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Frequently Asked Questions

Who should go to a therapist?

A core belief at Lighthouse Counseling is that anyone can benefit from the therapeutic process. People often seek therapy in times of crisis or immense distress, but we don’t believe there is a right or wrong time to engage in therapy. Therapy is one of the best ways to prevent a major crisis and promotes internal resilience. If you desire to heal emotional wounds and improve your emotional agility, relationships, or quality of life, then therapy is a great fit for you.

Why go to a therapist?

At Lighthouse Counseling, we firmly believe that anyone can benefit from therapy. We encourage you to think of it as a “tool” like any other method of self-improvement to navigate life stressors (big or small). You don’t even need to have a “major” problem to go to a therapist – being unable to deal with your problem or life dissatisfaction makes you a good therapy candidate.

How will I know if my counselor is the right fit for me?

That first therapy session is a lot like a blind date. It can be stressful to meet a new therapist, and often our clients have been through multiple therapists. Below are a few questions you might want to ask yourself after the first session to see if therapy feels “right” with your therapist: 

  • How easy was it to talk with your therapist?
  • Does your therapist seem like someone you could trust?
  • Did it feel like your counselor was really listening to you?
  • Does it seem like your counselor knows how to help you?

Additional FAQs (click to expand):

That’s entirely up to you! While therapists may provide clinical recommendations for therapy frequency and duration, clients are ultimately the only ones who can decide how long therapy should last. Our counselors can provide brief, solution-focused therapy or work on deeper internal issues.

Everyone on our team is either a Doctoral level or Master’s level clinician, meaning they have earned an advanced degree in social work, psychology, or counseling. The letters behind their name represent the type of education and training they received. Ask your therapist if you want to learn more about their training and background, or visit the “Meet Our Team” page. 

  • PsyD: Doctor of Psychology
  • LSW/LCSW: Licensed Social Worker/Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • LPC/LCPC: Licensed Professional Counselor/Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor 

The costs and insurance coverage associated with therapy and psychological testing are incredibly complex and constantly changing. Whether your insurance plan has a deductible, a copay, a coinsurance, or some combination of all three, we’ll do our best to help you understand your insurance plan and your financial responsibility before your first session. 

We strive to make our billing process as easy and transparent as possible. Our online portal allows for online payments, and our therapists are trained to accept payments at the beginning or end of every session. We are also happy to provide electronic or mailed statements to our clients whenever requested. 

Despite our efforts to clarify our billing process,  it’s best to call your healthcare provider (usually under behavioral health) and ensure Dr. Soriano and Lighthouse Counseling are within your insurance network.

Currently, Lighthouse Counseling is covered under most major insurance plans, many EAP programs, and other forms of coverage. Unfortunately, we do not accept State Aid or Medicaid at this time.

However, health insurance is constantly changing. Whether you are seeking psychological testing or therapy, it’s best to call your healthcare provider (usually under behavioral health) and ensure Dr. Soriano and Lighthouse Counseling are within your insurance network. Below are some of the major insurance panels we accept. 

  • BCBS PPO
  • Aetna 
  • Cigna 
  • Quartz
  • United Behavioral Health
  • Medicare

Absolutely! Confidentiality is one of the core elements of mental health treatment. Your counselor cannot reveal the content of your sessions or even acknowledge if you are in therapy.

However, there are exceptions to confidentiality. If you are an immediate threat of danger to yourself or others around you, we may need to break confidentiality to ensure your safety. Your therapist will be more than happy to discuss the limits of confidentiality. 

We’re conveniently located at 973 Featherstone Road, Rockford, IL, 61107, near the corner of Mulford and Guilford. The offices of Lighthouse Counseling of Rockford are on the first floor of the Featherstone building in Suite 360. Simply walk past the elevators until you reach the end of the hallway. Turn right, and then you’ll find our offices at the end of the hallway. 

You can start your journey with Lighthouse Counseling by calling 815-520-0927 or clicking here to send us a message. We’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible to establish a connection and discuss how we can best serve you! If you decide to move forward with services, we will set you up in our client portal system where you can conveniently complete all of our brief intake paperwork and view upcoming appointments.

During your first session, you and your therapist will get to know one another, discuss what brought you to therapy, and decide the best course of treatment or types of psychological testing to pursue. 

Yes! We are happy to provide HIPAA-protected telehealth therapy sessions if your insurance covers this method of therapy.
Lighthouses have historically represented a pathway out of darkness toward safety and hope. At Lighthouse Counseling, we seek to create a sense of hope for those who enter our doors, providing direction and guidance in troubled times.

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We know you’ll have questions before starting the process of meeting with a counselor. You may want to know if your health insurance will cover the cost, what time of day a therapist is available, or if anyone has specialized experience with the concerns that are bringing you here.
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