Frequently asked questions
about therapy for anxiety, depression, and life challenges
Taking the first step to find a therapist is a personal and important one, whether you’re a young adult with feelings of anxiety or depression, or an adult or parent feeling overworked and anxious. This page will help some of the questions you might have about what to expect in the first session and beyond. Please contact Rachel with any additional questions or concerns you have.
Below you can access the patient portal where new patients can find initial paperwork.
What exactly happens during therapy?
Most people who have never experienced therapy think it’s a lot like what we see on TV or the movies. The client lays on the couch while the therapist sits in silence listening, occasionally asking “how does that make you feel?” While that might work for certain clients, in reality, each client has their preference for how therapy gets accomplished.
In my office, you can sit wherever you’d like. Most find sitting on the couch most comfortable. Many of Rachel’s clients choose to bring in coffee, tea, or a water bottle to drink while they’re talking, too.
Rachel isn’t the type to sit back in silence for an entire session. She is active and engaging. Rachel has a sense of humor and is supportive and understanding during what might be the most vulnerable hour of your week.
You can expect to come into session with at least a topic or two to discuss and the conversation will flow from there. It’s okay if you aren’t sure what to talk about in a session – bring that up to Rachel and start the conversation there.
Towards the end of the session, Rachel will wrap things up and/or give you some suggestions for what to think about before the next session.
Rachel prides herself on being “on time," so you can expect to be in the office for 45 minutes.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
The answer to this depends on what you’re coming into therapy for. In life, we can all benefit from having someone neutral to run ideas or problems by, work through stressors, challenging times and transitions, and to offer support in times of need, anxiety or depressive feelings. It might be time to go to therapy when you are wanting to work on self improvement, struggling with a situation at home, work, school or social situation, or are feeling nervous, depressed, or anxious.
The key to succeeding in therapy is to acknowledge that some aspects of change can be uncomfortable. We have to be willing to talk about some things in life that aren’t the easiest. This takes a lot of courage and strength. We also have to understand that some things can get resolved in a short period of time while others might take longer. Therapy is hard work – and Rachel knows that! Rachel recognizes the strength and resilience in our clients and celebrates the successes every step of the way.
How do I go about finding the best therapist for me?
Rachel prides herself on being a good “fit” for her clients. We will talk briefly about what you want to work on in therapy before scheduling the first appointment. Rachel treats a variety of issues and conditions such as parenting stress, social anxiety, dating worries, parenting, overworked adults, and anxiety around career changes. If Rachel determines that another colleague or agency might be a better fit for you, she will let you know and provide referrals. It’s my goal to help people find the best therapist to help them.
What do I do if I want to schedule an appointment?
Contact Rachel through this website or call our intake line – (847) 313-8074. It might be helpful to jot down a few notes about what you’re looking for help with. Please note that I will not answer the phone if we are in session with clients. I return all voicemails within 24 hours.
"Rachel has been a tremendous help for me over the past five years. She is knowledgeable of myriad topics/situations and is flexible in terms of her scheduling. Rachel has helped me get through some of the challenging parts of my life. I am grateful to have connected with her."
