Frequently Asked Questions
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Last Updated: Jan 23, 2025, 01:16 PM
About Us
We would be happy to answer any questions you have about the Clinical Center.If you have others, please ask.
Do I have to be an SIU student to use the Clinical Center?
No. The Clinical Center is open to the general public as well as to members of the SIUC community.
Who Provides Services?
Most services are provided by student clinicians in training to become professionals. The student clinicians will have completed the appropriate coursework and will be working toward a masters degree or doctoral degree in their professional field. All student clinicians will be closely supervised. To adequately supervise these clinicians, faculty typically require observation and/or recordings of sessions.
Can I Get Help Without Anyone Knowing?
Information concerning services that have been provided is held in strictest confidence to the extent allowed by law. In general, Clinical Center staff will communicate with no one (including family, physicians, or other agencies) concerning treatment without express written consent from the person who has received services and/or that individual’s parent or legal guardian. By law, however, information must be disclosed if there is intent to harm oneself or another person, if it is suspected that a child or elder person has been abused or neglected, or if a court orders such disclosure.
Does the Clinical Center Charge Fees?
The Clinical Center charges fees for services. However, because the Center participates in training and research as well as in the provision of service, the fees are generally much lower than those charged by private practitioners or clinics. Also, there is a reduced fee scale based on gross annual income and the number of dependents supported by that income.
How Can I Get Help?
The best ways to initiate services or to find out more about the services offered at the Clinical Center are to call the receptionist, (618) 453-2361, or come see us on campus in Wham 141. We ask that the person who will be receiving services makes the request for services. In the case of a minor child, their parent or legal guardian should contact us. During this first contact we will ask you for some basic information (name, address, phone number, etc.). Depending on the services you are interested in, you may be scheduled for a screening or intake interview.
Psych Service FAQs
How do I arrange for counseling?
Please call the Clinical Center receptionist at 618-453-2361 to initiate services. Each person or couple/family that request counseling services is first scheduled for an intake assessment. This assessment includes an interview focusing on client history, presenting concerns, and, for individual clients, computerized testing. The computerized testing includes several psychological questionnaires to help identify treatment areas. The assessment helps the Coordinator of Psychological Services match clients to appropriate counselors. There is no charge for the intake assessment.
How long will it take to get a clinician assigned to me?
Once this initial assessment has been completed and the report written, clients are assigned to available counselors on a first-come, first-serve basis. If an appropriate counselor for your concerns is available, the time between your initial call and the assignment can be as little as two weeks. If, however, an appropriate counselor is not available or if the University is between semesters, the process will take longer.
How do I request a psychological evaluation?
All requests for evaluations must begin with the receptionist who will schedule a telephone screening, which takes about 30 minutes. This screening provides the information needed to determine whether the Clinical Center has the resources to meet the evaluation request. Afterwards a letter is sent stating whether the request has been approved. Because of the number of requests received and the limited number of available clinicians, it may take a while before an evaluation can be completed. We will attempt to inform you of how long this may be.
Can I request a specific counselor or certain type of counselor?
Yes, you can request a specific counselor or a certain type of counselor (e.g., a male or female counselor). All special requests will be reviewed by the Psychological Services Coordinator for appropriateness and for counselor availability. Please be aware that adding this stipulation may increase the length of time before you can be seen.
What are the counselor's qualifications?
Staff and faculty who see clients or supervise student clinicians at the Clinical Center have doctoral or master?s degrees depending on their academic specialty. Many have a license from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation or certification from a national professional organization or both. Students are counselors-in-training who have had sufficient coursework and preclinical experiences to prepare them for working with clients. All students are supervised by departmental faculty or Clinical Center staff.
What does it mean when my counselor says they are "supervised"?
Each student who provides clinical services at the Clinical Center is supervised by either Clinical Center staff or by faculty from the respective academic department. The exact form the supervision takes depends both on the skill level of the student and the orientation of the supervisor. All clinicians in training are required to either audio or DVD record each session they conduct. This requirement provides the supervisor important information about the clinician's skill development. The recordings are kept at the Clinical Center in a secure location and are erased/destroyed after supervisory review. These recordings are never part of a client's permanent Clinical Center record. Any other use of the recordings (for example, research studies) requires written permission from all clients involved.
Who has access to my records?
All information we collect from you is kept in confidence. Information we collect can only be disclosed to someone else when you provide us with specific written permission to do so or as stipulated by the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental disabilities Confidentiality Act, Illinois Department of Human Services. Examples of legal disclosure without consent are when we: (a) suspect a child has been abused or neglected or both, (b) suspect elder abuse (c) determine that you are a danger to yourself or others, or (d) are ordered by a court to disclose information.
How much does counseling cost?
There is a schedule of fees for service that will be mailed to you at the time you request service. The Clinical Center's income-based sliding fee scale does offer individuals the opportunity to apply for reduced fees. Individuals receiving service are personally responsible for all charges incurred. The Clinical Center does not bill Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance companies. We do not accept payment from Medicare or Medicaid. However, clinic staff will provide itemized bills that can be submitted with a claim to a private insurance company. Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for our services. If you have questions concerning Clinical Center billing policies and procedures, call (618) 453-2361.
Am I limited to the number of sessions I can have?
No. The number of sessions a client has is a clinical decision made by the counselor (and their supervisor) based on a number of factors such as therapeutic progress and client attendance for sessions.
Who can I talk to if I have further questions?
For further questions contact Dr. Holly Cormier, Psychological Services Coordinator, at (618) 453-2361.
Speech Service FAQs
How do I arrange for speech and language services?
Each client or legal guardian of a minor child (aged 17 and younger), will call the receptionist at 618-453-2361. Please tell the receptionist the service you are requesting and s/he will collect basic contact information. This information will be forwarded to one of the graduate assistants who will return your call to collect more specific clinical information and schedule the appointment.
How long will it take to get a clinician assigned to me?
Speech and language services are offered only when classes are in session, and returning clients are given priority scheduling each new semester. Client appointments are first determined by the training needs of our students, and second by status on the waitlist. The graduate assistant will inform you of any anticipated delay. Clients who require services sooner than we can provide will be offered referral information to other area agencies providing comparable care.
How do evaluations work?
Speech-language evaluations may be conducted as evaluation only, or as part of on-going diagnostic therapy. For example, a client who requires an evaluation only (for diagnostic purposes, second opinion, etc.) will participant in a single 2-3 hour long appointment, but receive no subsequent therapy at this facility. A client who intends to continue with therapy will be evaluated in the first 2-3 sessions).
What are the clinicians' qualifications?
Faculty who provide services in the Clinical Center have either Doctoral or Master's degrees, are licensed by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, and hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Graduate students in training hold Bachelor's degrees in speech-language pathology and are directly supervised by licensed and certified faculty.
What does it mean when my clinician tells me they are "supervised"?
Each student who provides clinical services at the Clinical Center is supervised by faculty from the Communication Disorders & Sciences Program. Supervision takes many forms, i.e. direct observation, review of a video or audio recording of a session, exchange of written reports, etc. All discussions, recorded materials, and documents are kept in confidence in compliance with HIPAA regulations. Clients give authorization to be video or audio recorded prior to the first session. We regret that clients who prefer not to be recorded will not receive services as this is an essential component of our training program.
How much do speech and language services cost?
Please call the receptionist at 618-453-2361 for the current fee-for-service schedule. The Clinical Center offers a sliding fee scale, based on income, which offers individuals the opportunity to apply for reduced fees. Individuals receiving services are personally responsible for all charges incurred, and payment is expected at time of service. We do not accept payment from private insurers, Medicare or Medicaid; however, you may be provided with an itemized bill that can be submitted with a claim to a private insurance company. We strongly recommend that you obtain pre-approval for qualifying benefits. Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for our services. Please contact the receptionist with any questions concerning billing policies and procedures.