Finding support in the Fox Valley
Individual, Couples, or Family Therapy: Questions About Where to Start
Use the people involved and the conversation you want to have as starting points for an inquiry.
General information about finding and arranging care ·
When a concern involves relationships, the appointment type may not be obvious. You might want private space to talk, a conversation with your partner, or support involving family members. The categories can help you ask questions; you do not need to choose perfectly before contacting an office.
Who is asking for support?
Individual therapy involves one person seeking support for their own concerns. Those concerns can include relationships. You do not need everyone involved in a difficulty to attend for you to inquire about support for yourself.
Couples counseling involves questions about a relationship and the possibility of meeting together. If only one partner is ready to inquire, ask how the office handles that starting point.
Family therapy concerns family relationships and conversations. Do not assume every family member must attend every appointment; ask who should be involved and how that is determined.
What do you want to clarify?
A short description may be enough: you want to talk privately about a relationship, explore attending with a partner, or ask about support for family conversations. You can leave detailed examples for a more appropriate setting.
For a teenager, ask separately about adolescent appointments, caregiver participation, consent, and how privacy is explained. The office can clarify its process before you complete paperwork.
Ask about arrangements before assuming them
- Who would be expected at the first appointment?
- How are the goals and participants discussed?
- What should each participant know about privacy and communication?
- How are fees and insurance handled for the proposed appointment?
Do not assume that one person’s insurance automatically covers an appointment involving others, or that an individual therapist will automatically become a couples or family therapist for the same people.
An inquiry is a starting point
The office can discuss whether the requested service fits its scope and current availability. This article explains common appointment labels; it does not determine which service is clinically appropriate for a particular situation.
Contact the St. Charles office
Kimberly Boatner, LCSW, CADC, practices at 3140 West Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60175, and welcomes inquiries from Geneva, Campton Hills, and nearby communities. Call or text 630-488-6113, or choose a contact option. Texting is preferred for scheduling and general billing questions. Keep sensitive details out of the initial message.