About Us

Led by a dedicated team of experienced clinicians, we empower individuals, families, and relationships to thrive through inclusive and affirming mental health support.

Our Mission is...

Young multiethnic people having fun stacking hands outdoor

To make quality mental health care accessible and oriented to the clients we work with.

We believe that therapy is inherently political and that the political is personal. Our clinical and administrative practices are rooted in anti-oppression and decolonizing efforts to make therapy and healing more accessible and culturally sensitive.

To promote political change through our clinical and advocacy work.

We believe that therapy is inherently political and that the political is personal. Our clinical and administrative practices are rooted in anti-oppression and decolonizing efforts to make therapy and healing more accessible and culturally sensitive.

Youth Advocating for Change: Multiracial young people cover faces with "CHANGE" discs by a railing, sea, and rocks, symbolizing a call for societal transformation
Lesbian married couple laughing out loud while talking and sitting on the therapy session with psychologist

To make accessing mental health care easy to understand and empowering.

We communicate our policies clearly to ensure transparency and avoid surprises in care. Our goal is to make using insurance or investing in therapy straightforward and manageable, empowering clients to navigate costs in a way that fits their financial situation. If we’re not the right fit, we provide personalized referrals to trusted professionals vetted by our team or community.

To help our clients and communities feel empowered to make change and find health

We believe that by fostering healthy interpersonal skills and relationships with our clients—whether they are adolescents, adults, families, or in intimate relationships—they will be able to enact change in their personal lives and within their communities.

a diverse group of LGBT individuals

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We are in-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna and United HealthCare/Optum PPO plans. If we are out-of-network we can provide you with a Superbill and instructions to seek reimbursement or bill your out-of-network benefits directly as a courtesy to you.
  • While we verify your coverage and benefits before scheduling and having therapy sessions, we ask that you please verify with your insurance that we are in-network with your specific plan and what the expected costs will be prior to your first session. It is the responsibility of the insured to ensure their own coverage and to comply with the decision your insurance company makes regarding your financial responsibility for services. We will support you in navigating any additional insurance questions as needed.
  • If you have specific billing questions, please email [email protected]
  • Most insurance companies provide a directory of in-network providers via a member portal, website or phone number. Usually,
    this information is located on the back of your insurance card.
  • If you have specific billing questions, please email [email protected]
  • A deductible is the amount of money you agree to pay for services rendered before your insurance company starts covering expenses. This means that in the beginning of your policy year, you may be responsible for up to 100% of what is billed, up until your deductible amount.
  • For example, if you have a $1000 deductible for a calendar year, everything your provider’s bill to your insurance up to $1000 will be paid by you. Then insurance will start to cover your services once that has been met. So things like therapy, medications, doctor appointments, ER visits, etc. get billed to your insurance and your insurance company determines if you are responsible for the full amount or your co-payment/co-insurance amount.
  • Even after your deductible is met, you may be responsible for a copayment or coinsurance amount, which is usually much lower than the billed service.
  • Deductibles typically reset every policy period (e.g. calendar year, fiscal year)
  • Because therapy is an important investment, we offer Deductible Payment Plans to pay down your deductible for services rendered at Relational Psychology Group, Inc. over the course of your treatment and beyond. Our billing specialists and clinicians are well-versed in creating payment plans that make sense for each client and are comfortable discussing options with you at any time.
  • Yes! We offer a Pay What You Can Plan for those who do not have insurance coverage, are out-of-network or will not be using their insurance for services.
  • PWYC fee is different from sliding scale in that clients are empowered to name their price based on their specific financial situation, rather than a practice determining that price for them. It is our hope that this structure will help make therapy more accessible and empower clients to invest financially in a way that feels beneficial to them and their clinician.
  • To request a Pay What You Can Plan, first coordinate with one of our clinicians and request PWYC for services. We then ask you to name a price for therapy based on your financial situation and budget that is safe for you to commit to.
  • You can discuss this with the clinician you wish to work with and they can determine their ability to accommodate based on their current caseload and PWYC clients in their rotation.
  • We offer virtual sessions and some clinicians have in-person availability at our Skokie location. Dr. Rachael Stedman also sees clients at our Andersonville office.
  • For telehealth, clients must be in the state of Illinois. While we are working towards becoming PsyPact licensed, we are not currently able to serve folks outside of Illinois.
  • All testing services are provided on a hybrid model, with most of the process occurring via telehealth and one longer appointment at our Skokie location.
  • For information on finding our offices, please visit our Contact Us page.
  • The best way to schedule a first appointment is to reach out via the Contact Us page. This will allow you to connect with a clinician and proceed to scheduling from there. We also offer 15-minute consultations to see if our clinicians are a good fit for your needs.
  • Prior to your first appointment, you’ll receive an email invitation to complete intake paperwork, including consent forms for care, financial agreements, insurance information, our office policies, and some questionnaires to help our clinician get to know you. They will review this before you meet, and your first few appointments are their opportunity to learn more about you and how they can best support you in therapy.
  • All of our clinicians offer telehealth services to all of their clients. This option is always available to you, even if you typically see your clinician in person.
  • We value protecting our community and promoting public health practices. As such, we ask that if you are feeling unwell you request to transition your appointment to virtual. If you are not feeling well enough to be mentally present in session, we do not enforce a late cancellation policy. Our clinicians also will not see people in person if they are feeling unwell and will ask clients to switch to virtual appointments until they are well enough to return.
  • We utilize air purifiers in all of our office spaces and maintain a high level of cleanliness to help reduce the risk of spreading illnesses. We welcome masking and an abundance of caution. Clinicians may also choose to mask per their comfort level/needs and we ask all clients to respect this choice. If you feel that a mask will hinder your ability to participate in therapy, please discuss alternative options with your therapist.
  • Feedback is important! We believe in the importance of the therapeutic relationship and want to establish a strong connection with our clients. If there is a problem in that relationship, we want to know so we can better meet your needs and repair that relationship. If you feel uncomfortable or upset with your clinician, we encourage you to provide that feedback directly to your clinician in session.
  • If you feel unable to do so, or if your clinician is unsupportive of your feedback, you can reach out to our practice owner, Dr. Sytsma-
    Ramos at [email protected] to discuss the issue further. This might involve a meeting with you and your clinician to work towards a resolution.
  • If you feel as though you are unable to resolve the issue with the above process, please contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to file a complaint: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/admin/complaints.html
  • Our clinicians strive to adhere to ethical standards and maintain the respect and dignity of our clients. As such, the following behaviors are unacceptable for our clinicians but do not represent the entirety of our expectations:
    • Insulting, acting in derogatory or discriminatory ways towards clients or potential clients
    • Inappropriate sexual advances, contact, or solicitation
    • Leveraging clinical services for personal favors, acts, or information
    • Breaking confidentiality for reasons not permitted by state and federal law
    • Contacting clients outside of clinical services for personal reasons
    • “Ghosting” or not responding to clients promptly (with illness, vacations, and other periods of leave not included in this expectation)
    • Not appearing to scheduled appointments without notice. If there is an emergency situation that requires the clinician to be elsewhere, it is their responsibility to notify clients or to request another member of staff reach out to clients on their behalf.
    • Engaging in personal tasks (i.e., checking personal phone, browsing the internet) during a therapy session
    • Appearing to sessions after using intoxicating substances
  • Our Skokie office is wheelchair accessible via a ramp, automatic doors on the outside of the building, and a commercial elevator. You may need assistance with the suite door, which can be arranged with your clinician.
  • Our Andersonville office has a small step into the building and our suite is accessible via a freight elevator that requires assistance to run. Please let your therapist know if you need assistance and they are happy to provide it.
  • Spanish Language services are available with Dr. Laura Santos, who sees clients virtually.
  • If you have additional accommodation needs for your sessions, please reach out to your clinician to discuss our ability to provide those
  • We do permit service animals to be present in our offices and during your sessions. Unfortunately, this doesn’t extend to emotional service animals, except in certain situations. Please contact us if you have any questions about this policy.

That depends on the clinician, but generally, yes. We are able to write ESA letters based on our experience with you as a client and what might benefit you; we cannot speak to the qualifications of the animal you are seeking to qualify as an emotional service animal. We do not offer ESA letters to folx not already established under our care.

  • Confidentiality Expectations: While everything said to your therapist is considered confidential, and protected by law, minors do not always have this right. If a parent wishes to know what is happening in session with a client who is a minor, that parent likely has the right to know. That being said, it is important for our younger clients to feel comfortable trusting the therapeutic relationship. To achieve this balance, we do our best to respect the privacy of our clients. If there is something a parent or guardian can do to help support a younger client, or if there is a concern about safety, the therapist will first talk to the client about bringing in the parents or guardians. When possible, the client will lead the
    conversation, empowering them and giving them a chance to practice advocating for themselves.
  • Safety Concerns: We are mandatory reporters and prioritize the safety of our clients and those around them. If your clinician has reason to believe that there is a concern for your or others’ safety, they will bring that to your attention and to the attention of your caregiver(s). This won’t be a surprise, we will talk to you about how to discuss this with caregivers and any necessary steps that we must take to help keep everyone safe.
  • Many first-time therapy seekers are unsure of what to expect and may feel anxious or even fearful of what they think therapy can be like. However, your decision to look into therapy is the most difficult step you will take. Recognizing we could use help from someone else can be very difficult and vulnerable. Here are some tips about coming to therapy for the first time.
  • It is totally okay to feel apprehensive about starting therapy.
    • If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, worried, or resistant to coming to therapy for the first time, that is okay! We often
      fear the unknown and become “comfortable” in our day-to-day experiences. Even if we recognize that change could be helpful, taking that step can feel like a lot. If you’ve called, set up an appointment, and are just waiting for that moment to come; take some deep breaths and remind yourself, you’ve done the hardest part already. You can be proud of that fact and hopefully use that to bring you to the session. We
      usually recommend giving therapy a couple of sessions before deciding if it or your new therapist is right for you (more on that later).
  • Bring your list of concerns to therapy
    • Being prepared with your list of concerns, or your reasons for seeking therapy at this time, can help you feel more grounded, in control, and focused in your first therapy session. It will also help your therapist determine some potential things to focus on and what treatment options might be best for you. Therapy should be tailored to your needs and goals for improvement /change, and providing your concerns to your therapist will help them help you, to reach those goals in an efficient way. Therapy should be a collaborative process and having your input is the most valuable part of that process.
  • Paperwork is a necessary step
    • In the beginning of therapy there are some necessary “business” tasks that have to be taken care of before you get
      to your concerns and assess the goodness of fit of your new therapist. We go over things like insurance billing, confidentiality, policies and procedures, and any other odds and ends that may be important to establish a professional relationship early on. We don’t want our clients to be surprised by anything related to the business end of therapy so we like to give you all that information up front, and allow for opportunities to clarify any questions you might have about these qualities of therapy. Just be aware that you may not get to everything you had hoped to in the first session.
  • Assess your therapist for goodness of fit
    • Therapy only works well if you feel like you can work with your therapist. You may have a gut instinct reaction (good or bad) about your therapist when you meet them for the first time. Unless you get a real sense that your therapist will do more harm than good, we recommend you give therapy with a new therapist 2-3 sessions before deciding to continue or discontinue working with that professional. Therapists are human too, and sometimes they have an off day, and maybe they will be different/better in session 2. Once you’ve decided to continue or move on to another therapist, it may be helpful to have a check-in conversation with your therapist about your intentions/feelings about how therapy has gone thus far. We like to hear feedback from our clients so that we can improve, and work towards meeting your needs as best as we can.
  • 50-ish minutes of “getting to know you”
    • In the first session, you should be able to present your concerns to your therapist, but they will ask you a lot of
      questions that may or may not be related to why you decided to come to therapy. Therapists work to assess all areas of your functioning in the initial session so we ask about things like symptoms, alcohol and drug use, work, school, friends and family, sex, suicide, etc. Although it may be uncomfortable, therapy works best if you answer honestly. Remember that your therapist is there to help, not pass judgement on you. You can also let your therapist know if you are uncomfortable answering certain questions in the initial session.
  • Leave with a plan
    • At the end of your first session, your therapist should give you a sense of what the next steps can be for you and your treatment. You should feel like you are helping to create that plan with your therapist, but it is okay to trust them, as a professional, to know what steps could be the most helpful for you. Your therapist may recommend some tips and tricks to try prior to your next session, in order to address some of
      your symptoms/concerns asap.
  • Relationship therapy is a similar but distinct process from individual therapy. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the relationship is the identified client, not any particular partner. Because of this, we implement a “limited secrets” policy where things discussed in sessions, whether by yourself or with partner(s) is considered information that is accessible to all partners unless otherwise noted to your therapist. Our clinicians will also communicate information with all partners regarding scheduling, billing, or consultation with individual therapists. We aim to be objective third parties and do not take one person’s side, or “gang up” on individuals within sessions. This doesn’t mean that we won’t name issues and hold partners accountable for their actions, but we will hold everyone accountable to their own actions.
  • Depending on your clinician, the intake process for relationship therapy may look different. We typically start with a shared intake in which we discuss the history of the relationship and what brings you in. From there, we typically meet with each partner individually to learn more about individual histories and how that might shape the relationship. From there, sessions are typically with all partners unless the clinician takes time to discuss specific feedback or check-in with partners individually. We recommend that you seek individual therapy to help support you during this process, as there is only so much focus that can be given to your individual issues within the context of the relationship. We are happy to provide any referrals if you’d like help in finding a good fit!
  • Our clinicians are well-versed in working with diverse partnerships; from monogamous couples, to non-monogamous constellations,
    queer partnerships, multiracial relationships, platonic friendships, and many more! We typically work with dyads and triads within larger relationship constellations (usually due to space and time constraints), but if you are interested in pursuing a therapeutic experience with more people involved, please reach out and let us know.
  • While our hope is that relationship therapy strengthens your relationship and makes things run smoother, that isn’t a guarantee. Our therapists work with you to improve communication skills, understand and empathize with partners better, and work towards shared meaning. It has happened that through the bolstering of these skills, people are better able to realize that they do not share the same goals, values, etc. In those situations, our clinicians will support you as you determine the best way to dissolve the relationship. This may mean that the focus of therapy shifts into splitting assets, establishing co-parenting processes, or other such goals. It is also possible that it ends the therapeutic relationship.
  • If this happens, we wish you all the best! We typically do not continue a therapeutic relationship with one partner and any subsequent partners because we hold prior knowledge of one partner. In those instances, we are happy to provide referrals to a different therapist who can be more objective.
  • That happens sometimes! As clinicians, we know we won’t be a good fit for everyone, and that’s part of the job. We’d love to hear what’s not vibing for you and see if we can make any changes to better meet your needs. If that doesn’t feel possible, we are happy to provide referrals to someone who might be a better fit for you. All we ask is that you let us know, we don’t want to be ghosted either.
  • Sometimes your therapist will let you know if they are concerned about the goodness of fit. This might be due to a disparity between
    your specific clinical needs and our individual clinical focus or training, stylistic differences, or relationship conflicts of interest. In these rare cases, your clinician will present this information in session to help you process and explore your options including seeing auxiliary or alternative treatments to aid your goals outside of your therapy and finding more appropriate referrals to address your needs. It is always our goal to connect people to quality care, even if that care isn’t with us.
  • Once you are paired with a clinician, you’ll complete some paperwork to help guide our letter writing process. When you meet with your clinician, they will review your responses, talk more with you about your experiences, goals, and understanding of risks/benefits for your
    procedure(s). Together, you’ll complete a letter based on WPATH standards. This letter will be provided to you within 24 hours of the appointment ending, at which point it is yours to do with as you will. We are happy to consult further for any support needs during the process.
  • Because insurance coverage can vary, we do ask that you are aware of your requirements for the letter written. This includes:
    • education level of the provider (Doctoral, Master’s),
    • license status (independent practitioner, under supervision of a
      different license-holder, etc),
    • and any specific requirements for the letter’s content.
  • Because of requirements for telehealth in the state of Illinois, you are required to be in the state at the time services are rendered. If you are
    traveling during your appointment, we will have to cancel/reschedule. You are responsible for being within the state at the time of your appointment, so a late cancellation/missed appointment fee will be assessed.
  • Some of our providers are working towards PsyPact licensure (coming 2025!), which will allow us to see people across state borders if they are
    within a PsyPact state.

It depends. Some workplace or school systems require a formal evaluation process for any accommodations, which we might seek through
psychological testing. We are happy to write a letter based on our experiences with you and include accommodations that might benefit you,
but they may not be effective depending on the system you are seeking accommodations from.

  • We can! We offer neurodivergence and personality testing, which covers referral questions like ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, bipolar
    disorder, personality disorders, etc. We offer testing through a hybrid model and conduct the majority of our work virtually, with
    one or two longer sessions in-person at our Skokie office. We also accept insurance for testing clients, but it can be a lengthier process
    to get coverage for the process, so please reach out to our billing department with any questions: [email protected]
  • Our reports can include recommendations for academic and vocational accommodations, medication management, general well-
    being, and other sources of therapeutic support. We do not conduct forensic evaluations, custody evaluations, or substance-related evaluations. At this time, we are able to offer testing services to adults, but we aim to expand this service to adolescents later in 2025.

Yes, you can find our privacy policy here.

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T: (224) 307-4850
F: (773) 669-5915
E: [email protected]

Skokie Office
9711 Skokie Blvd, Suite H
Skokie, IL 60077

Andersonville Office
5215 N Ravenswood, Unit 213 
Chicago, IL 60640

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