Question 1

How is SpringSource different?

Accepted Answer

What sets us apart is our deeply collaborative, flexible, and unyielding approach to your healing. We don’t believe in rigid, one-size-fits-all curriculums; instead, we mold therapy to fit your life with virtual, in-person, or hybrid options, flexible scheduling, and treatment tailored entirely to your unique pace and goals. Our team brings industry-leading expertise, advanced clinical practice, and an understanding of how complex, co-occurring mental health challenges overlap. Because true recovery doesn't happen in isolation, we actively collaborate with your broader medical and personal support systems to ensure holistic care. We meet you exactly where you are, no matter how severe your struggles or how many setbacks you’ve faced. Even when healing feels completely out of reach and you feel like giving up, we never give up on you.

Question 2

What are some common reasons to seek therapy?

Accepted Answer

There are many reasons to seek therapy.  In some cases, it might be to have assistance in navigating a change in one’s life, such as a marriage, divorce, new baby, new job, illness, or death.  In other cases, someone might seek therapy due to a change in mood, an increase in negative coping behaviors, or difficulty managing stress.  Therapy can be crafted to meet the needs of the individual, can be short-term or long-term, and can focus on skills, exploration/process, or a combination of the two.

Question 3

How do I know if my child would benefit from therapy?

Accepted Answer

There are many reasons that a child might seek therapy.  Often times, a child themselves may ask for someone to talk to in order to sort out relational, friendship, and school stressors.  This is a great way for kids to get exposed to therapy.  Other times, it is the parent that notices that a child’s attitudes or behaviors have changed, such as if they seem more short-tempered, withdrawn, or are having difficulty completing tasks and socializing like they used to.

Question 4

How do I know if I have an eating disorder or if my child/someone I love has an eating disorder?

Accepted Answer

In the case of eating disorders, a parent might notice that their child has developed picky eating habits, gained or lost weight, struggles to get dressed in the morning, or goes to the restroom after meals.  Other first signs of an eating disorder might be preoccupation with calorie counting or dieting, eliminating certain foods, changes in exercise routine to be more frequent/more intense, avoidance of meals, or sneaky eating or eating in private.

Question 5

How do I get started at SpringSource?

Accepted Answer

Give us a call at 224-202-6260, fill out our contact form, or book a brief consultation appointment online. When we first connect, we'll ask you more about your reasons for seeking treatment.  We'll then connect you with a therapist who we believe to be the best fit to help you address your presenting concerns. Typically, you will be able to schedule your first appointment within the week.  The clinician will ask you to fill out paperwork prior to the first visit. We'll be here every step of the way to answer any questions you have, so you always know exactly what to expect.

Question 6

What can I expect from a first meeting?

Accepted Answer

In your first session, you and your therapist will talk about what’s bringing you into therapy right now and discuss a bit about your background and psychological history. This helps us create a personalized treatment plan to address what you want to achieve from therapy. This first appointment usually takes about an hour, and it’s a great opportunity for you to get a sense of your clinician's style to see if they feel like a good match for your journey.

Question 7

How do I know if I am a good fit with my therapist?

Accepted Answer

Your relationship with your therapist is the groundwork for everything you do together, so feeling a genuine sense of comfort and developing deep trust over time is essential. You should always feel that your therapist truly understands your experience, validates your emotions, and offers thoughtful, collaborative strategies to help you tackle whatever comes your way.

Question 8

Do I need a psychiatrist or a therapist?  What is the difference and do I need both?

Accepted Answer

A counselor (licensed clinical professional counselor, LCPC) or psychologist (Ph.D., Psy.D) have all been trained to provide psychotherapy, which is a talk therapy that can be either skills-focused, relationally-focused, or both.  A psychiatrist is an MD who went to medical school to specialize in providing psychotropic medication for behavioral health treatment.  A psychiatrist prescribes medication such as antidepressants and can sometimes provide psychotherapy as well. When medication is part of care, we collaborate with prescribing providers and help you think through concerns, side effects, and goals.

Question 9

Do you treat folks who identify as LGBTQIA+?

Accepted Answer

At SpringSource, we believe in the right of each individual to tell us who they are and how they identify.  Being seen accurately, honestly, and with genuine care is a crucial part of the therapeutic encounter and a major component of why therapy works!  All of our staff have been trained to provide culturally sensitive therapy, and we have staff in particular who specialize in providing quality care to this population.

Question 10

Can you provide therapy in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  We are proud to have the ability to provide dual-language therapy in English and Spanish and we look forward to providing therapy resources to the Latinx community specifically.

Question 11

How will I know when therapy is complete?

Accepted Answer

Your time in therapy lasts exactly as long as it serves you. If you're focusing on a specific goal and reach a point where that challenge no longer causes you distress, you and your therapist can comfortably talk about wrapping up your sessions. But often, therapy is also an effective tool for ongoing support through life's twists and turns, so it doesn't always have to have an end date. You'll team up with your therapist to talk about your goals, keeping the conversation open and centered on your needs.

Question 12

What insurances do you take?  What if you don’t take my insurance?

Accepted Answer

Currently, we are in-network for Blue Cross Blue Shield PP0, Blue Choice, Aetna, Cigna, and Optum/United. If you have a different insurance, we will collect the full fee each session and provide you with a superbill to send to your insurance company.  Often, insurance will reimburse a portion of the charge at their out-of-network rate. You may contact your insurance company to learn more about the specific reimbursement that you can expect based on your plan. If you are paying out of pocket, we will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate so that you can anticipate the amount owed.

Frequently Asked Questions