Online therapy · anywhere in Illinois Online therapy, anywhere in Illinois
Therapy by secure video from your dorm, your apartment, or home over the break, with the same therapist and the same insurance. For college students and young adults who would rather not add a commute to an already full week.
If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency department. This page is about ongoing therapy.
How online sessions work
Sessions run on a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You join from a phone or laptop, from anywhere private. Many people start online and add in-person sessions in Evanston, Chicago or Palatine later, or the other way round. You can switch as your term changes.
The work itself is the same as in person: the same approaches, including CBT, DBT skills and mindfulness-based therapy, the same length of session, and the same therapist.
Making video sessions work
Privacy matters more than the device. A closed room is ideal; headphones help if others are nearby. Students in shared housing often use a parked car, an empty study room, or a time when roommates are out. If privacy is hard to find one week, say so. The session can be rearranged rather than held somewhere you cannot talk freely.
A stable connection matters more than a fast one, and joining a few minutes early leaves time to settle. Nothing needs installing beyond what the session link asks for.
Who online therapy suits
Online sessions suit people with full schedules, no car, or a long trip across the city; people who find it easier to talk from their own space; and students who move between campus and home during the year. Some people prefer to meet in person, at least at first, and that is available too, in Evanston, Chicago (Hyde Park) and Palatine.
Why it has to be Illinois
Therapists are licensed state by state, and Mindtude is licensed in Illinois. That means you need to be physically in Illinois at the time of each session. A student whose family lives elsewhere in Illinois can keep going over breaks; if you will be in another state, talk to us before you go so there is a plan.
Insurance for online therapy
Video sessions are billed the same way as in-person ones. Mindtude is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, including Northwestern's NU-SHIP and UChicago's U-SHIP. If your plan is out of network, superbills are available for reimbursement, and self-pay is $200 to $250 per session.
Common questions
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
For many people and many concerns, yes. What matters most is the fit between you and your therapist and that you can talk privately. You can also mix online and in-person sessions.
What do I need for an online session?
A phone or laptop with a camera, a stable internet connection, and somewhere private for the length of the session.
Is online therapy private?
Sessions run on a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform, and the same confidentiality applies as in person.
Can I do online therapy if I go home to another state?
Sessions have to happen while you are physically in Illinois, because licensing is state by state. If you will be out of state, let us know in advance so there is a plan for that time.
Does insurance cover online therapy?
Yes, the same as in-person sessions, for BCBS, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna plans, including NU-SHIP and U-SHIP.
Start with a free consultation
A short call, no charge, to see whether this is a fit. Send your insurance details with it and we will confirm your coverage before you commit to anything.