I've never done counseling. What is therapy like?

We at Pneuma believe that every client who enters therapy has what it takes to make the changes and improve her life. We are simply here to help you discover what you already possess. We also believe every client that enters our doors is deserving of worth, value and dignity and should be treated as such. The experience of therapy can be described in many ways. Therapy is like having someone hold up a mirror where you are able to see yourself more clear. However, upon seeing yourself you will find acceptance and compassion.

How do I know if I need counseling?

There are a number of reasons why starting therapy would be beneficial. Here are some questions to ask yourself. Are you feeling sad, angry, or not yourself? Is this interfering with your life in any way? Are you using anything to manage life such as drugs, alcohol, sex? Have you lost anyone or anything important to you? Has anything traumatic happened to you? Or perhaps, you just need a place to sort things out. All these are great reasons for entering therapy.

How many sessions do I need for counseling?

The amount of time you spend in therapy is deeply personal and depends on your individual needs, goals, and resources. The number of recommended sessions varies by condition and treatment type, however, the majority of clients report feeling better after 3 months; those with depression and anxiety experience significant improvement after short and longer time frames, 1-2 months & 3-4.

How often do I need to attend counseling?

Really good therapy is meeting at least once a week. This allows for the relationship to form since counseling is about a relationship. You need to be able to feel safe and learn to trust your therapist. Additionally, so much can happen if you meet outside of a week. Once you start to identify root issues and see some change, you and your therapist can reevaluate and change it up. Typically, meeting every two weeks is common.

How long are sessions?

A session lasts 50 minutes which is considered a therapeutic hour. Some sessions can be extended, but there are additional charges associated with this and happen for different reasons.

What if I need to come more than once a week?

Typical therapy is once a week for an hour. If a client needs to come more than once a week, this is usually due to a crisis that eventually gets resolved and weekly sessions are resumed. However, if a client needs more than once a week on a regular basis it may be necessary to seek a higher level of care in another agency or clinic.

Our fees are as follows: The first two sessions are $225. These two sessions are known as the diagnostic interview where we are getting background information and formulating your treatment plan. The remaining sessions are $190. If you have insurance this will change. We accept the following insurance plans: BCBS PPO & Blue Choice PPO, Cigna, United Healthcare/Optum, and Aetna. Please send us a picture of your card along with your date of birth to verify your coverage and costs.

Should I work with a male or female therapist?

The gender of your therapist is oftentimes a matter of personal preference. However, one can approach this decision therapeutically. For instance, if you had a problem with female figures growing up, you might want to consider working with a female. In the end, it is always your choice.

What if you don't accept my insurance?

We accept the following plans: BCBS PPO & Blue Choice PPO, Cigna, United Healthcare/Optum, and Aetna. If you don't see your plan, many plans will allow members to see OON (out of network) providers and provide benefits which can offset the costs. The rates for reimbursement are typically anywhere from 50%-80%. If your plan is OON, you will be required to pay the full fee for our services, then submit an invoice to your insurance for any available reimbursement. We help you with this by providing monthly invoices or super-bills with the necessary information.

Do you have a sliding scale?

We do have a sliding scale for those who have financial burdens. Please discuss this with your therapist.

Can you prescribe me medication?

Medication is often prescribed by either a doctor or psychiatrist. If you are interested in using medication in conjunction with therapy, we can provide referrals to a psychiatrist.

How does Christian counseling differ from traditional therapy?

Christian counseling integrates faith-based principles with evidence-based therapeutic techniques. While traditional therapy focuses on psychological healing, Christian counseling can also incorporate scripture, prayer, and spiritual guidance to promote emotional well-being.

Is Christian counseling effective for mental health issues?

Yes, Christian counseling is effective for addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. By combining spiritual support with psychological tools, it provides a holistic approach to healing.

What issues can Christian counseling help with?

Christian counseling can address marital struggles, grief, addiction, family conflicts, and personal growth. It is beneficial for individuals seeking emotional healing through both faith and professional counseling techniques.

Can Christian counseling help with forgiveness and reconciliation?

Yes, Christian counseling emphasizes forgiveness, grace, and emotional healing. It helps individuals process pain and betrayal while fostering healthy boundaries and reconciliation when appropriate.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety, and emotional numbness. PTSD can affect daily functioning, but with support and care, individuals can work toward healing and reclaiming a sense of safety and stability.

How does trauma affect the brain?

Trauma can alter how the brain processes stress, emotion, and memory. It often affects the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, which are the regions involved in fear response, memory regulation, and decision-making. These changes can lead to heightened anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and emotional dysregulation, making healing and support essential for recovery and resilience.

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a structured approach to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. It uses guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to reduce the emotional intensity of distressing memories, allowing the brain to reprocess them in a more adaptive and less disruptive way.

How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

EMDR therapy works by helping the patient reprocess traumatic memories. During traumatic experiences, the brain often doesn't process and store the memories correctly. This results in adverse symptoms. During EMDR therapy, the patient is prompted to recall a traumatic memory while being exposed to an external stimuli moving back and forth – usually a light or finger. The bilateral stimulation helps the brain to reprocess the memory being recalled. After each session of bilateral stimulation, the patient is asked to say a belief about themselves connected to the memory. One of our experienced therapists will help guide you towards a more positive and healthy outlook on yourself by the end of treatment.

Does Insurance Cover EMDR Therapy?

If your insurance covers mental health treatments, it will likely cover EMDR therapy for treating conditions like PTSD. However, insurance plans differ, so it is best to check with your provider.

How Long Is EMDR Therapy?

Depending on the complexity of the trauma, the number of sessions required can range from 3-6 sessions for a single traumatic incident to 8-12 sessions for more complex, long-term trauma. These sessions typically last an hour to 90 minutes.

What is the difference between counseling and therapy for sex addiction?

Counseling vs. therapy for sex addiction differs mainly in approach. Counseling often focuses on specific behaviors and coping strategies, whereas therapy delves deeper into the emotional and psychological roots of addiction. Both methods can be beneficial depending on individual needs.

Can online counseling create a strong therapeutic relationship?

Yes, online counseling can foster a strong therapeutic relationship by providing a confidential and accessible environment. Research shows that virtual therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions for addressing sex addiction and compulsive behaviors.

What therapeutic techniques are used in sex addiction counseling?

Effective therapeutic techniques in counseling for sex addiction include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy. These approaches help individuals recognize triggers, develop healthier habits, and rebuild relationships.

Is sex addiction counseling covered by insurance?

Coverage varies, but many counseling therapy near me options accept insurance for addiction treatment. It's best to check with your provider to determine if therapy counseling services for sex addiction are included in your plan.

How to Succeed in Couples Counseling?

To get the most out of couples counseling, it's important that both of you maintain open minds and be willing to listen to each other. Here at Pneuma, we give you the support and structure to improve your communication skills, and work together to address your issues. But communication hits a dead end without listening. Pneuma's couple counseling will help you develop more effective listening and communication skills to get the most out of your counseling.

Can You Do Couples Therapy While Separated?

Couples counseling can be especially beneficial for separated couples looking to reconcile. Our supportive counselors will help guide you and your partner to identify, address and resolve negative cycles in your relationship, and improve your communication to empower you to tackle issues in your relationship in a healthy way.

Is Couples Counseling Covered by Insurance?

Couples counseling is typically not covered by insurance. However, if one of you has a mental health diagnosis, your insurance's mental health coverage may cover it. Insurance plans differ, so it is best to check with your provider.

When Should You Go to Couples Counseling?

Are you and your partner frequently arguing? Does communication keep breaking down? Are you and your partner experiencing a major life change that is affecting your relationship? It may be time to get couples counseling. Our caring and experienced counselors will help guide you through these difficulties by helping you and your partner identify issues and negative patterns, and develop the communication skills to handle them while strengthening your bond.

What is betrayal trauma, and how does it affect mental health?

Betrayal trauma occurs when a trusted person violates expectations, causing deep emotional distress. It can lead to anxiety, depression, PTSD-like symptoms, and difficulties in forming secure relationships. Therapy helps individuals process emotions, rebuild trust, and develop coping mechanisms.

What is the difference between couples therapy and marriage counseling for betrayal trauma?

Couples therapy vs. marriage counseling differs in scope. Couples therapy addresses emotional wounds, trust rebuilding, and relational healing after betrayal, while marriage counseling typically focuses on conflict resolution and communication skills.

What therapeutic approaches are used in betrayal trauma counseling?

Common therapeutic approaches in counseling for betrayal trauma include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Trauma-Focused Therapy. These techniques help individuals process trauma, regulate emotions, and rebuild self-esteem.

Can betrayal trauma affect physical health?

Yes, betrayal trauma can lead to chronic stress, sleep disturbances, and weakened immune function. Seeking support through clinical mental health counseling can help individuals manage both the emotional and physical effects of trauma.

What Is Intensive Couples Therapy? A Guide for Chicago Couples

When a relationship feels stuck, some couples want more focused time to address concerns than a weekly session allows. They may be dealing with recurring conflict, disconnection, or a significant relationship concern and want dedicated time to work on it together. Others may find weekly appointments difficult to fit into their schedules.

Intensive couples therapy offers a more concentrated format for couples counseling. Instead of meeting for a single session each week, couples spend extended time working with a therapist over a half-day, full day, or weekend.

For Chicago couples, this format provides another way to structure couples counseling around the concerns they want to address and the time they have available.

What Is Intensive Couples Therapy?

Intensive couples therapy is a concentrated format for relationship counseling that gives couples several hours of dedicated therapeutic time within a shorter period. Instead of meeting for a typical 45- to 50-minute session and returning the following week, couples may participate in a half-day, full-day, or weekend intensive.

This format may include:

Half-day intensives for focused work over several hours
Full-day intensive sessions that provide a longer period for couples counseling
Weekend couples therapy experiences that concentrate therapeutic work into a defined weekend

The extended format gives couples more time to discuss specific relationship concerns, examine recurring communication or conflict patterns, and work with a therapist without ending after a single weekly appointment. The therapist can use the additional time to stay with a particular concern and help the couple practice different ways of responding to one another.

Couples intensive therapy is not a promise that a relationship will be repaired in one weekend. It is a concentrated counseling format that may provide a focused step in the therapeutic process, with ongoing couples counseling considered when additional support is appropriate.

How Is It Different from Weekly Couples Counseling?

Both weekly couples therapy and intensive couples counseling can support couples working through relationship concerns. The main difference is pacing, structure, and the amount of uninterrupted time available for therapeutic work.

Weekly Couples Therapy	Intensive Couples Therapy
Typically 45- to 50-minute sessions	Multiple therapy hours within a shorter period
Sessions are spaced over time	Focused work within a half-day, full day, or weekend
Time between sessions to return to daily life	More uninterrupted time to address relationship concerns
Fits a regular counseling schedule	Provides a concentrated format for couples counseling

Weekly counseling gives couples scheduled time with a therapist while allowing space between appointments to apply what they discuss to communication, conflict, or other relationship concerns.

An intensive couples therapy format changes the pace by bringing several hours of counseling together. This can give couples more time to discuss a specific relationship concern without ending after a single weekly appointment.

Neither approach is inherently better. The right format depends on the couple’s concerns, goals, availability, and the type of therapeutic support that is appropriate.

Who Benefits Most from an Intensive Format?

Intensive couples therapy may be worth considering for couples who want concentrated therapeutic time around a specific relationship concern, scheduling challenge, or major life change.

Couples experiencing serious relationship distress: Couples facing ongoing conflict, disconnection, or a significant relationship concern may want more focused time with a couples therapist than a single weekly appointment provides.
Couples with scheduling constraints: Couples balancing demanding work schedules, parenting responsibilities, travel, or other commitments may find it difficult to attend weekly appointments. A weekend intensive can concentrate couples counseling into a defined period.
Couples preparing for a major life event: Couples approaching marriage, becoming parents, relocating, or entering retirement may want dedicated time to address relationship concerns before a significant transition.
Couples adjusting after a major life event: Couples may also seek concentrated counseling after a relocation, becoming parents, retirement, or another major change has placed new demands on their relationship.

An intensive does not replace emergency mental health services, crisis intervention, or ongoing therapy when those forms of support are needed. A couples therapist can help determine whether the intensive format fits the couple’s circumstances and goals.

What an Intensive Looks Like at Pneuma: The Hold Me Tight Weekend

At Pneuma Chicago, the Hold Me Tight® Workshop gives couples a two-day intensive grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). The workshop gives you and your partner dedicated time to understand relationship patterns, explore emotional needs, and practice healthier ways of responding to each other.

The weekend combines teaching, demonstrations, guided conversations, and private exercises for couples. You learn as part of a group, but conversations about your relationship stay private between you and your partner. You do not have to share personal relationship details with the group.

The workshop focuses on negative relationship patterns, emotional connection, communication, trust, and emotional intimacy. Couples also practice new ways of responding to each other and leave with practical tools they can begin using in their relationship.

If you want to explore this intensive couples therapy weekend in Chicago, visit the Hold Me Tight Weekend page for the current schedule, registration details, and additional information.

Is an Intensive Right for You?

Choosing between weekly couples counseling and an intensive depends on what you and your partner want to address, how much time you have, and whether concentrated counseling fits your needs. Neither format is automatically the better choice.

An intensive may be worth considering if:

You and your partner want several hours of focused time to address relationship concerns.
You keep returning to the same conflicts or patterns without knowing how to move forward.
Work, parenting, travel, or other responsibilities make weekly appointments difficult to maintain.
You want dedicated time to work on your relationship before or after a major life transition.

Weekly couples therapy may be a better fit if you want regular support over time or need continued counseling after an intensive. A couples therapist can learn more about your concerns and help you decide which format makes sense for your situation.

An intensive does not resolve every relationship concern in one weekend. It gives couples dedicated time to work with a therapist on specific concerns. For some couples, ongoing counseling may provide continued support as they work toward greater connection and healthier communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is intensive couples therapy?

Intensive couples therapy concentrates multiple hours of couples counseling into a shorter period. Formats can include half-day, full-day, or weekend programs.

Is intensive couples therapy the same as a couples retreat?

Not necessarily. An intensive provides structured therapeutic or relationship education work. Pneuma’s Hold Me Tight® Workshop combines teaching, demonstrations, guided conversations, and private exercises for couples.

Does intensive couples counseling replace weekly therapy?

No. An intensive does not replace ongoing therapy or crisis care when those services are needed. Couples may continue counseling after an intensive when appropriate.

How long does an intensive couples therapy weekend last?

The length depends on the program. Pneuma’s Hold Me Tight® Workshop takes place over two days and is grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

Who should consider couples intensive therapy?

Couples may consider an intensive when they want focused time to address relationship concerns, recurring conflict, communication difficulties, or a major life transition. Couples with demanding schedules may also prefer a concentrated format.

Take the Next Step

If you are looking for trauma-informed, faith-based counseling in Chicago, our team is here to help.

If you are exploring whether an intensive format fits your relationship, learn more about the Hold Me Tight Weekend.