Frequently Asked Questions

Want to learn more about our services? Check out the FAQs below
  • It is normal to feel distressing emotions or engage in problematic behavior, at times. However, when those emotions and behaviors begin to interfere with your daily functioning and ongoing quality of life, it may be time to seek help from a professional.
  • Complete the Perceived Stress Scale to reveal the severity of your distress. If your score is in the mild range, you may restore your mental well-being by adding some Stress Busters to your daily life. If your symptoms persist, despite making positive changes, or your stress is in the moderate to severe range, it is advised that you seek the help of a caring professional. Dr. Gutzmann is available to provide life-changing treatment.
  • You are not alone. 20% of adults in the USA live with a mental health condition yet nearly half don’t receive treatment.
  • Dr. Gutzmann employs office staff to carry out some administrative tasks but she does not have a receptionist on duty in the office. Once you arrive for your appointment, please wait in the lobby to be invited into the consultation room by Dr. Gutzmann.
  • During the first meeting, Dr. Gutzmann will learn about you, your concerns and your needs-gathering information with focused questions and listening with care. It is her goal to provide you with expert guidance to begin your journey back to feeling like yourself again.
  • The therapeutic doctor/patient relationship will begin at the end of the first session once you and the doctor mutually decide to work together and agree upon an initial treatment plan.
  • Psychotherapy is also called therapy or counseling. It is a general term for the process of working with a professional to overcome distressing thoughts, emotional states and behaviors through dialogue and psychological techniques. By participating in psychotherapy, you can build skills to help you feel better and stay that way.
  • Psychiatrists are trained and licensed to conduct psychotherapy, as are other professionals such as psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, pastoral counselors and others.
  • The synergy of working with your therapist
  • Complete confidentiality makes it safe to share anything
  • Perspectives from an unbiased, experienced outsider
  • Emotional support and encouragement
  • Creative exchange with someone who is invested in your success
  • An opportunity to step back and see the bigger picture
  • Regular interaction and attention given to meeting the challenges of your life.
  • Talk about what matters most
  • Make time in your schedule to focus on you
  • Be open to seeing things differently
  • Reduce the stress and strain in your life
  • Feel the support and impact of your session throughout the week
  • Do your homework
  • Be truthful with your therapist and yourself
  • Have a desire to know yourself better
  • Have compassion for yourself
  • Establish clear goals and write them down
  • Be willing to work harder to change than your therapist is working to help you
  • Acknowledge your progress

 

  • When you schedule an appointment, the time is reserved for you alone. Therefore, cancellations must be made with at least 24 hours-notice to avoid a fee. Full payment is expected for appointments missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours-notice. Payment must be made before an appointment will be rescheduled.
  • Dr. Gutzmann is an in-network provider in the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and Cigna PPO networks. She is out-of-network for all other insurance carriers; She is not a provider for Medicare or Medicaid.
  • For in-network providers, the fee for services is determined by your insurance carrier.
  • The fee that you will be charged depends upon your specific policy with your insurance carrier.
    The amount you owe depends upon your insurance deductible, your required copayment and possibly, coinsurance. We cannot confirm what you will owe until the claim has been processed by your insurance carrier.
  • Once a claim is processed, you will receive notice of any balance due by you. Pay within 30 days of notification to avoid additional fees.
  • You are responsible for any charges not covered by your insurance policy.
  • If the required copayment is known, that payment is expected from you at the time of service.
  • Please see the Financial Policies form for more information

 

  • Dr. Gutzmann offers reduced fees only to existing clients who experience a financial setback. The fee is determined on a case by case basis.
  • You may pay with a check, cash or a money order.
  • Pay online via Zelle, PayPal or by personal credit card.
  • To use your FSA or HSA account, contact Dr. Gutzmann directly, as these accounts require special processing.
  • Parking at the Skokie location is free.
  • Parking for the Loop location is available at Grant Park North and Millennium Park garages. Discounted parking can be accessed through smartphone apps such as Spot Hero.
  • Both office locations are accessible by public transportation and are handicap-accessible.
Information shared between a patient and care provider is strictly confidential, except under particular circumstances. These include:
  • A. When you consent to contact between Dr. Gutzmann and other care providers to coordinate your care. Or, you give consent to release your medical information for some other purpose, such as an insurance application or disability claim.
  • B. When you choose to use insurance to pay for your treatment, thereby giving consent for your insurance carrier to access your medical record.
  • C. Exceptions by law, including:
    • 1. Suspected abuse or neglect of a minor, elder, or dependent
    • 2. A person is in imminent danger of harming themselves or another person
    • 3. Records ordered to be released by a judge or as otherwise required by law
Following these guidelines will insure that you get your medications on time:
  • Contact your pharmacy and request the refill. Please allow up to 48 business hours for your prescription to be approved by Dr. Gutzmann.
  • When you have no more refills available, it may mean that you need to schedule a follow up appointment.
  • If your refill was denied, a follow up appointment is required before more refills can be approved. You can use the online calendar to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gutzmann.

Integrative medicine is an approach to healing that takes into account the whole person and addresses the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect a person’s health. Through personalizing care, integrative medicine goes beyond the treatment of symptoms to address all of the causes of illness. A practitioner empowers patients to live in ways that foster health, promote well-being and prevent disease.

The treatment plan is informed by scientific evidence and includes all appropriate preventative and therapeutic methods. Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive are used whenever possible. The patient and practitioner work in partnership to restore health and foster the development of healthy self-care habits to use throughout life to maintain wellness.

 

Contact Dr. Gutzmann by calling or texting the office at (312) 488-9599 and make sure to identify yourself in your message.

Send an email to info@DGutzmannMD.com

Good communication with clients is a priority for Dr. Gutzmann. Dr. Gutzmann will do her best to respond to you within one business day (Monday – Friday.) Dr. Gutzmann will also respond to urgent matters on the weekend.

Although Dr. Gutzmann’s email account is encrypted and secure, remember that the use of email and text messaging is not guaranteed to protect your privacy.

 

  • If you are experiencing an imminently life-threatening emergency, go to the nearest Emergency Room or call 911
  • If you have an urgent clinical matter, Dr. Gutzmann has an emergency number that will be provided to you. Please allow up to one hour for a response for urgent matters involving your health and safety.
  • Dr. Gutzmann provides treatment on an outpatient basis only and has no hospital affiliations. If you require hospital admission, you will be assigned a treating psychiatrist in the facility who will communicate with Dr. Gutzmann, with your consent.