Couples therapy is increasingly important and relevant with the rates of divorce and separation climbing. For those who are struggling with relational problems or considering ending their relationship, couples therapy is a tool for managing conflict and making healthy choices. For those who are married, partnered, considering making a long term – and hopefully final- commitment couples therapy can be a great resource to building intimacy and resiliency for the challenges every couple and family face. Finding a therapist who respects the strengths of your connection and who will take a strengths-based approach is important.

In 26 years of clinical practice I’ve learned creating a strong, intimate connection in your marriage is the most important, most meaningful and most challenging work that you can do. Despite the challenges facing all couples these days, marriage is the primary tool available to you for personal development (more…)

Links:

Depression: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

Anxiety: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

Grief: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm

Family Problems: http://www.aamft.org/families/index_nm.asp

Marriage Resources: http://www.smartmarriages.com/index.html

Healthy Marriage Rituals: http://www.smartmarriages.com/intentionalmarriage.html

What is Pastoral Counseling? http://www.aapc.org/history.cfm

Someone Cares Conference for Caregivers: http://www.someonecaresonline.com

Web References for Elizabeth Ritzman:

Marriage Friendly Therapists.com:

http://marriagefriendlytherapists.com/searchprofile.php?t_id=56&range=50

Premarital Counseling at The First Dance.com: http://www.thefirstdance.com/premaritalbioilritzman.php

“After the Honeymoon” pg 23 in Brides Noir (Fall/Winter 2007) http://www.bridesnoir.com/

Recommended Books:

Thomas, Frank A.
Spiritual Maturity: Preserving Congregational Health and Balance

Schnarch, David
Passionate Marriage: Keeping Passion Alive in Committed Relationships

Schnarch, David
Resurrecting Sex: Solving Sexual Problems and Revolutionizing your Relationship

Neafsey, John
A Sacred Voice is Calling: Personal Vocation and Social Conscience

Markman, Howard J.; Stanley, Scott M.; Jenkins, Natalie H.; Blumberg, Susan L.; Whitely, Carol
12 Hours to a Great Marriage: A Step to Step Guide for Making Love Last

Bria, Gina
The Art of Family: Rituals, Imagination, and Everyday Spirituality

Sears, William
The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (Revised and Updated Edition)

Gunderson, Gary
Deeply Woven Roots: Improving the Quality of Life in Your Community

Evans, Abigail
The Healing Church: Practical Programs for Health Ministries

Daniel, W.; Koenig, Harold
Healing Bodies and Souls: A Practical Guide for Congregations

Volf, Miroslav
Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation

Kidder, Tracy
Mountains Beyond Mountains : The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World

Jones, Kirk Byron
Rest in the Storm: Self-Care Strategies for Clergy and Other Caregivers

Paulsell, Stephanie
Honoring the Body: Meditations on a Christian Practice

Bass, Dorothy
Practicing Our Faith : A Way of Life for a Searching People

Bass, Dorothy; Wright, Lani; Richter, Don
Receiving the Day : Christian Practices for Opening the Gift of Time

Amos, William E.
When AIDS Comes to Church

Friedman, Edwin H.
From Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue

Black, Claudia
Depression Strategies: Practical Tools for Professionals Treating Depression

Black Claudia
It Will Never Happen to Me: Growing up with Addiction as Youngsters, Adolescents and Adults

About being connected to others/God in the struggle to be transformed/redeemed: Will You Hold the Light? by Caedmon’s Call on their album “Overdressed“:

Deeply soulful, healing hymns rendered by Bobby McFerrin (of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” fame) give voice to a full range of human emotion; they’ve been described variously as “pop”, New Agey, R&B, Overtly Christian, they include a compelling revision of the 23rd psalm in tribute to his mother and feature his father Robert McFerrin, Sr. in “Discipline“. Link:

Got Hope? Try this rendition of Over the Rainbow by Natasha Stith:

LOCATION:
AltCare Health Center

831 South Oak Park Avenue

Oak Park, IL 60304

Mapquest: Click

PARKING: Find Metered Parking on the street and behind the bank across the street.

Information for New Patients

Click here to Download the Word Doc: New Patient Information and Consent Form

New Patient Information: When you come for your first visit, you will receive information about counseling upfront and in writing. Feel free to print this and bring it along – with any questions- if you wish.

INTRODUCTION AND CONSENT TO TREAT:

Client(s) Name: _________________________

Address: ______________________________

Phone Numbers: ____________________________________

Date(s) of Birth ________________________

YOUR COUNSELING DECISION: This introduction is provided for you to take home, read and discuss (if you are in a couple or family), sign and return at the second session. You may copy this document for your own records. Your decision to enter counseling is a very important step in your life and growth. Whether this counseling is for you alone or as a couple, or as a part of a family, it is a gift – a gift of respect- for yourself and your relationships.

RISKS: Most studies show talk therapy to be a highly effective treatment, however not all people experience improvement from psychotherapy and therapy may be emotionally painful at times. Patients have the right to refuse or to discontinue services at any time. Therapy is not intended to be mysterious or harmful. Your concerns about the process of treatment and its effect on you will be welcomed at all times, and you are urged to bring any concerns about negative effects to the attention of your therapist right away.

FEE: Fees are based on our cost of providing professional services to you and on your ability to pay. Payment is made for a unit of service (a counseling session) and not for a certain number of minutes or participants. If ever you have concerns or difficulties with fees or payment, please let your therapist know right away. Although the usual session is 45 to 50 minutes, the precise length may vary. Often couples and families schedule “double” sessions. Call for our current fee schedule: (708) 848-9900 or email Elizabeth@elizabethritzman.com.

PAYMENT AND INSURANCE: Please pay at the time of service. In order to keep fees low, we have no billing service, nor do we take assignment from insurance companies. (However, we do bill for Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO.) We can provide you with the information you need to seek reimbursement from your insurance carrier. All client fees must be paid in full by the end of the month for counseling to continue. Periodically it may be necessary to adjust your fee, e.g. annually, or when weekly sessions become every other week or monthly.

SCHEDULING SESSIONS: For a successful therapy experience, it is important to establish an effective working relationship with the therapist with regular and consistent series of meetings. Sessions are usually scheduled one at a time either weekly, or every other week. On occasion, more frequent visits may be needed. Extended or double sessions are sometimes helpful, particularly for couples and families. During the time you are in counseling, plan to make your appointments one of the top priorities in your schedule.

Counseling requires the commitment of all parties involved. Clients usually find that it takes more than one session to determine if they have a good fit with their therapist. It also takes about 4-6 weeks for the therapist to complete a basic assessment and plan for treatment. If there is not a good fit, I am professionally committed to helping you find a therapist who will be a better match. This will be discussed with you during the initial session. You and I will develop your course in therapy together. If you should decide that you wish to terminate therapy, please give at least one week’s notice and plan for a summary interview to effectively end our work together.

Nothing about therapy is intended to be mysterious. Anything your therapist says or does is open for discussion. Please feel free to ask questions at any time about the therapeutic relationship or business matters.

CANCELLATIONS: Because your therapy is so important, your appointment is reserved for you and is not available to anyone else. Please call immediately if you must cancel. Cancellation of appointments without charge is possible only in the case of illness, injury or extreme emergency. Normal charges are incurred for missed appointments. If you must cancel, and if we are able to reschedule within that work week, you will not be charged for the first missed appointment.

CONFIDENTIALITY: Confidentiality is taken very seriously. As a client you have a legal right to have your work kept private. This is your right to confidentiality and it is generally the duty of your therapist not disclose to anyone anything you reveal in your session. There are some limits to confidentiality. Most of the time these limits do not affect therapy. However, Illinois law does require that your therapist tell others about things you have talked about in therapy in certain cases. It is important that you understand these exceptions.

1. The courts can require your therapist to release details that involve murder, deciding mental competency, or in cases in which wills are challenged.

2. Your therapist must tell others if there is a clear risk of serious physical or other harm occurring to yourself or others. That is, if you threaten to hurt yourself or others your therapist is required by law to report that information.

3. Illinois law requires your therapist to report within 24 hours if he or she suspects child abuse or neglect.

4. Illinois law also allows your therapist to share details of your case with supervisors, consultants, appropriate staff, or others reviewing your case for the purpose of assuring the quality of therapy.

5. With your written permission, your therapist may reveal certain information to your insurance company. Usually you give that permission when you sign a claim form, or sign the following release.

6. With your direct written permission, your therapist can give information to others that you request; e.g. your physician or school counselors.

In our experience these limits to confidentiality rarely pose a problem for our clients. We feel that informing you at the onset of our work together adds to the trust that will grow between you and your therapist.If you are asked to sign a release for psychotherapy records by an attorney or when involved in litigation or other matters with private or public agencies, think carefully and consult with your therapist before you sign away your right to the privacy of your confidential medical records. Review your record before you release it publicly.

If you are bringing your children in for therapy, it is important to think about how we will work together to balance your need for information as a parent with the need of children to establish an open and trusting relationship with the therapist. In therapy children are encouraged to communicate directly with parents about counseling and all matters of importance. Often parents and children work together in therapy to facilitate this relationship.

TREATMENT OF MINORS:

In Illinois, children over the age of twelve can consent to their own brief, confidential mental health care if necessary. This is a new law, which has received the grateful support of most parents because it provides for the immediate care of children in high risk situations. However, it is our philosophy that the wellbeing of children is most often intimately tied to their relationship with their parent or parents or guardians. Respectful care of the whole family is our preferred approach to helping children.

In this office all clients have both rights and responsibilities.

You have the right to:

1. receive courteous, professional treatment at all times, including an atmosphere free of sexual harassment or abuse,

2. participate in the development of your treatment plan,

3. review your record and insert comments correcting personal information, in the presence of your therapist.

You also have the responsibility to:

1 cooperate with the goals you established with your therapist,

2 be present for all appointments; and

3 pay for counseling at the time of service.

Betsy Ritzman is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Her Illinois License number is 180-001294. She is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. She has a Masters of Science in Counseling and a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling. Please feel free to ask her about her credentials, experience, and any other information you would appreciate.

Consent to Treat (more…)

If you ask marriage therapists about their most challenging cases, you will often hear that these couples sought help long after their first serious problems.

Marriage trouble is intensely personal. Few of us have seen our parents model the use of couples counseling. And, it’s hard to invest in a process where we become vulnerable, can’t predict how it will unfold and don’t have guaranteed outcomes.

What is predictable is that all marriages will have difficult times. Asking for help early is a predictor of success in couples counseling. Marriage is an incubator for grown-ups, since as newlyweds we never begin marriage fully mature. Making effective use of that incubator is made much easier with help from a compassionate, competent professional.