Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started is easy. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your needs and see if we’re a good fit. You can schedule here.

The free 15-minute phone consultation is a brief, informal conversation to see if we’re a good fit. We will broadly talk about what is bringing you to therapy, what you’re hoping to get from it, and whether my approach and availability align with your needs. You can also ask me questions about my background, how I work, or anything else that would help you decide if you want to move forward.

TL; DR: I do not bill insurance directly. However, if you have PPO insurance, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement. I provide monthly “superbills” that you can submit to your insurance company.

 I do not accept insurance directly nor do I directly submit any paperwork to insurance plans. If you have a PPO insurance plan, I would be considered an out-of-network provider. Depending on your PPO plan, you may be able to get reimbursed for some of the session fee. If you are interested in using your PPO insurance, I highly recommend calling your insurance company directly to ask how much they will reimburse for individual therapy sessions (CPT code 90834) or couple therapy (CPT code 90847) with a licensed clinical psychologist. You will want to know the following: 1) the amount of your deductible; 2) what percentage of behavioral health services they will reimburse for out-of-network providers; 3) whether there are limits on the number of visits per calendar year; and 4) what information you need and how to submit for reimbursement.

The rates for 50-minute assessment and treatment sessions are $250 for individual therapy and $275 for couple therapy. These rates are comparable to those for similar services by clinical psychologists in the Chicagoland area. In addition, all services related to a case (including, but not limited to, requested report writing or documentation, professional consultation, scheduled or unscheduled phone sessions) are prorated and billed at the same rate. You may be able to get partial reimbursement through your insurance company and/or use your FSA/HSA funds to pay for services. Payment is due in full at the time of service and a current credit card must be kept on file. I offer a free 15-minute consultation call to answer any questions you have before you commit financially.

Under the No Surprises Act, I’m required to provide a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected costs before your first session. This written estimate outlines the total expected cost of sessions over the next 12 months. I’ll provide this after our phone consultation and before we meet for the first session. Please note that this estimate is not a contract.

Because therapy is individualized and I am required to provide this estimate before we’ve even started working together, it’s difficult to predict exactly how many sessions you’ll need. The estimate is based on typical treatment lengths for similar concerns, but your actual costs may differ depending on your progress and goals.

Yes, therapy sessions typically qualify for FSA/HSA reimbursement. Check with your FSA/HSA administrator or plan details to confirm.

I don’t currently have sliding scale availability. If cost is a barrier to starting therapy, Open Path Collective (openpathcollective.org) offers a directory of therapists who provide reduced-fee sessions for those without insurance coverage and with financial need.

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist, which means I have a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology. Clinical Psychologists complete 5-7 years of graduate training after college, which includes extensive coursework, research, supervised clinical practice, a predoctoral internship (similar to medical residency), and often a postdoctoral fellowship.

Other types of therapists, such as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), typically hold Master’s degrees and complete 2-3 years of graduate training. All of these professionals can provide excellent therapy.

The main differences are in the depth of clinical and research training, diagnostic assessment expertise, and ability to psychological testing and supervision. Clinical psychologists also receive extensive research training, which helps us stay current on evidence-based treatments.

What matters most is finding a therapist who you feel comfortable with and who’s a good fit for your needs, regardless of their degree.

Yes, I see clients in person in Naperville on Wednesdays. I offer telehealth sessions Monday-Thursday for clients who prefer or need remote sessions.

I am licensed at the state level in Illinois. I am also licensed through PSYPACT to provide telehealth to 40+ states. Each state has to opt-in to allow telehealth services from psychologists licensed through PSYPACT, which is why a few states are currently excluded.

Telehealth services can be provided to clients within the following states (as of January 2026):

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

I offer appointments Monday-Thursday, with availability ranging from 8 am to 6 pm Central Time, depending on the day. Wednesday appointments are available in person in Naperville; all other days are currently telehealth only. I’ll do my best to find a time that works for your schedule. If your preferred time isn’t currently available, you can start at an alternative time and move to your preferred slot when one opens up.

Emails and phone calls are returned within 48 hours, Monday-Thursday, between 9 am and 5 pm Central Time.

This depends on your goals and what you’re working on. My approach is designed to be practical and time-limited – I want you to build skills that stick, not stay in therapy indefinitely. Many clients notice improvements within the first several sessions. A typical course of treatment lasts 3-6 months (roughly 12-24 sessions) for individual therapy, and 6-12 months for couple therapy, though some people benefit from shorter or longer-term work depending on their needs. We’ll set measurable goals at the start and check in regularly on your progress. If you’re not feeling on track, we’ll adjust. You can always ask for feedback or re-evaluate your goals to make sure therapy is meeting your needs.

I typically recommend weekly sessions initially for the best chance of rapid and lasting progress. As you experience improvement and progress on your goals, sessions can be spaced out to every other week or less frequently. There is also the option for “maintenance” sessions, where you come into therapy once per month or on an as-needed basis, such as when coping with difficult transitions or acute stressors.

I typically recommend at least biweekly (every other week) sessions to start, depending on your goals and current level of distress. Research shows that monthly or less frequent sessions are unlikely to be effective when you’re first starting therapy.

If weekly or biweekly sessions feel hard to commit to right now, it might be worth considering whether this is the right time to start therapy. By offering telehealth, I try to remove time and commute barriers. We can discuss scheduling options during your free consultation call.

Therapy sessions are 50 minutes in length. Should you want more time, therapy sessions can be extended to 60-90 minutes. Fees will be prorated accordingly. If this is an option you are interested in, please let me know and we can discuss further.

If, at any point, you feel like therapy isn’t helping or we’re not a good fit, please bring it up. I’d rather talk about it openly than have you feel stuck or uncomfortable. We can problem-solve together, adjust our approach, or I can provide referrals to other providers if needed.

I understand that occasional circumstances may necessitate a cancelled appointment. In those situations, 24 hours notice is required. This allows me to offer your appointment time to another client. I will work with you to find a time to reschedule. Except in case of emergency, cancellations within 24 hours of your appointment time are charged at the full session rate. If you do not show for your appointment and you do not contact me in advance, you will be charged the full session rate.

Absolutely, with very few legal exceptions. Confidentiality is a hallmark of the client-therapist relationship and something I take seriously. It is essential you feel that you have a safe space to process your thoughts and feelings. Unless you give me written permission to speak to other individuals (such as another healthcare provider), I will keep your information private. There are certain legal and ethical limits to confidentiality that I will review with you during our initial session.

Telehealth (also known as telemedicine or telepsychology) refers to providing therapy services remotely, via videoconferencing. One of the major advantages of telehealth is accessibility – you can attend sessions from home or anywhere private with a reliable internet connection.

Important: For legal and licensing reasons, you must be physically located in Illinois or another PSYPACT state during our sessions. (See “What states are you licensed in?” for a full list of states where I can provide telehealth.)

For telehealth to work well, you will need a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a microphone, speakers (or headphones), and webcam. You will also need a reliable, high-speed internet connection. I can send you a pre-call tool to check to see if your internet connection and device will work for telehealth if you’re unsure. You will also want to ensure a distraction-free and quiet environment with adequate privacy during sessions.

The telehealth videoconferencing platform I use is secure and HIPAA-compliant. Video appointments are protected with bank-level encryption and security. You will receive an email with a unique link to join the session 36 hours before the appointment. There is nothing to download. Videos are not recorded or stored.

I am not licensed to prescribe medication, although I often work closely with psychiatrists and other physicians. If you would like to pursue medication in addition to therapy, it is usually easiest to find a prescriber in your insurance network. However, I will try to help you find a prescriber if necessary.

No, I specialize in working with adults (18+).

Please feel free to contact me through my Contact page or at drvickiebhatia@gmail.com

Please note that neither of these are completely secure mediums, so please do not include personal health information. If you have a question about treatment or working with me, please schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can discuss your individual context.