Mental Health Services and Pricing in Chicago: Urgent Assessments, Chats, Bridge Therapy and Medication Management
Brief, supportive conversations when you need guidance without committing to ongoing therapy
Whatever you’re carrying—stress, uncertainty, a tough decision, or just a rough day—we make it easier to talk with someone who understands.
Chats are brief, consultation-style sessions with a licensed therapist or a clinical intern working under licensed supervision that provide real-time support, guidance, and perspective, without requiring a full diagnostic intake.
In these sessions, you can:
- Talk through and process your thoughts and feelings
- Gain clarity and perspective
- Work on problem-solving and decision-making
- Set practical goals
- Learn coping strategies
- Explore helpful resources
Chats can also support caregivers, partners, or friends who are looking for guidance on how to help someone they care about.
Sessions are available in person or virtually and last 30 or 60 minutes to fit your schedule. Chats can be used on their own or as a first step toward ongoing care.
A Chat is a consultation, not therapy. It doesn't include a diagnosis, a treatment plan, a prescription, or documentation for school, work or legal purposes, and you may meet with a different clinician each time.
Evaluation for when you are experiencing distress and need timely support
Our urgent mental health assessments provide fast support for immediate concerns, emotional distress, or crisis, with clear next steps to help you move forward. These services are designed to address most mental health crises safely outside a hospital setting.
“Urgent” doesn’t have to mean crisis. It means you need a timely clinical evaluation. Urgent Assessments focus on safety, risk and next steps. Visits are with a licensed mental health clinician.
An Urgent Assessment is not a medication visit. Our mental health clinicians don't prescribe, so this visit doesn't include a medication evaluation or a prescription. If medication is the main reason you're reaching out, book a Medication Management visit with one of our psychiatric nurse practitioners instead.
A mental health crisis may include:
- Intense anxiety or panic that feels unmanageable
- Sudden worsening of depression or mood symptoms
- Suicidal thoughts or concerns about personal safety
- Emotional distress after a major loss, conflict, or traumatic event
- Significant changes in behavior or emotions that feel out of control
- Caregivers unsure how to respond to escalating concerns
Same-day evaluations, lasting 75–90 minutes, help you understand what’s happening, create a plan, and determine next steps. Each visit includes assessment, treatment and safety planning, and referrals if a higher level of care is needed.
Available in person only.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Short-term therapy grounded in measurable progress and meaningful outcomes
Bridge Therapy at SHFT is short-term and goal-focused. Most clients work with a licensed clinician or a clinical intern working under licensed supervision for about 5–15 sessions, with clear goals and a plan from the first visit. If longer-term care would serve you better, we’ll help you find the right ongoing provider. Our therapists tailor treatment using evidence-based approaches that have been proven effective.
We track progress using validated tools to ensure care is responsive, effective, and aligned with what matters most to you. By monitoring outcomes over time, we can adjust treatment thoughtfully, celebrate gains, and focus on meaningful improvements—not just symptom reduction.
We support a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, and everyday life stressors.
Therapy sessions last 60 minutes, and most clients meet with their therapist weekly or biweekly. Sessions are available in person or virtually to fit your schedule. Please call your SHFT provider directly to schedule follow-up appointments; follow-ups are not scheduled online. If you need help reaching your provider, call the clinic at 312-757-1001.
Personalized psychiatric care to support safe and effective medication treatment
Medication Management visits are with our psychiatric nurse practitioners, who can evaluate, prescribe and adjust medication. If medication is what you need, this is the visit to book, not an Urgent Assessment.
Our psychiatric providers offer comprehensive evaluations and ongoing medication management for individuals who may benefit from medication as part of their mental health care.
Visits include assessing symptoms, prescribing or adjusting medications, and monitoring your progress over time.
We support both routine care and urgent medication concerns, such as side effects or reactions that may need prompt attention.
Prescribing decisions follow clinical guidelines, and some medications may require additional information before they can be prescribed.
New to our prescribers? Your first visit is always 60 minutes, whether you're starting a medication for the first time or transferring a prescription from another provider. We prefer to hold first visits in person so your prescriber can check vital signs; virtual visits are available, and some medications require an in-person blood pressure check before they can be prescribed.
30-minute visits are for follow-ups with your SHFT prescriber and for consultations about medication questions or a second opinion. Please call your prescriber directly to schedule a follow-up appointment; follow-ups are not scheduled online. To arrange a follow-up about medication questions or a second opinion, call the clinic at 312-757-1001. A consultation does not include a full evaluation or a prescription.
insurance
SHFT is in-network with:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois — PPO and Blue Choice PPO
- Cigna / Evernorth
- UnitedHealthcare / Optum, including UMR
- Surest
- Oscar Health
- GuideHealth for Advocate
- Student health insurance plans associated with UChicago, Loyola, UIC, Chicago State, Northwestern, National Louis and DePaul Universities
BCBS HMO plans are generally out of network though exceptions may apply.
We are not in-network with Medicaid, Medicare or Tricare at this time.
For all other insurance plans, SHFT is considered out-of-network. In these cases, we provide a superbill after each appointment—a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.
For self-pay clients, our pricing is straightforward and transparent, with no hidden fees. A sliding fee scale, based on household size and income, is also available.
Coverage and reimbursement vary by plan, so we recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to confirm your mental health benefits, including copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and out-of-network coverage. Our team is happy to help answer general questions as you navigate this process.
Confused by a bill or EOB? Here’s how one visit moves through insurance, and what each word on your bill means.
Download the Insurance Explainer (PDF)Cash pay rates
These rates apply when you pay for a visit without using insurance. Each amount is for the service listed below. If you use an in-network plan, your cost depends on your plan's copay, coinsurance and deductible. A sliding fee scale, based on household size and income, is available. Please ask our team about costs or payment options before your visit.
Initial
Follow-up and Consultation
Reduced-rate clinical interns
A 60-minute Chat or Bridge Therapy session with a clinical intern costs $35. A 30-minute Chat costs $17.50. Clinical interns work under the supervision of a licensed SHFT clinician.
Intern services are self-pay only and are not billed to insurance. To inquire about availability, please call the clinic or mention at time of check-in.
Cancellations and missed appointments
Can't make your appointment? Please let us know as soon as possible. Each SHFT appointment reserves time with a clinician for you. We ask for at least 24 hours' notice so we can offer that time to someone else who needs care.
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, and missed appointments, may be charged a $75 fee. This fee is your responsibility and cannot be billed to insurance. Please contact the clinic if you need to cancel or have questions about a missed visit.
faqs
How do I schedule a follow-up appointment?
Please call your SHFT provider directly to schedule a follow-up appointment. Follow-up appointments are not scheduled online. If you need help reaching your provider, call the clinic at 312-757-1001.
What age groups do you focus on?
We treat clients ages 5 and up.
Are you able to see clients who are located outside of IL?
At this time, no. Our clinicians are licensed in Illinois and can only provide therapy and psychiatric services to clients who are physically located in Illinois at the time of their appointment, including virtual visits. If you are relocating or will be outside of Illinois for an extended period, please speak with your provider about available options and referrals.
What is GeneSight testing and how does it work?
GeneSight is a genetic test that looks at how your body may respond to certain psychiatric medications. It is done with a simple cheek swab, and results are shared with your prescriber to help guide medication decisions. It is used as one tool alongside your symptoms, history, and clinical judgment.
How do I know whether to see a therapist or a prescriber?
It depends on your needs and goals. Therapists focus on talk therapy to help you process thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, while prescribers can evaluate symptoms and prescribe medication if appropriate. Many people benefit from a combination of both, while others may only need one type of care. After an initial evaluation, we’ll help guide you toward the most appropriate treatment plan.
What is your cancellation policy?
Can't make your appointment? Please let us know as soon as possible. Because SHFT appointments are reserved specifically for you — and because we're a same-day access clinic — we ask for at least 24 hours' notice. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, and missed appointments, may be charged a $75 fee. This fee is your responsibility and cannot be billed to insurance.
Do you take Medicaid, Medicare or Tricare?
Not at this time.
Can I see a clinical intern at a lower cost?
A 60-minute Chat or Bridge Therapy session with a clinical intern costs $35. A 30-minute Chat costs $17.50. Clinical interns work under the supervision of a licensed SHFT clinician.
Intern services are self-pay only and are not billed to insurance. To ask about availability, inquire when you call 312-757-1001 or at check-in.
Are you open on Sundays?
Beginning October 4, 2026, SHFT is open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. If you or someone you know is in crisis when we're closed, call or text 988, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
