Nicasa is a behavioral health services organization that is building brighter futures for vulnerable and at-risk children, adults, and families in Lake County and northern Illinois.
You May Also Consider (Sponsored)
Quick Start Online Therapy: Tell Us a Little About Yourself and Get Matched With a Therapist Right for You
Take a simple guided quiz and let us know your preferences. Get matched to an online therapist right for you. Convenient and affordable online therapy from your phone, tablet or computer.
Have you been in therapy before?
Services Offered
Family Advocacy Services - Nicasa can help your family address its needs. Our family advocacy counselors are trained to help you address, step-by-step, whatever crises you are facing. Family Advocacy Services are free to eligible families.
Mental Health Services - Nicasa provides consultations, evaluations, and psychotherapy for a wide variety of mental health concerns including (but not limited to) depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and cutting and self-harm behaviors. Mental health services begin with a 2-hour assessment. Services are overseen by master's level and licensed mental health therapists. Services are available in English and Spanish.
Adult Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment - Counseling helps adults develop the short and long-term goals necessary for a life free from alcohol and other drugs. Outpatient treatment recommendations are based on the severity of the substance use issue as identified in an evaluation or assessment. For DUI offenders, counseling is typically recommended at one of the following levels: * Moderate Risk Treatment - 11 hours of group counseling in addition to AODA education * Significant Risk Treatment - 19 hours of group counseling in addition to AODA education * High Risk Treatment - 74 hours of group counseling * Intensive Outpatient Treatment - 9 hours per week for an average of 18 weeks
For non-DUI offenders, the above hours may vary based on your counselor's recommendation. Day, evening, and weekend appointments are available in English and Spanish.
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Services - Provide a variety of programs that capitalize on individual strengths and skill-building to give today's youth the tools they need to succeed and develop healthy lifestyles. Whether he or she needs a little guidance to avoid risky behaviors, life-skills to make good decisions and take responsibility, or more in-depth treatment for mental health and/or substance abuse issues, Nicasa has the experience to meet the needs of today's youth. These services include education, life skills, early intervention, and outpatient and intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment and mental health counseling.
School-Based Health Center - Nicasa provides behavioral health services at the Round Lake Student Health and Wellness Center. Substance abuse and mental health assessments, individual therapy, and group counseling are available with one of Nicasa's master's level adolescent counselors.
Anger Management Counseling - Group counseling to help individuals address anger issues such as controlling anger and expressing anger appropriately.
Gambling Intervention Services - Assessment, counseling and self-exclusion services to address the needs of people who may be compulsive or problem gamblers. Gambling services most often begin with a free consultation with the gambler or a loved one. Nicasa provides individual gambling counseling and self-exclusion in English and Spanish.
Fees and Payment
Nicasa offers a sliding scale of fees based on family income. Services must be paid for as you receive them.
This is a non profit agency.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens
Special Groups: Bilingual LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
Qualifying for assistance from Illinois' program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to Illinois' program.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.