Frequently Asked Questions

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a structured approach to help people who struggle with emotional disturbances like borderline personality disorder. It includes individual therapy, group therapy, and learning skills to help make life more manageable. The fundamental skills taught in DBT are ideal for anyone to use on a daily basis. Our staff members practice and use these skills daily.

No, we treat many different mental health issues including bipolar disorder, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, social phobia, grief and many other forms of mental health issues. While we focus on DBT as a structure for many of our clients, we use other forms of counseling when appropriate.

We serve adolescents and adults from age 13 and up.

DBT differs from other therapies in many ways, but the most unique difference centers around the adaptation of a specific skill set to manage life. The skills are based on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT skills are taught in a group environment and practiced with weekly homework, as well as reporting on that homework during therapy.

With more than 20 years of providing these services, we have found that clients achieve the best results by adhering to the DBT model completely. We understand that, initially, it may be difficult to feel comfortable joining a group setting and speaking about personal issues, feelings and emotions. But the relationships you build within the group setting will provide powerful support on your journey of healing. When possible, we will match you up with the group leader who is your individual therapist. All of our group leaders are caring and compassionate professionals who want to help you feel comfortable. Not all diagnoses require group participation.

While there is no known definitive cause for borderline personality disorder, research suggests there are at least three main factors at play:

Genes. Studies of families, including twins, suggest personality disorders are hereditary.

Environmental factors. While these factors may not be causative, people with borderline personality disorder tend to have suffered severe abuse, neglect and trauma in childhood.

Brain abnormalities. Studies show that parts of the brain responsible for regulating emotions, impulses and aggression are structured differently from control group members who do not have the diagnosis. Furthermore, neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) may perform in atypical ways.

Every individual is different, but for those entering the Lilac Center’s DBT program, we anticipate 12 months. We also provide aftercare groups for those who have completed the DBT skills program.

Although we don’t currently offer these services in house. We have relationships with local Psychiatrists who work specifically with Lilac Center clients for these services.

The Lilac Center accepts most health insurance policies including BCBS of Kansas City, Humana, UBH, Cigna, GEHA, Value Options, TriCare and Medicare. Please bring your insurance card to your first appointment. Depending on your plan, you may have a co-payment. Co-payments are due at time of service.

Yes, we accept Medicaid.

We accept most medical insurance plans. We have many clients who prefer to pay for services privately. Private pay rate for individual therapy is $150.53 per 50-minute session, $25 per group session, and $30 per coaching call. Please call for more information.

We have limited appointments available for a reduced fee from our therapist interns and provisionally licensed therapist. Please call our office to inquire. There are also free and reduced-fee services available from local community mental health centers for those who can't afford services.

No. If you are in need of mental health services, you are free to call and make an appointment.

Please call 816-221-0305 and push "1" to schedule an appointment. We will answer any questions, match you up with the best clinician for you, and check on your insurance benefits. During high call volume times, you may have to leave a message. We will return your call within one business day. You can also fill out this form and we will contact you.

We do our best to match up clients with the therapist that would be the best fit based on availability, insurance and personality. Sometimes it turns out to not be a good fit. We encourage you to speak candidly and skillfully with your therapist about your concerns. If you find you would like to switch to a different therapist we can help you do that.

Yes you can, as long as your therapist supports the DBT framework and will work with you individually on mastering DBT skills. We will coordinate care with your therapist to provide the best care possible.

TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It is used to treat depression by stimulating the brain non-invasively using electromagnetic fields, similar to those produced by an MRI machine. During TMS Therapy, a magnetic field is administered in very short pulses to the part of your brain that research has demonstrated to be associated with depression.

Once the TMS device is positioned, it creates a deep magnetic pulse that targets and stimulates brain cells (neurons) in the left prefrontal cortex to restore normal function in these under-performing areas of the brain. This pulse comes in rapid succession and stimulates regions of the brain that are linked to emotion. This results in changes that are beneficial in the treatment of depression.

TMS Therapy is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adult patients who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication. TMS is available upon the prescription by a licensed physician. It can be used in both inpatient and outpatient settings including physicians’ offices, clinics, and hospitals.

While TMS Therapy is considered to be a well-tolerated treatment with very few limitations, there are some patients it is not suitable for:

• Patients with a history of seizures
• Patients with any type of non-removable metal in their heads (with the exception of braces or dental fillings)
• Patients with any type of non-removable metal within twelve inches of the coil should not receive TMS Therapy

In clinical trials, patients received TMS Therapy 5 times per week for 4-6 weeks. Patients treated with TMS Therapy should receive treatment for a minimum of four weeks; however, a course of TMS Therapy can vary and our practitioners will recommend and schedule the number of sessions based on your needs and in response to how your treatment proceeds.

TMS Therapy is well tolerated and has been proven to be safe in clinical trials. It is FDA approved for the treatment of depression. Because it is not a depression drug, TMS Therapy does not have the side effects that are often associated with antidepressant medications.

To date, more than 30,000 patients have been treated with TMS Therapy. In the 10,000 treatments during the clinical trials, the most common side effect was mild to moderate scalp discomfort and mild headache, both of which usually went away after the first week of treatment.

The most common side effect related to treatment during clinical trials was scalp discomfort during treatment sessions. This side effect was generally mild to moderate, and occurred less frequently after the first week of treatment. Individuals with migraine headaches tolerate the treatment well and some find their migraine headaches improving as a result of TMS Therapy. If necessary, you can treat this discomfort with an over-the-counter analgesic.

In clinical trials, over 10,000 TMS treatments demonstrated its safety, with no occurrence of seizures. However, there is a small risk of a seizure occurring during treatment, although this risk is no greater than what has been observed with oral antidepressant medications.

After more than two decades of research and clinical trials, TMS Therapy was cleared by Canada Health in 2003 and cleared in the USA by the FDA in 2008. TMS has also been approved in Europe, Israel, and Australia for treating patients. As such, the actual administering of TMS is very precise and well regulated the world over.

TMS treatments feel like a tapping on the skull. TMS is essentially painless because the induced current does not pass through the skin, where most of the pain nerve endings are located. In clinical trials, less than 5 percent of patients treated with TMS Therapy discontinued treatment due to side effects.

However, there are some side effects that may cause mild to moderate discomfort. The most common side effect is scalp irritation and headaches. These and all observed side effects are acute and should only last temporarily.

TMS is typically recommended for 4 to 6 weeks based on how quickly a patient’s mood improves and remains stable. Not uncommonly, patients begin to experience results within the first 2-3 weeks of treatment. In clinical trials, over 50% of patients achieved significant relief of symptoms after 4 weeks of treatment. Some patients may experience results in less time, while others may take longer.

In many cases, TMS Therapy can be a life changing treatment for patients suffering from severe depression symptoms. Some of the benefits of TMS include increased vitality, better sleep, clearer focus, and improvement in relationships.

Unlike medications and other forms of depression treatment, TMS is not associated with the common side effects of weight gain, sexual problems, sleepiness or memory loss. TMS is ideal because it has none of the side effects of tradition medications and because it is a noninvasive procedure, it does not involve surgery or sedation of any kind.

Although TMS was originally used in the treatment of depression, it can also be effective in the treatment of a wide range of different disorders, including Tinnitus, Generalized Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), PTSD, and Postpartum Depression. TMS is also undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of Autism, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

No. TMS Therapy uses the same type and strength of magnetic fields as MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), which have been used in tens of millions of patients around the world and have not been shown to cause tumors. The magnetic energy used in a full course of TMS Therapy is a small fraction of just one brain scan with an MRI. Moreover, clinical trials demonstrated that TMS Therapy does not result in any negative effects on memory or concentration.

The long-term antidepressant effect of TMS has been shown to last beyond 12 months following treatment. In a clinical trial, 2 out of 3 patients who had either responded to treatment or completely remitted their depression symptoms reported a year later that they remained at the level they were at upon completing their treatment. Additionally, after the trial, only 1 in 3 patients needed to return for ‘maintenance’ TMS sessions.

No, the two procedures are very different. ECT is a treatment based on using electricity to induce seizures. Conversely, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation uses magnetic pulses to non-invasively stimulate specific brain regions associated with major depressive disorder. ECT requires anesthesia and has serious side effects, including memory loss. TMS therapy is performed in our offices, requires no anesthesia, and has no systemic side effects.

Antidepressant medications have numerous side effects such as weight gain, sexual side effects, gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, fatigue, and others. Unlike medications, TMS is non-systemic and does not enter the blood stream, meaning there are little to no side effects.

Many patients who suffer from antidepressant medication side effects or feel they are taking too much medication to manage their mood disorder have the desire to lessen medications during or after TMS Therapy. Our goal is to help get patients to a stable mood state and potentially lessen the dosage or amount of medications. In many cases, we have had success in lowering or eliminating medications in patients who maintained mood stability after TMS. However, each patient is different, and we carefully monitor each patient’s needs individually.

Brain imaging (MRI’s, CT’s, etc.) is not necessary to determine the appropriate area of TMS treatment for depression. The area of treatment known as the Dorsal Lateral Pre-Frontal Cortex (DLPFC) can be properly located and confirmed without the use of brain imaging scans. There is no research supporting the notion that treating an area of your brain other than the DLPFC or using scans to locate other areas delivers better outcomes than the FDA method.

The cost of TMS Therapy varies by insurance provider. Our patient coordinators will verify your benefits and explain any expected out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins. For patients paying out of pocket, pricing starts at $225 per session, or $6,750 for the full 30-session course. Reduced rates are available for Medicare, Medicaid, and Military (TriCare) patients — please contact our team for pricing details.

TMS Therapy is covered by many insurance companies, including Premera Blue Cross, Regence, United Healthcare, Humana, Aetna, and the VA (TriCare), to name a few. Patient cost varies by insurance provider, but our coordinators will verify your benefits and explain any expected out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins. If your insurance provider is not presently covering TMS, we can work as a patient advocate on your behalf to help determine and secure coverage, on a case-by-case basis.

In some cases, insurance companies do not list TMS as a regular benefit. However, we will work on your behalf to appeal these decisions to your insurance provider, and in many cases have been able to obtain partial or complete coverage. If your provider does not cover any costs — particularly for treatment outside of depression — we have options to help patients manage the costs of TMS Therapy, including credit cards and Patient Financing Loans.