7 Highly Recommended Chicago Blue Cross Blue Shield Therapists
Trying to find a local therapist who accepts your insurance shouldn’t have to be confusing or tedious. Our curated list highlights our Chicago therapists who are in-network with BCBS and offer specialized support for trauma and related concerns like anxiety, stress, and relationship issues. Meet our skilled professionals here to find the right fit and reach out when you’re ready to book therapy using your Blue Cross Blue Shield benefits.
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Best for relationship issues: Jenna Salsedo
Best for neurodivegence, including ADHD: Joseline Gonzalez
Best for BIPOC support: Sabrina Mirza
Best for children and teens: Kaitlyn Rippel
Best for complex trauma and dissociation: Tovah Means
Best for somatic therapy and TRE™: Jennifer Rolnick
Best for substance use: Angie Zara
Not sure which therapist is right for you? Contact us directly so we can match you.
Meet our Chicago therapists who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield
Jenna Salsedo, MA, LCSW
Best for relationship issues
Jenna specializes in helping individuals and couples navigate complex emotional experiences, rebuild trust, and create more connected relationships. Her trauma-informed approach is warm, collaborative, and designed to provide practical tools that create sustainable change beyond sessions.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Insurance Plans Accepted: BCBS PPO, BCBS Choice
Location: 25 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Virtual therapy?: Yes, in addition to in-person
Joseline Gonzalez, MA, LCPC
Best for neurodivergence, including ADHD
Joseline is a bilingual therapist who brings specialized expertise in working with intellectual disabilities, complex trauma, and neurodivergent experiences like ADHD. She creates a safe, welcoming space where clients feel heard and validated while learning to understand their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Insurance Plans Accepted: BCBS PPO, BCBS Choice
Location: 25 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Virtual therapy?: Yes, in addition to in-person
Sabrina Mirza, MA, LCSW
Best for BIPOC support
Sabrina specializes in working with adults whose mental health is impacted by complex trauma, ethnocultural experiences, and systemic oppression. Her anti-oppressive, trauma-informed approach is driven by consent, collaboration, compassion, and curiosity, tailoring interventions to each person's unique needs and values.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Insurance Plans Accepted: BCBS PPO, BCBS Choice
Location: 25 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Virtual therapy?: Yes, in addition to in-person
Kaitlyn Rippel, MA, LCSW
Best for children and teens
Kaitlyn specializes in working with children and adolescents, drawing on her background as a school social worker to support young people navigating trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, grief, anxiety, and depression. Her therapeutic approach is warm, direct, and emphasizes building clients' understanding of their own strengths and agency through a blend of play therapy, distress tolerance skills, and mind-body integration.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Insurance Plans Accepted: BCBS PPO, BCBS Choice
Location: 25 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Virtual therapy?: Yes, in addition to in-person
Tovah Means, MS, LMFT
Best for complex trauma and dissociation
As founder and co-owner of Watch Hill Therapy, Tovah is uniquely trained in treating childhood trauma, dissociative processes, somatic issues, and deep soul injuries. Her approach integrates feminist relational models, systems theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and structural dissociation to address the profound complexity of developmental trauma and help survivors feel more present in their current lives.
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Insurance Plans Accepted: BCBS PPO, BCBS Choice
Location: 25 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Virtual therapy?: Yes, in addition to in-person
Jennifer Rolnick, Psy.D.
Best for somatic therapy and TRE™
Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified TRE™ Provider, and co-owner of Watch Hill Therapy. She specializes in somatic approaches to trauma, helping clients access healing through the body when words aren't enough. Jennifer integrates Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE™) with insight-oriented relational therapy, recognizing that traumas held in the nervous system need body-based release alongside relational safety to fully heal.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Insurance Plans Accepted: BCBS PPO, BCBS Choice
Location: 25 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Virtual therapy?: Yes, in addition to in-person
Angie Zara, MA
Best for substance use
Angie is a trauma-focused therapist who specializes in substance use and addiction through a harm reduction lens, meeting clients exactly where they are without judgment. Her approach recognizes that substance use is often a coping mechanism for underlying trauma, and she helps clients heal both the addiction and the wounds beneath it using evidence-based methods, including DBT, motivational interviewing, and relational trauma therapy.
Credentials: Pre-licensed clinician
Insurance Plans Accepted: BCBS PPO, BCBS Choice
Location: 25 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Virtual therapy?: Yes, in addition to in-person
Our BCBS-covered therapy services
At Watch Hill Therapy, we offer comprehensive, specialized trauma treatment across the lifespan. Whether you're seeking support for yourself, your child, your relationship, or your entire family, our team provides evidence-based, relationally-focused care that honors the deep complexity of trauma and healing.
Individual therapy
Our individual therapy services provide deeply relational, trauma-informed support for adults navigating complex PTSD, developmental trauma, dissociation, grief, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and identity exploration. We create a safe space where healing unfolds through connection, understanding, and compassionate witnessing of your experience.
TRE™ (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises)
TRE™ is a body-based approach that helps release deeply held patterns of stress and trauma stored in the nervous system. Through gentle exercises that activate the body's natural tremor mechanism, TRE supports somatic healing and regulation, complementing traditional talk therapy with powerful mind-body integration.
Child therapy
Our child therapists specialize in helping children process trauma, grief, anxiety, behavioral difficulties, and developmental challenges through play therapy, somatic approaches, and developmentally-appropriate interventions. We work closely with parents to create healing environments both in and outside the therapy room.
Teen therapy
Adolescence is complex, and trauma can make it even more challenging. Our teen therapists understand how trauma impacts identity development, peer relationships, family dynamics, school performance, and emotional regulation. We create a safe, non-judgmental space where teens can explore their feelings, develop coping skills, and build self-understanding.
Parenting support
Parenting is challenging—especially when navigating your child's trauma, behavioral difficulties, or neurodivergence. We offer support for co-parenting, solo parenting, blended families, and parents managing their own trauma histories while raising children. Our approach honors the complexity of family systems and helps create healthier relational patterns.
Couples therapy
Our couples therapists help partners navigate betrayal, communication breakdowns, sexual intimacy challenges, infidelity, life transitions, parenting conflicts, and the impact of individual trauma on the relationship. We use systems-based, attachment-focused approaches to help couples reconnect, heal, and create the partnership they desire.
What sets our practice apart from other Chicago Blue Cross Blue Shield therapy providers
We're not just therapists who happen to treat trauma—we're specialists who have dedicated our careers to understanding its profound complexity. Here’s why our clients choose us.
13 years specializing exclusively in trauma treatment
Hybrid availability with both in-person and telehealth options
Flexible scheduling with evening and weekend appointments
Diverse, highly-trained clinical team with expertise across the lifespan
TRE™ and somatic therapy options for body-based trauma healing
Culturally sensitive, anti-oppressive framework that honors all identities
Convenient downtown Chicago location at the heart of the Loop
We believe what harms in relationship heals in relationship, and we bring that philosophy into every therapeutic encounter.
How to use your BCBS benefits for therapy
Understanding your insurance benefits can feel overwhelming, but we're here to help you navigate the process. Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans typically offer excellent mental health coverage, and we'll work with you to maximize your benefits. Here's how to get started:
Check your benefits: Call the number on the back of your BCBS card and ask about your mental health coverage, including your copay or coinsurance amount, deductible, and any session limits.
Verify we're in-network: We accept regular PPO and Choice plans. If you have another BCBS plan, we will be considered out of network. We can still help, but your out-of-pocket costs may be impacted.
Schedule your free consultation call: Book a brief phone call with us to discuss your needs, ask questions, and determine which therapist would be the best fit.
Complete intake paperwork: Once you schedule your first session, we'll send you paperwork to complete before your appointment, part of which will include your insurance information.
Attend sessions: We’ll handle billing BCBS directly on your behalf—there’s typically no need to submit paperwork unless you’re using your out-of-network benefits.
Pay your portion: You'll be responsible for your copay or coinsurance amount at each session, which we'll collect at the time of service.
We handle all the insurance billing and claims processing so you can focus on your healing. If you have questions about your coverage or run into any issues, our administrative team is here to help troubleshoot.
FAQs about therapy
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Yes, most Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans provide coverage for mental health therapy sessions. The amount you pay depends on your specific plan, deductible, copay, and coinsurance amounts, so it’s important to contact BCBS directly to understand exactly what your out-of-pocket costs will be.
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We accept BCBS PPO plans, including both regular PPO and Choice PPO plans. We do not accept BCBS HMO or BCBS Medicaid plans at this time. If you're unsure about your specific plan type, call the number on your insurance card or contact us—we're happy to help verify your coverage.
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If you have a plan we don't accept, you may still be able to work with us using out-of-network benefits (if your plan offers them) or by paying out-of-pocket. We can provide you with a superbill: a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurance company for potential partial reimbursement. Many clients find that working with a specialized trauma therapist is worth the investment.
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In-network therapy means your therapist has a contract with your insurance company, resulting in lower out-of-pocket costs and direct billing. Out-of-network therapy means you typically pay the full fee upfront and may receive partial reimbursement from your insurance company, depending on your plan's out-of-network benefits. There are benefits and drawbacks to both, so if you have questions about your options, feel free to contact us for a free consultation.