Bradley Counseling Center

Illinois passed a law that went into effect on January 1^st, 2025 that requires all insurance companies to cover an annual mental health screening, the same way that they must cover a physical every year. For mental health, this means screening for any mental health diagnoses and making recommendations if needed.

If you have questioned whether you need therapy or are unsure if your coping strategies are “normal” or “healthy,” this type of appointment may be for you! This is a way to help you learn about your own mental health and when to seek out help, and what type of help may be beneficial.

At Bradley Counseling Center, we believe that it is always a good idea to talk with a mental health professional rather than a primary care physician when determining if any mental health interventions are needed. That is why we offer this service – to help you determine whether there is any need for interventions or not. Our therapists will discuss your life, stressors, coping strategies, and any family history of mental illness to provide recommendations that could vary from new coping strategies to try, seeking therapy, referral to a psychiatrist, referral for testing, what warning signs to look for in order to seek out help, or helping you connect with a hospital if you are in crisis.

When you inquire about a mental health checkup, we will gather some basic information, collect your insurance benefit information, and discuss payment options. Finally, we will discuss your scheduling needs and availability for appointments. We try to schedule your appointment as soon as we verify insurance (if applicable). As with many checkup type appointments, the availability of appointments may be limited or delayed depending on scheduling needs and openings. In such a case, the front office will call you as soon as an appointment is available.

Bradley Counseling Center is an “in network” provider with several commercial insurance companies and it is also an Illinois Medicaid certified provider for youth under age 18.

Costs of services are based on your individual insurance coverage (including deductible and co-pays).

Our client account specialist will assist you in verifying your insurance benefits as well as determining if you have a co-pay and how much it is.

Self-pay options are also available, and can be discussed further upon request. For qualifying families, fees may be reduced according to a sliding scale. All fees are due at the time of service. We accept all forms of payment including cash, checks, credit cards, as well as HSA and flexible spending cards.

There are some forms to fill out prior to the appointment, which you will receive when you check in (please come about 15 minutes ahead of time!). In the appointment, the therapist will review client rights and consents, as well as the forms you filled out. A clinical assessment will be conducted integrating information from the forms and the conversation with you. The therapist will then discuss with you any potential concerns, ways that you have been managing your stressors, as well as potential options for continuing to manage your mental health. They will also make recommendations about additional coping strategies, need for treatment, or warning signs to look out for. They will also provide you with resources to access if needed, or help facilitate hospitalization if you are in crisis. If you decide you want to pursue therapy, the therapist will be sure to either schedule an ongoing appointment with them/another clinician or have the front office contact you when an appointment that matches your availability opens up. If you choose not to pursue therapy, we look forward to seeing you at your next annual mental health check up!