FAQs

  • You don't have to figure that out on your own. During your free consultation, we'll take time to learn about your concerns, goals, and what you're hoping to gain from therapy. Based on that conversation, we'll recommend a therapeutic approach that we believe will best support your healing. Whether that's EMDR, Brainspotting, traditional talk therapy, or another evidence-based approach, we'll guide you every step of the way.

  • Our free consultation is a relaxed, no-pressure phone conversation designed to help you determine whether we're the right fit for your needs. We'll discuss what brings you to therapy, answer any questions you have, explain our approach, and talk through scheduling, fees, and insurance options. If it feels like a good fit, we'll help you get your first appointment scheduled.

  • Yes. Your privacy is extremely important to us. Everything discussed in therapy is kept confidential except in rare situations required by law, such as concerns about immediate safety, abuse or neglect, or court orders. Your therapist will review confidentiality in detail during your first appointment so you'll know exactly what to expect.

Getting Started

  • Every person's healing journey is different. Some clients come to therapy for short-term support around a specific challenge, while others choose longer-term therapy to work through deeper patterns or trauma. Together with your therapist, you'll regularly evaluate your progress and determine what feels most helpful for your goals.

  • Many people come to us after feeling disappointed by previous therapy experiences. Sometimes it simply wasn't the right therapist or treatment approach. At Forward Healing Therapy, we specialize in evidence-based approaches like EMDR and Brainspotting that can help you move beyond challenges that traditional talk therapy alone may not fully address. Previous therapy doesn't mean therapy isn't right for you; it may simply mean you haven't found the right fit yet.

  • These professionals all support mental health but have different training and roles.

    • Therapists (Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, etc.) provide counseling and psychotherapy.

    • Psychologists typically hold doctoral degrees and may provide therapy, psychological testing, and formal assessments.

    • Psychiatric providers are medical doctors or psychiatric nurse practitioners who specialize in mental health and can prescribe medication.

    Many clients benefit from working with both a therapist and a psychiatric provider when medication is part of their treatment plan.

  • We believe the relationship between you and your therapist is one of the most important parts of successful therapy. When you first reach out or fill out our form, any information you're comfortable sharing about your goals, concerns, or what you're hoping to work on is incredibly helpful. This allows us to begin considering which therapist may be the best fit before your consultation.

    During your consultation with a therapist, we'll learn more about your goals, preferences, scheduling needs, and the challenges you'd like to address. From there, we'll discuss how we can help you meet your goals and what therapy with us will look like. If we are not a good fit for your needs, we will recommend other community resources.

  • You can get started by filling out our contact form here. Based on the information you provide, we'll match you with the therapist who best fits your needs. They will then reach out to schedule a free consultation and discuss next steps.

  • Appointment availability varies by therapist. Some of our therapists offer evening appointments, while others have daytime availability. Weekend appointments may be available on a limited basis. Be sure to fill out your availability on our contact form, so we can connect you accordingly.

About the Practice

  • Yes! We offer both in-person and secure telehealth appointments for many of our therapy services.

    Virtual therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for many concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. Many clients appreciate the flexibility and convenience of meeting from the comfort of home.

    If appropriate for your treatment goals, you may also switch between virtual and in-person appointments as your schedule or needs change.

    For virtual sessions, you'll simply need a private, quiet location and a reliable internet connection. Because we have therapists licensed in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, clients receiving virtual therapy must be physically located in one of those three states at the time of their appointment.

Virtual vs. In-Person Therapy

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy designed to help the brain process distressing experiences that continue to impact your life. While it's commonly associated with trauma, EMDR can also be effective for anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, grief, low self-esteem, and other concerns. During your consultation and initial sessions, your therapist will help determine whether EMDR is an appropriate fit for your goals.

  • Traditional talk therapy often focuses on understanding thoughts, emotions, and behaviors through conversation. EMDR goes beyond talking by helping the brain and nervous system release distressing memories that may be connected to current symptoms. Many clients find they experience meaningful relief through EMDR without having to repeatedly revisit painful memories in detail.

  • Absolutely. Trauma isn't defined by the event itself. It's defined by how your nervous system experienced it. Many people seek EMDR for experiences they don't initially consider traumatic, such as difficult childhood experiences, relationship wounds, bullying, medical procedures, chronic stress, or significant life transitions. If an experience continues to affect your thoughts, emotions, relationships, or sense of safety, EMDR may help.

  • Yes. Therapy can be highly effective for anxiety by helping you better understand your symptoms, identify patterns, develop practical coping skills, and address underlying experiences that may be contributing. Depending on your needs, your therapist may recommend approaches such as EMDR, Brainspotting, dialectic behavioral techniques, mindfulness, or traditional talk therapy.

  • Both EMDR and Brainspotting are powerful trauma therapies that help the brain process unresolved experiences, but they work in slightly different ways.

    Some clients respond better to one approach than the other. You don't have to decide beforehand, and your therapist can recommend the approach that best fits your goals, history, and comfort level. We’ve also written a blog here, if you’d like to learn more.

EMDR & Trauma Therapy

  • Yes. A few of our therapists work with children and teens. Therapy for younger clients is tailored to their developmental stage and may incorporate play, creative interventions, or parent collaboration depending on age and presenting concerns.

    If you're unsure whether your child would benefit from therapy, we're happy to discuss your concerns during a consultation.

Therapy Specialities

  • Forward Healing Therapy is an out-of-network practice, meaning we do not bill insurance directly.

    Many clients are still able to use their out-of-network benefits. We can provide a superbill, which you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

    We also partner with Thrizer, a service that simplifies the reimbursement process by submitting claims on your behalf. Depending on your insurance plan, Thrizer may also allow you to pay only your estimated patient responsibility at the time of your appointment rather than paying the full session fee upfront.

    If you're unsure whether you have out-of-network benefits, we're happy to help you explore your options. You can easily check your coverage using our self-service benefits verification tool on our Insurance & Benefits page. Simply enter your insurance information, and you'll receive an estimate of your out-of-network benefits before getting started. Prefer a little help? Fill out our contact form, and we'll be happy to verify your out-of-network benefits for you as part of the intake process.

  • Session fees vary depending on the therapist, licensure and experience. Session fees range from $150-$225. We'll discuss our current rates during your free consultation so you have a clear understanding of the investment before scheduling your first appointment.

  • Yes. We offer a limited number of sliding scale appointments for clients experiencing financial hardship. Availability varies by therapist and may not always be available, but we're happy to discuss whether this option may be a good fit for your situation.

  • In most cases, yes. Therapy is generally an eligible expense for both Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). We recommend checking with your plan administrator if you have questions about your specific coverage.

Insurance & Cost