Frequently asked questions

Q: What is Untangled OCD and Anxiety Specialists?
A: Untangled is a specialty private practice in Naperville, IL dedicated exclusively to OCD, anxiety disorders, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and related conditions. The practice is led by Jelena, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with nearly a decade of specialized experience treating OCD and anxiety across inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient settings.

Q: Who do you work with?
A: I work with children ages 4 and up, teenagers, and adults. I also work with parents independently through SPACE-based parent coaching, even when their child is not yet ready to engage in therapy directly.

Q: Do you offer telehealth?
A: Yes. Secure telehealth sessions are available throughout Illinois and Iowa. Indiana is coming soon. Telehealth is available for all services except home visits and in-vivo exposures, which are in-person by nature.

Q: Do you offer sessions in languages other than English?
A: Yes. Sessions are available in English and Serbian.

Q: Do you take insurance?
A: Untangled is an out-of-network, private-pay practice. I do not bill insurance directly. You pay for sessions at the time of service.

Q: What does out-of-network mean for me?
A: It means you pay for sessions directly. After each session, I provide a superbill, a detailed receipt with all the billing codes your insurance needs, which you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Many clients with PPO plans receive partial reimbursement for out-of-network mental health services.

Q: How do I find out if my insurance will reimburse me?
A: Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits. Key things to ask: your out-of-network deductible, your reimbursement percentage after the deductible, and whether you need a referral or prior authorization.

Q: What is a superbill?
A: A superbill is an itemized receipt that includes your diagnosis code, the service billing code (CPT code), the date of service, and provider information. You submit it to your insurance company and they reimburse you directly based on your out-of-network benefits.

Q: What is a Good Faith Estimate?
A: Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of the expected cost of services before your first appointment. I provide this to all new clients so there are no surprises about anticipated fees.

Q: What are your fees?
A: Please call (630) 394-5878 or use the contact form to ask about current session fees. Fees vary by session type and length.

Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: I reserve dedicated time slots for each client, which means that time is held exclusively for you and is not available to anyone else. Because of this, I ask for at least 24 business hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

For example, if your appointment is on Tuesday at 11am, I need to hear from you by Monday at 11am. For Monday appointments, please notify me by Friday at 12pm.

If you cancel with less than 24 business hours notice, or do not show up for a scheduled appointment, you will be charged the full session fee. Exceptions are made for genuine emergencies.

Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: I accept all major credit cards and HSA/FSA cards. A credit card is required to be kept on file. Payment is due at the time of service.

Q: I'm not sure if what I'm dealing with is OCD or anxiety. Should I still reach out?
A: Absolutely. You don't need a diagnosis or a clear label to reach out. If something is getting in the way of your life, that's enough. We'll figure out what's going on together.

Q: My child refuses to come to therapy. Can you still help?
A: Yes. This is one of the most common situations I work with. I can begin by working with you as the parent through SPACE, an evidence-based parent training approach that can shift the patterns at home and often opens the door for your child's engagement over time.

Q: Do you see clients for a free consultation?
A: I offer a brief free phone consultation, usually about 15 minutes, before scheduling a full intake. This gives us both a chance to talk through what's going on and confirm that Untangled is a good fit.

Q: How long is a typical session?
A: Standard sessions are 55 minutes. Longer sessions and intensive formats are also available depending on treatment needs.

Q: How often will we meet?
A: Most clients start with weekly sessions. Depending on your situation and goals, we may meet more or less frequently. Intensive formats including multiple sessions per week or extended sessions are available for clients who need to move faster.

Q: Do you offer home visits?
A: Yes. For school refusal, severe anxiety, or situations where getting to the office is itself a barrier, I will come to you. A travel fee applies for locations far from the Naperville office.

Q: Do you do exposures outside the office?
A: Yes. In-vivo exposures, practicing in real-world situations wherever anxiety actually shows up, are an important part of how I work. A travel fee applies for locations far from the Naperville office.

Q: How long does treatment take?
A: Treatment at Untangled is short-term and goal-oriented. Most clients see meaningful progress in 12 to 20 sessions, though this varies depending on the complexity and severity of the presentation. Intensive formats can compress the timeline significantly.

Q: What approaches do you use?
A: I use ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), ComB, HRT, CBT-I, SPACE, iCBT, and DBT skills, depending on what is most appropriate for each client.

Q: Do you prescribe medication?
A: No. I am a therapist, not a prescriber. I offer psychotherapy exclusively. If medication is part of your care, I am happy to collaborate with your prescribing provider.

Q: Do you collaborate with other providers?
A: Yes. I regularly collaborate with psychiatrists, pediatricians, occupational therapists, schools, and other therapists. Comprehensive, coordinated care produces better outcomes than working in isolation.

Q: I've tried therapy before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
A: Many people with OCD and anxiety have seen therapists who weren't trained in ERP or other evidence-based approaches, and some common therapy techniques can actually make OCD and anxiety worse. Specialty training matters enormously. If you've tried therapy without success, that doesn't mean treatment won't work. It may mean you haven't yet had treatment from a specialist.

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