FAQ

Our counselors work with children, teens, adults, couples, families, and older adults, so CalmWaters can be a source of support through many different stages of life. Individual clinicians have different age ranges and specialties, and we’ll help determine who is best suited to your needs.

People come to CalmWaters for many reasons, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief, relationship concerns, family conflict, parenting challenges, narcissistic abuse, school stress, substance use, and difficult life transitions. You don’t need to have a diagnosis or know exactly what is wrong before reaching out.

Yes. We provide in-person counseling at our office at 108 Northport Drive in Alton, Illinois. Our team serves clients from Alton and surrounding Riverbend communities, including areas throughout Madison, Jersey, and Calhoun counties.

Yes. Online counseling is available for clients throughout Illinois when appropriate, making it easier to receive support without traveling to our Alton office. Availability for virtual therapy varies by counselor, so we can help you find an option that works for you.

Yes. CalmWaters is in-network with several insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Cigna, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare. Coverage can vary by individual plan, so our Office Manager, Dawn, will verify your insurance benefits before you schedule with a counselor.

Our standard rates are $200 for 60-minute follow-up session; $150 for a 45-minute follow-up session; $100 for a 30-minute follow-up session. $225 for Initial consult and family session. We also believe counseling should be accessible, which is why we offer sliding-scale options and opportunities to work with graduate interns at reduced rates when available.

Your first appointment gives you and your counselor time to talk about what has been happening, what you would like to change, and what you hope to get from counseling. There is no expectation that you arrive knowing exactly what to say or where to begin. Together, you’ll start identifying your needs and developing a plan that feels appropriate for you.

There isn’t one timeline that works for everyone. Some people benefit from short-term, solution-focused counseling around a particular concern, while others find value in a longer therapeutic relationship as they work through deeper patterns or ongoing challenges. Your counselor will work with you to determine what makes sense for your goals.

Yes. CalmWaters provides counseling for couples and families experiencing relationship conflict, communication difficulties, parenting concerns, divorce and family changes, unhealthy patterns, and other challenges. Our goal is to create space for honest conversations while helping you build healthier ways of relating to one another.

Yes. Some CalmWaters clinicians are trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an approach that may be incorporated into therapy for trauma, grief, distressing experiences, and related concerns. Because every client is different, your counselor can help determine whether EMDR is appropriate for your needs.

Simply reach out to our office by phone or email. Dawn, our Office Manager, can answer your initial questions, verify your insurance benefits, and help connect you with a counselor whose availability and areas of focus fit what you’re looking for. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you contact us; that’s part of what we’re here to help with.