• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS
  • YoutubeYoutube
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
Dr Sarah Allen LogoDr Sarah Allen Logo 847 791-7722 Telephone and online sessions available
  • Home
  • About Sarah
  • Media Interviews
  • Anxiety & Depression
    • Anxiety Treatment
    • FREE Anxiety Book
    • Depression Treatment
    • Free Depression Book
    • Simple Steps To Improve Your Mood Workshop
  • Pregnancy Postpartum
    • Pregnancy & Postpartum Mood Disorders
    • Free Guide To Pregnancy & Postpartum Mood Issues
    • New Mom Workshop
    • Women’s Counseling
  • Eating & Weight Issues
  • Couples & Families
    • Relationship Coaching
    • Family Therapy
    • Parenting Coaching
  • Fees & FAQs
    • Initial Assessment Forms
    • Fees & Insurance Info
    • Telephone & Video Counseling
    • Appointment
      Rescheduling Policy
  • Blog
    • All Blogs
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Relationship Coaching
    • Eating & Weight Issues
    • Family Counseling
    • Parenting
    • Pregnancy and Postpartum
    • Teens
    • Women’s Issues
  • Contact & Directions
  • Contact
  • Directions

Couples Counseling

Remote Therapy Appointments Available

by Dr. Sarah Allen
separator

Remote Therapy

Remote Therapy For Difficult Times

How are you holding up? Life has certainly taken an unexpected turn for all of us the past few weeks. The fear and uncertainty around the Covid-19 pandemic and the huge effect it has had on our lives in such a short period of time has caused a lot of fear, stress and uncertainty about what life might look like for the next few weeks or months.

I have talked with many people who have felt that sheltering in place, either alone or with their family, has exacerbated issues such as anxiety, depression and anger that they were already dealing with. Isolation can cause loneliness and overthinking or maybe grieving for events you were expecting to happen but no longer are. For others, such forced togetherness has made old relationship and parenting issues come to the surface again.

How Can Remote Therapy Help?

Although I have never had to help my clients deal with a pandemic before, I do have 25 years of experience helping people develop coping strategies for managing difficult times and through the use of remote therapy (also called teletherapy and is provided by phone or video sessions similar to Skype but HIPAA compliant), I can bring support and counseling to your home, office or other location.

Here are some questions I am frequently asked about Remote Therapy.

What Issues Can be Helped by Remote Therapy?

All the issues I typically help people with:

  • Anxiety / Worry
  • Depression
  • Eating/Weight Issues
  • Pregnancy & Postpartum Mood Disorders
  • Parenting Issues
  • Relationship Difficulties
  • Stress management and navigating life transitions

Therapy provides a means of helping you gain a different perspective and insight about what you are experiencing and Cognitive Therapy (CBT) gives you the tools to manage overwhelming emotions.

The important thing at the moment is that you are carving out some time to look after your own mental health. During times of stress, you are more able to deal with your own stress or issues with your family or spouse, if you take time for your own self-care.

Is Remote Therapy Confidential & Private?

Yes! I conduct remote sessions from my home office which is in separate area from the rest of my family so no one can overhear or interrupt our sessions. When we are no longer sheltering in place, I also conduct remote sessions from my Northbrook office.

I use a HIPAA compliant video conferencing platform that can work on wifi or cellular data which means it enables my clients to find a way to talk to me in whatever way they can, whether it is a place in their house where they won’t be disturbed (I don’t mind if the only place you can get a bit of privacy at the moment is in your bathroom or closet!) or they sit in their car in their garage or parking lot or go out for a walk.

Is Remote Therapy Covered By Insurance?

Although there are some variations depending what policy you have, most healthcare insurance plans provide coverage for teletherapy in the same way they cover in-office therapy.  I am out of network with all insurance companies and you can read more about my fees and how out of network insurance works, including questions to ask your insurance company before you start therapy on this page Dr. Allen’s Fees and Out of Network Insurance.

Is Remote Therapy As Good As In Office Therapy?

Yes! The American Psychological Association (APA) published an article stating that research demonstrates that psychotherapy delivered via the phone is as effective as the care delivered in person. A review of 13 studies found significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression when therapy was provided via telephone (Coughtrey and Pistrang, 2018) and the World Journal of Psychiatry concluded that there is a large evidence base that supports teletherapy being as effective as in office therapy.

How Do Remote Sessions Actually Work?

Head over to my website page all about remote counseling to read the practical information about the video platform and the forms that need to be completed before our first appointment Dr. Sarah Allen Teletherapy page. I have been conducting therapy remotely for many years with clients who live too far away to come to my Northbrook office or for their convenience i.e. someone has a new baby. During the pandemic I am only providing remote sessions until it is safe to meet in person again.

I want you to know that you are not alone in how you are feeling, and I am still here to help!

 

Dr. Sarah Allen has 25 years of experiencing providing therapy to individuals and couples, adults and teens. If you would like to read more about her areas of specialty and training visit her bio page.

If you have any questions at all, please contact her on the form below or by calling 847 791-7722.

 

    Dr. Allen's professional license only allows her to work with clients who live in IL & FL and unfortunately does not allow her to give personalized advice via email to people who are not her clients.

    5 Ways To Increase Communication & Reduce Arguments

    by Dr. Sarah Allen
    separator

    5 Ways To Increase Communication & Reduce Arguments

    When I ask couples or families why they decided to come to see me for counseling, the most frequent answer I get is because they want to learn better communication skills to avoid arguments with each other.

    Our ability to communicate with another person is the bedrock on which a good relationship is made. If there are misunderstandings or perceived slights where none were intended, feelings are hurt and people shut down or flare up their emotions. This, of course, leads to more miscommunications. Who can talk about their thoughts and feelings to someone who is shut off and not sharing how they feel too or yelling and angry?

    A lot of time, communication is fine when there are no difficult issues to discuss so a big part of being able to communication well is being able to effectively communicate when there is a disagreement. Often, I am asked to help people argue better so they can resolve issues that come up again and again.

    Below are 5 tips to bear in mind when you are having a difficult conversation and hopefully, the discussion will lead to problem-solving rather than an argument. A problem-solving discussion tends to work much better than an argument where neither person is listening to the other and both walk away hurt and with the issue unresolved.

    The steps work well with couples but are also effective with conflict issues between family members and friends too. Everyone wants to be heard and for their needs to be met. We can’t control how another person reacts but if you try to use these tips yourself,  that will hopefully deescalate the person who you are talking to.

     

    5 Ways To Increase Communication & Reduce Arguments

     

    5 Ways To Increase Communication Skills and Reduce Arguments

    1. Stick To The Point

    Stay focused on understanding and resolving the present problem and your feelings about it. Try not to bring up past hurts or other topics. It’s easy to get distracted from the problem in hand and bring up that time three years ago when you did…… It just heats up everyone’s emotions when you start bringing up previous arguments or times they hurt your feelings. Which brings me to

    2. Take A Breath or a Short Time-Out

    When we get emotional, adrenaline starts racing around your body. I know I have talked in previous blog posts about the role of adrenaline in making you feel anxious and adrenaline makes exactly the same physical sensations in our bodies when we get angry. We get hot, our heart beats faster and our thoughts race so we can’t think straight.

    The only difference is when adrenaline kicks in and you are in or thinking about a fearful situation, your mind tells you to feel anxious. When adrenaline kicks in during a emotional discussion or argument, your mind is thinking angry thoughts and you may say or do things you later regret.

    By taking a break and leaving the room for a few minutes you can do some deep breathing to calm down the adrenaline and come back when you can think straight and problem solve the issue or talk without being overly activated.

    More details about how deep breathing reduces adrenaline can be found in my blog post A Simple Way To Keep Calm

     

    3. What Is The Outcome You Want?

    Ask yourself what your goal is. Do you just want your opinion to be heard or is there a particular outcome you want to happen? We get off track when discussions get heated but if you are aware of your end goal it is easier to turn it back to the problem in hand.

    4. Use “I” Language

    Begin statements with “I” and make them about yourself and your feelings. It is less accusatory, sparks less defensiveness, and helps the other person understand your point of view rather than feeling attacked.

    Think about how you would feel if someone says:

    A. You are always late, you don’t care I am sitting here worrying if you got hurt

    B. I get really worried when you are due home at 7pm and don’t call to let me know you are running late

    Statement A of course would likely trigger the late person to feel criticized and then they will probably become defensive and start arguing how it is silly to get worried. Statement B would hopefully make the late person realize that they had been thoughtless not to call and apologize.

    5. Be Respectful

    Lastly, always keep in mind that it is important to remain respectful of the other person, even if you don’t like their actions. If you try to see the other person’s point of view and talk to them in a non-argumentative way, you are more likely to get that response back from them. Once you have both heard each others viewpoint the problem-solving of the issue can begin.

    5 Ways To Increase Communication & Reduce Arguments

    I see clients in my Northbrook office or for your convenience, via telephone or internet sessions

    If you would like to come to see me to learn more ways to communicate better and improve your relationships

    please phone 847 791-7722 or email me below

     

      Dr. Allen's professional license only allows her to work with clients who live in IL & FL and unfortunately does not allow her to give personalized advice via email to people who are not her clients.

       

       

      Advice for Couples Sleeping in Separate Bedrooms

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

                    This guest post by Jackie Pilossoph was printed in the Northbrook Star & other Chicago Tribune local newspapers. June 28, 2017 Maybe it’s because I’m a relationship columnist (plus a true romantic at heart), but when my girlfriend told me that she and her husband recently started sleeping […]

      Read the full article →

      3 Ways To Have A Happy Weekend

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

      Many of my clients, especially ones with children, tell me that weekends can often be a stressful time because of all the things that need to get done. They have the expectation that weekends are for relaxation but by Sunday evening they are left frazzled and fed up because they crammed everything in last minute […]

      Read the full article →

      3 Simple Steps For Resolving Arguments

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

      Humans are typically social beings and we are affected by our relationships with others. Arguing with the people close to us can really upset our equilibrium. It is impossible to interact with others and not ever be irritated or opposed to what they are doing or saying. I am not suggesting that you should try […]

      Read the full article →

      Let’s talk about sex … or lack of it

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

      I see a lot of couples who want to improve their sex lives as well as women who come in for individual counseling searching for answers to as why their sex drive has taken a nose-dive. A short while ago Northbrook Star writer Jackie Pilossoph reached out to me asking what people need to know […]

      Read the full article →

      5 Tips On How To Be A Red Hot Mama!

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

      A lot of the women I work with are concerned about the lack of intimacy in their lives and tell me they just don’t feel sexy anymore. They look back at their pre-child sex lives and some lament how they wished they could go back to how they felt then. Others tell me they don’t […]

      Read the full article →

      Hey, Guys, want more Sex? Here’s How you can get it!

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

      This post was written by Jackie Pilossoph on her blog, Divorced Girl Smiling  and I think her advice is helpful  for my clients who are in the process of  exploring new relationships as well as those who are finding themselves in ho-hum long-term ones. Go on – show this post to your partners! Follow these […]

      Read the full article →

      Have Some Fun!

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

      Many couples I see come in to my office with a long list of what is wrong with their relationship, how they can’t communicate anymore and mostly, seeking an opinion about who was right in the last argument. When I delve deeper into arguments it usually comes down to how hard everyone is striving: at […]

      Read the full article →

      Why are some children affected by parental conflict while others are not?

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

      New research out today found that it is the way children try to understand the arguments their parents have that can lead to emotional and behavioral problems. When children blamed themselves for the conflict between their parents, they were more likely to act out in a behavioral way i.e. anti-social behavior, being aggressive etc. But […]

      Read the full article →
      • Go to page 1
      • Go to page 2
      • Go to Next Page »

      Couples Counseling

    • Download This Free Booklet

      SIMPLE STEPS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION ebook

    • Please Enter Your Email To Download This Booklet

      You've just been sent an email that contains a confirmation link. Check your SPAM/JUNK folder if you don't see it within a couple of minutes. In order to activate to receive your free booklet, click on the CONFIRM link and you will be sent a second email with the booklet. It may also be in your SPAM folder.

    • Testimonials

      When I need to refer any of my patients for talk therapy I immediately think of Dr. Allen as she is wonderful at helping people with severe and complex issues really get to the root of their problems. She is very caring and knowledgeable and I have found her extensive experience really helps people to change their lives for the better.
      Dr. Teresa PoprawskiPsychiatrist, First Chicago Neuroscience Clinic
      • Remote Therapy Appointments Available
      • 5 Ways To Increase Communication & Reduce Arguments
      • Advice for Couples Sleeping in Separate Bedrooms
      • 3 Ways To Have A Happy Weekend
      • 3 Simple Steps For Resolving Arguments
      • Let’s talk about sex … or lack of it
      • 5 Tips On How To Be A Red Hot Mama!
      • Hey, Guys, want more Sex? Here’s How you can get it!
      • Have Some Fun!
      • Why are some children affected by parental conflict while others are not?
    • Footer

      As featured in...

      sponsors
      Contact SarahDr. Sarah Allen
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • RSS
      • YoutubeYoutube
      • Linkedin
      • Instagram

      COPYRIGHT © 2018 DR. SARAH ALLEN INC. 3400 DUNDEE ROAD, SUITE 245, NORTHBROOK, IL 60062 . TEL: (847) 791-7722 . FAX: (847) 562-9352 | FEES & INSURANCE | FORMS

      SERVING NORTHBROOK & CHICAGO NORTHSHORE COMMUNITIES INCL. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, BUFFALO GROVE, DEERFIELD, DES PLAINES, EVANSTON, GLENCOE, GLENVIEW, HIGHLAND PARK, LAKE FOREST, LINCOLNSHIRE, MORTON GROVE, NORTHFIELD, RIVERWOODS, SKOKIE, VERNON HILLS, WHEELING, WILMETTE AND WINNETKA.