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The practice takes the name of our founder’s sister, Tessa, who suffered burdensome mental health conditions starting in her late twenties till her death at age thirty-four. Tessa could have used psychotherapy support, but she never sought or received any services. We honor Tessa’s memory by inviting people of all backgrounds to receive what she never had– effective psychological support for recovery, wellness and thriving, even through the tough moments of life.
Max Lucado
Beyond the physical organ, the psychological heart is the center of human emotions, desires, will and connections. We need a resilient heart to love ourselves, to give the best of ourselves in intimate relationships and family life, to appreciate beauty in the world and to feel deep emotions like joy and peace even in troubled times. We need a loving heart to respect and care about vulnerable people and communities, and to relate to those that are different from us. Hearts can be downcast, broken or wounded and this affects how we live every day.
Lisa E. Betz
The mind is more than just the brain. The mind is the control tower of daily living as we think, plan, execute, judge and make sense of a world that is changing by the minute. The mind might constantly ask why things happen and answers may be few. That does not stop us from purposeful and committed actions to change or adapt to circumstances. The strength of the mind helps or hinders our mental health. We can also battle mindsets that hold us captive and powerless and energize victim identities.
The soul, a bridge between body and spirit. is the source of our individuality, identity and helps us to understand our purpose. The quality of the soul impacts mental health. The prospering soul draws on divine connections, spiritual practices, a sense of purpose and more. With distorted and wounded souls, we are the worst version of ourselves. The restless soul troubled by emptiness finds little joy in life and drifts towards meaninglessness. The Soul can be wounded, but restored.
About 30 years ago, I made one of the most important decisions of my life by leaving another career to become a mental health therapist. Over decades of serving my clients, I know that psychotherapy is my life’s calling, and I love this work. I have served hundreds of clients of different backgrounds and identities and while many say that I helped them, being their therapist has also helped me. Psychotherapists must be humble enough to live by their own counsel and I have taken this sentiment to improve my life.
I’ve been a mental health researcher, educator, leader, and author, based at two great universities in Chicago. I have trained cohorts of students and junior therapists, who have gone on to wonderful work in our field. Academic activities make me a better therapist. I practice with a wide grasp of scientific evidence that guides mental health care, and I know how to use such information in therapy. I understand the factors that help therapists build great alliances with clients and I use this knowledge to build trust and to collaborate with people who are seeking my help. I have a religious faith that anchors my life and an interest in cultural and world affairs, and that allows me to respect and engage clients around their worldviews.
Over the years I have been honored to receive appreciation and gratitude from my clients about ways that I have helped them, which makes me even more passionate to do more.
(used with consent)
About 30 years ago, I made one of the most important decisions of my life by leaving another career to become a mental health therapist. Over decades of serving my clients, I know that psychotherapy is my life’s calling, and I love this work. I have served hundreds of clients of different backgrounds and identities and while many say that I helped them, being their therapist has also helped me. Psychotherapists must be humble enough to live by their own counsel and I have taken this sentiment to improve my life.
I’ve been a mental health researcher, educator, leader, and author, based at two great universities in Chicago. I have trained cohorts of students and junior therapists, who have gone on to wonderful work in our field. Academic activities make me a better therapist. I practice with a wide grasp of scientific evidence that guides mental health care, and I know how to use such information in therapy. I understand the factors that help therapists build great alliances with clients and I use this knowledge to build trust and to collaborate with people who are seeking my help. I have a religious faith that anchors my life and an interest in cultural and world affairs, and that allows me to respect and engage clients around their worldviews.
Over the years I have been honored to receive appreciation and gratitude from my clients about ways that I have helped them, which makes me even more passionate to do more.
(used with consent)
We accept BCBS and Medicare and are in network with most plans. For other insurances we are out-of-network and offer courtesy billing or provide receipts for own claims. Initial session Fee: USD $210. Regular session fees range from USD $120-200.
Want more information to decide if you need therapy or some other kind of support? Come for a one-time check up and receive recommendations.
Fees range from USD $300 to $400 for 90-120 minutes of work with a summary report.
Want to enrich or tune up your couple union for a better relationship?
Tune-up services may not be covered by insurance. Costs range from USD $660 (4 sessions) to $990 (6 sessions). Couple and family tune ups range from USD $720-$780 for four sessions.
Some clients may hesitate to seek mental health care because of a perceived lack of faith-based or spiritually-attuned emphases in the therapy environment. Our background in faith-based/therapy (Christan) can support its integration in your therapy journey. Indicate your faith-based interests in our contact form.
At Tessa’s Place we offer a dense background including over twenty-five years of research, education and training and leadership in mental health care and wellness of various populations. We can support your organization in mental health literacy and wellness applications.
Services will not be covered by insurance. Fees will be negotiated based on topic & content, setting & number of attendees, resources needed for preparation and delivery, staffing and duration of events.
(used with consent)
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