00am to 8:00pm (either via telehealth or at our Chicago office) based on our clinicians’ availability. To request an appointment, please contact us here.

Do you offer a free phone call before booking an appointment?

Yes! We know finding a therapist who is a good fit is important so we offer all new clients a complimentary 10-minute phone call before booking an appointment where they are welcome to ask the clinician any questions they may have. At the end of the call, clients can book their first appointment if they are ready to do so. Click here to request a complimentary phone call today!

Do you accept insurance?

The psychotherapists at ESW are out-of-network providers with all insurance companies including medicaid and medicare. Being out of network allows us to provide quality, comprehensive specialized care that is confidential with and customized to your unique goals.

This means we are a fee-for-service practice and payment is expected at the time of session. We are happy to create medical receipts (typically called superbills) for you to submit toward your out-of-network benefits to facilitate reimbursement of your psychotherapy services. The majority of our clients have out-of-network benefits and receive coverage for their sessions.

Key questions to ask your insurance provider about reimbursement of our services include:

Do I have out of network coverage for behavioral healthcare?

What is my out of network deductible for behavioral healthcare?
Will preauthorization be required in order to see my psychotherapist?
Is there a limit to how many visits I can have with my psychotherapist?
What is the easiest way for me to submit my superbill for reimbursement?
What will I be reimbursed per session based on the CPT billing codes* (90791, 90837, 90847)?

Common CPT billing codes* for behavioral health therapy at ESW include:

90791 Initial Evaluation (60 minute session)
90837 Individual Therapy (50 minute session)
90847 Family/Relationship Therapy (50 minute session)

Do you offer Telehealth appointments?

Our psychotherapy providers can offer Telehealth sessions for any clients located in states where we are licensed. We use a HIPPA-compliant platform for Telehealth that is compatible with any desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone that has access to a web camera. If you are using a smartphone or tablet, use the Telehealth app to join your session. To inquire about booking a Telehealth session, click here.

Do you write letters in support of gender affirming care?

At Embrace Sexual Wellness in Chicago, we are proud to provide letters in support of gender affirming medical care for our TGNC clients. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) requires letters of support for gender-affirming medical care to ensure that patients are appropriately prepared for their upcoming procedures. Our clinicians are trained to write letters according to WPATH guidelines following an assessment.

If you are a current ESW client you may request a letter of support as part of your ongoing therapy with your therapist. Please speak with your therapist to learn more.

If you are not currently an ESW client and are interested in a letter of support (but do not want to engage in ongoing therapy), we can still help. Our intake team can work with you to set up 3 assessment appointments, to discuss readiness for surgery and informed consent, and obtain the required background information. Completing these assessment appointments will allow your therapist to provide you with a letter that meets the necessary criteria. Request a free 10- minute phone consultation >

Do you treat non-sexuality concerns too?

Yes, we do! While our practice specializes in sexuality and sex therapy, we also are experienced in treating mental health concerns such as anxiety + mood disorders, post traumatic stress, adjustment to various life transitions, identity changes and more.

What if you don’t have openings at the time that I need?

If for some reason our schedules do not align, rest assured. We are well connected to other psychotherapists in the area and will do our best to confidently refer you to a clinician we trust based on the nature of your concerns and availability needs. We also have a waiting list for clients who have some flexibility in getting started —to join our waiting list, please contact us here.

Do you offer psychotherapy for clients outside of Illinois?

Presently, we offer psychotherapy services for all Illinois residents and a few clinicians are licensed in additional states including Emily Gordon (Indiana and Kansas) and Dr. Litner (Louisiana and Idaho). Please note that all clients must be located in their state of residency at the time of sessions as required by our licensing boards. We are pleased to offer our educational programs globally.

How do I get to the ESW office?

Our office is easily accessible via the CTA train or bus system, just a few blocks from the Addison Brown Line train station and Addison bus (#152). There is also ample free street parking available on Ravenswood and Grace Avenue. Indoor bicycle and stroller parking is available in the lobby of our office building. If you are traveling to our office during baseball season, please let us know and we will give you a parking pass to display on your dashboard during Cubs’ night games.

What are your fees for services?

A typical fee for psychotherapy services is $100-$235 based on the clinician. Our staff clinicians offer a limited number of sliding fee appointments. The ESW Community Clinic offers services exclusively on a reduced sliding-scale and pay-what-you-can basis ranging from $0-$120.

A typical fee for educational programs starts at $500.00 based on the scope of work provided. Please reach out to us for more information about your program requests.

What is a good faith estimate?

As of January 1, 2022, all healthcare providers are required to provide estimates for the costs of your care under the No Surprises Act. The Good Faith Estimate shows the cost of items and services that are reasonably expected for your healthcare needs and treatment. This will be provided by this office upon scheduling and/or as requested. This Good Faith Estimate does not include unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. A standard notice of your right to receive a Good Faith Estimate can be found here.

Do you have any sliding-scale openings?

Our staff clinicians’ sliding scale spots are currently full. However, the ESW Community Clinic offers services exclusively on a reduced sliding-scale and pay-what-you-can basis. Click here to book an appointment!