Aurora, Illinois Therapists

Mental Health Resources in Aurora, Illinois

Aurora, Illinois is located at the outer edge of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the second-most populous city in the state and the 114^th largest in the United States with an estimated 199,963 residents. The city is located mostly within Kane County and DuPage County. Originally known as a mid-sized manufacturing epicenter, during the late 1980’s many of these manufacturers began to close and Aurora suffered from an unemployment rate that reached as high as 16%. The city has since expanded and redeveloped to include other industries that have helped turn the economy around and create new jobs. The type of adjustment the city has had to undergo as a result of this redevelopment can take a toll on residents who are unprepared for changes. The stresses related to economic uncertainty can often have an impact on the financial well-being and mental health of individuals and households.

Diagnosed Depression

Within Kane County, 11.8% of adults have been diagnosed with either a minor or major depressive disorder. Without social and emotional support to help someone through their depression, symptoms can worsen and lead to other behaviors such as self-medication and substance abuse.

The state of Illinois as a whole also faces challenges in dealing with the mental health of its residents. In one study it was found that 23.6% of adults indicated their mental health was not good for between 1-7 days out of a period of 30 days. These mental health concerns included stress, depression, and other problems with emotions.

If you feel that you are suffering from excessive stress, anxiety, depression, or other emotional problems you might have an easier time combating these issues with the help of a professional. Should you decide to seek help, we want to connect you with an Aurora mental help professional or therapist you can work with to improve your quality of life.

Recognizing that you need additional support is not always easy, but it is the first step in tackling your problem head-on. When you are ready to find a therapist in the Aurora area, we can provide some guidance on how to go about this process. Before starting your search, we suggest taking a self-reflective inventory of what your specific needs are.

Questions to Help Guide Your Search

Starting with what your needs and preferences are is a good way to focus your search for the types of treatment that might be best suited to you. The work that goes on in therapy and counseling sessions is not one-size-fits-all. It can be a highly personal process and requires that you have good communication with the person you have chosen as your care provider. For this reason, being as clear as you can about your needs is a good idea and can help focus your search for the right fit. Some questions you might want to think about are:

• What specific issues or problems do you want to address in therapy?
• What would be the ideal outcome of seeing a mental health professional?
• How regularly can you make time to meet with the therapist?
• Would you feel more comfortable speaking with a female or a male about your issues?
• Are you suffering from problems that would best be addressed by a specialist (such as eating disorders, or substance abuse?)

There are many more questions you could ask yourself, but these are a good place to start. Remember, this process is about communication, and finding a therapist with whom you have a good rapport is crucial to effective treatment.

Health Insurance Considerations

Not everyone can afford to pay for mental health services themselves, so if you have health insurance it is a good idea to contact them and find out what your policy covers. You may find that they charge lower out-of-pocket costs if you work with one of the mental health professionals within their chosen network. Be sure to find out from your insurer whether they cover the services you need- it may save you a lot of money and relieve some of the financial burdens.