Telephone and Online Sessions | Dr. Sarah Allen Counseling

Telephone & Online Sessions

Is Your Day Too Busy To Travel To My Office?
Do You Live Too Far From Northbrook?
Telephone Or Online Sessions
A Convenient Way To Access Expert Support

Telephone & Online Sessions

People from all over Illinois can now access my specialist knowledge via telephone sessions or online by using internet based video conferencing technology called Vsee (www.Vsee.com) which is similar to Skype but HIPPA compliant. Vsee is free to download to your computer or via an app for your phone.

Perhaps you live too far from Northbrook to come to my office or maybe your schedule make it difficult to build in travel time. Some people always use telephone or online therapy sessions, others generally come in to my office and only use these types of sessions when they or their child is sick.

I am happy to work with you in whatever way works best and there have been many studies that show “telemental health” is as helpful as face to face consultations.

Unfortunately, because my professional license is only valid for the state of Illinois, I am only able to work with people who live within Illinois state borders.

If you chose to have online sessions you will need a webcam and video conferencing software on your computer or smart phone. Please set up your account ahead of time and we can add each other as online contacts prior to the session. Either download the free software than search for me the Vsee directory using my email address drsfcallen@gmail.com or ask me to send you an invitation to connect on Vsee.

Take time before our first session to test that the software and your webcam work from your computer. Also, chose a place that had some privacy and a good internet connection.

Paperwork can be found on the Forms Page and must be completed before our first session.

Forms can be completed online via a secure, encrypted portal or if you prefer, you can print out the forms and fax them to 847 562-9352 or scan in and email to drsarahallen@drsarahallen.com.

Please complete all these forms:

Assessment Questionnaire, Patient Information Sheet, HIPPA form, any of the symptom checklists that are relevant and the credit card form.

* Payment is by credit or debit card.

* Please contact me on the form below or call me on (847) 791-7722 if you have any questions.

To download your free booklet please click on the booklet image.

Testimonials

When I had my first baby I had what I now know was postpartum depression but I didn’t get any help. It did go away after about 18mths but it was a miserable way to begin motherhood. When I was pregnant with my second child I started to become depressed again and this time told my OB/GYN how I was feeling and she referred me to Sarah. By starting to deal with how I felt and change the way I was handling the stresses in my life, I was in a much better place when my baby was born. The second time round my PPD was much less severe and didn’t last as long. Sarah was also really helpful in teaching me ways to make the transition of becoming a big sister easier for my oldest one too. My husband came with me for some sessions and that really helped our relationship and we started working on parenting issues together. Sarah’s counsel and support really helped our family transition to the good place we are all in today.

Sara D.

I began seeing Dr. Allen when my first child was around a year old. I had experienced a very traumatic birth, after a difficult pregnancy where I was on bed rest for a good portion of the time. The first year of my son’s life was spent worrying constantly. I also experienced flashbacks to the birth, which was an emergency C-section under general anesthesia. My son was in the NICU for several days following his birth, and I was not given very much information as to why. I remember thinking that he would die, or that something awful was going to happen. I experienced a great deal of anxiety that first year, and I thought that it was due to being a new mom. I wasn’t sleeping, I wasn’t eating as normal, and I remember being worried about leaving the house or taking my baby with me anywhere. I worried constantly about illness, germs, etc. The first day that I saw Dr. Allen, she gave me some questionnaires to fill out before we started talking. Then we sat down and talked about my experiences with my son’s birth and the early days of his life, and the year or so since then. I remember to this day the relief that I felt when she looked at me and said that I had PPD and PTSD, which was a result of the trauma I experienced during and immediately after the birth of my son. She explained how my brain had reacted to the stress of these events, and related it to why I was feeling the way that I felt. It made so much sense. Then, she described ways that I could get over the trauma, work through the feelings, and recover from PTSD and PPD. I felt so empowered, and so happy that the way I felt had a name, and that it was treatable. It also made me feel so validated in the ways that I had felt and reacted following my son’s birth. I wasn’t going crazy. My reaction was normal and natural. And with the help of Dr. Allen, and the type of therapy that she uses, I knew I could recover. It is over five years since that first visit with Dr. Allen, and I still use the tools that she taught me today to deal with stress. I credit her with helping me to become a more empowered, happier person.

Elizabeth

Telephone & Online Sessions

* Please contact me on the form below or call me on (847) 791-7722 if you have any questions.

To download your free booklet please click on the booklet image.

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