what to expect
From your first call
to ongoing care
Starting with a new psychiatrist can feel like an uncertain step. Here's what the process looks like at Synapse and Soma.
The consultation call
Everything begins with a complimentary 15-minute phone call. This is an informal conversation — a chance for you to share what's bringing you in, ask any questions you have, and get a sense of whether this practice feels like the right fit. There is no paperwork, no obligation, and no pressure. If it's not the right match, that will be said honestly.
The initial evaluation
If you decide to move forward, the first appointment is a comprehensive evaluation, typically 60 to 90 minutes depending on what needs to be covered. This goes well beyond a symptom checklist. It's a thorough conversation about your history, your current concerns, how you're functioning day to day, and what you're hoping care can do for you. Sleep, nutrition, stress, relationships, and other lifestyle factors are part of that picture, not afterthoughts. By the end, you'll have a working picture of where things stand and a sense of where care is headed. The treatment plan itself is developed and reviewed in a follow-up visit shortly after, once there's been time to integrate what was discussed and any lab or record review needed.
Ongoing care
Follow-up appointments are structured around what you actually need, not a preset formula. Early on, visits may be more frequent as treatment is established. Over time, the frequency adjusts to where you are. Medication management and therapy are integrated into each appointment rather than handled separately. You'll always know the reasoning behind a recommendation, and every decision about your treatment is made together.
Between appointments
For non-urgent matters like prescription refills, questions about a plan we've already discussed, or scheduling, please leave a voicemail and expect a return call within one business day. For new or changing symptoms, medication side effects, or anything that feels like it needs a real conversation, the right step is a follow-up appointment. These are typically available within a few business days.
Synapse and Soma is an outpatient practice and is not set up to provide emergency or crisis care. If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency or are in immediate danger, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. For mental health crisis support, you can also call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day.
Practical details
- We offer in-person appointments at our office just off the Edens Expressway in Northfield, with telehealth sessions also available throughout Illinois.
- Superbills are available upon request — a detailed statement your insurer needs to process an out-of-network reimbursement claim. If you're unsure whether your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, a quick call to your insurance company before your first appointment can clarify that. Many patients are surprised to find they have more coverage than expected.
- Fees are discussed during your complimentary consultation call.
- After scheduling, intake paperwork is sent electronically through the practice portal. Completing it at least 24 hours before your appointment allows time for a thorough review before you arrive.
Ready to take the first step?
Schedule a complimentary consultationAdult Psychiatry
Evaluation, medication,
and ongoing care
Psychiatric care here begins with understanding. Not just your symptoms, but your history, your life, and what's bringing you here.
The initial evaluation is the foundation of everything that follows. It's an unhurried, thorough conversation covering your psychiatric and medical history, current concerns, and the broader context of your life. The goal isn't just a diagnosis; it's a clear picture of you as a whole person, so that any treatment plan reflects how you actually live.
Follow-up appointments are built around continuity. Rather than separate visits for medication and therapy, both are addressed together in the same appointment. Medication decisions, whether to start something, adjust a dose, or stop something that isn't working, are always made collaboratively with a clear explanation of the reasoning behind them.
This practice sees adults only, and maintains a deliberately small panel so that care remains attentive and responsive over time.
Conditions Commonly Treated
If a higher level of care or a different specialty would serve you better, that conversation happens openly during the consultation.
Psychotherapy
Therapy woven into
every appointment
Psychotherapy here isn't a referral elsewhere. It's built into how care works, present in every session from the start.
Rather than treating medication and therapy as separate disciplines requiring separate providers or separate visits, both are addressed together in the same appointment. The conversations that matter most, about thought patterns, coping, relationships, and how you're making sense of your experience, happen in the same room where medication is being assessed. Nothing gets handed off or deferred to another day.
The approach is evidence-based and adjusted to what you're actually working on. Sessions may draw on cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, or supportive psychotherapy depending on what fits. The aim is always practical: understanding the patterns keeping you stuck, and building the insight and skills to shift them in a way that fits how you actually think and live.
Therapeutic Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
A structured, skills-based approach focused on identifying and shifting the thought patterns and behaviors that sustain anxiety, depression, and other difficulties.
Motivational Interviewing
A collaborative, conversation-based method for exploring ambivalence and building readiness for change, particularly useful when motivation itself is part of what needs to shift.
Supportive Psychotherapy
A relational, flexible approach centered on strengthening coping, building insight, and providing a consistent, non-judgmental space to work through what's difficult.
Many patients already work with a therapist they trust and want to continue seeing. That relationship is worth preserving. In those cases, the focus here stays on psychiatric evaluation and medication management, coordinating with your existing therapist where that's useful rather than duplicating their work.
Telepsychiatry
The same care,
wherever you are
All services at this practice are available via telehealth for patients located in Illinois. No compromise in care, just a different room.
Telehealth sessions are conducted over secure video and follow the same format as in-person appointments, with the same unhurried pace, integration of therapy and medication management, and attention to the full picture. Whether you prefer the convenience of being seen from home or simply can't make it into the office, nothing about the care itself changes.
For patients who prefer to be seen in person, the Northfield office is available for all appointment types. Some patients choose to alternate, coming in for an initial evaluation or when something feels better addressed face to face, and using telehealth for ongoing follow-ups. Either approach works.
Practical Details
- Available to patients located anywhere in Illinois at the time of their appointment.
- Sessions conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform.
- All appointment types, including initial evaluations, medication management, and therapy, are available via telehealth.
- In-person appointments available at our office off the Edens in Northfield for patients who prefer them.
Begin with a conversation
A complimentary 15-minute call is the first step. No paperwork, no obligation. Just a chance to share what's bringing you in and get a sense of whether this practice feels like the right fit.
Schedule a complimentary consultation