Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy in Illinois

Do you offer online therapy in Illinois?

Yes. Todd M. Nelson, LCSW offers telehealth therapy throughout Illinois. He also offers in-person and virtual sessions online. This makes therapy more accessible for people in Chicago, the suburbs, and more rural parts of the state.

Do you offer in-person therapy in Chicago?

Yes. Todd sees patients in person at his office in Chicago. He also works with people from the North Side, the North Shore, and the Northwest Suburbs, along with clients across Illinois through telehealth.

Do you accept insurance for therapy?

Yes. Todd accepts insurance and works with patients who want to use their in-network benefits for therapy. If you are reaching out for the first time, you can ask about insurance, availability, and next steps.

Which insurance plans do you accept?

Todd accepts Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Medicare, and Tricare.

Do you take Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois?

Yes. Todd accepts Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. If you are looking for an in-network therapist in Illinois, this can make starting therapy feel more straightforward.

Do you accept Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare?

Yes. Todd accepts Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare, along with other major insurance plans. If you are unsure about your specific coverage, reaching out is a simple way to ask.

Do you accept Medicare?

Yes. Todd accepts Medicare. This can be helpful for older adults and others looking for a therapist in Illinois who accepts Medicare for outpatient therapy.

Do you accept Tricare?

Yes. Todd accepts Tricare. He also has significant experience working with veterans and military-related concerns, including trauma, PTSD, grief, and stress.

What kinds of issues do you help with in therapy?

Todd’s primary specialties include anxiety, depression, grief, PTSD, and trauma. He also works with life issues and men’s issues. Therapy is meant to give you a place to talk honestly, feel heard, and work through what is weighing on you.

Who do you work with?

Todd works with men, women, teens ages 15 and up, seniors, military members, veterans, and LGBTQ+ clients. His practice is built to be respectful, accepting, and welcoming to people from different backgrounds and life experiences.

What is your approach to therapy?

Todd describes his work as offering a kind and compassionate space where clients are listened to and treated as whole individuals. His approach is gentle and careful. He does not try to tell people how they should think or feel. Instead, he meets people where they are and helps them talk through what matters.

What makes Todd different from other therapists?

One of the clearest differences in the transcript is how Todd describes himself and how he works with clients. He is very easy to open up to, easygoing, and accepting. He also brings a wide range of clinical experience, including work in a veterans hospital, palliative care, inpatient psychiatry, and intensive medical settings. That experience supports a grounded, thoughtful approach to therapy.

What types of therapy do you use?

Todd uses a range of therapy modalities based on the client and the situation. These include supportive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, cognitive processing therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and emotion focused therapy.

Do you offer individual or couples therapy?

Todd offers both individual therapy and couples therapy.

What is the first step if I want to get started?

The first step is reaching out by phone or email. Todd prefers having a phone conversation before setting the initial appointment because it feels more personal and helps make sure scheduling is handled in real time.

How quickly do you respond to new clients?

Todd aims to respond to new client inquiries in under 24 hours by phone or email whenever possible.

What is the therapy process like?

Todd described his process in a simple, clear way. It begins with a thorough assessment. From there, therapy focuses on meeting the client where they are and talking through what feels important. When the client feels better and ready, therapy can move toward discharge.

What do you help clients work toward in therapy?

Todd says he helps clients feel better, live in the gray, and feel accepted, cared about, and listened to. The goal is not to force people into a certain way of thinking. The goal is to help them feel more understood, more supported, and more able to move through life.

Do you work with veterans?

Yes. Todd works with veterans and military clients. He also spent 14 years working at a veterans hospital, which gives him deep experience with trauma, PTSD, grief, stress, and the impact these experiences can have on both individuals and families.

Do you work with teens?

Yes. Todd works with teens ages 15 and up.

Do you work with seniors?

Yes. Todd works with seniors, along with adults in many different stages of life.

Do you work with LGBTQ+ clients?

Yes. Todd works with LGBTQ+ clients and aims to provide a space that feels accepting, respectful, and nonjudgmental.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality is taken seriously. In the transcript, Todd was careful about privacy, website forms, and how client communication should be handled. He prefers a process that protects privacy and keeps communication direct.

Can I learn more about Todd before reaching out?

Yes. You can learn more through Todd’s public profiles on Psychology Today, Zencare, and Zocdoc. Some people like to read through a therapist’s profile first before making contact, and that can be a comfortable way to start.

What if I feel nervous about starting therapy?

That is completely normal. Many people reach out when they are already carrying a lot. Todd’s approach is meant to feel human, accepting, and easy to talk to. If you are looking for a therapist who is thoughtful, grounded, and not judgmental, reaching out can be a simple first step.

How do I get started?

You can get started by reaching out by phone or email to ask about insurance, availability, and whether in-person or telehealth therapy may be the best fit for you.