Frequently Asked Questions
Thoughtful answers to some of the questions we hear most often.
At Bonafide Wellness, we believe mental healthcare should be personal, collaborative, and grounded in the whole person. Below are answers to some common questions about our practice and approach to care.
Still have questions?
We're here to help. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please call our office at (872) 265-1588, or email us at support@bonafidewellness.org.
We'll be happy to help you determine whether Bonafide Wellness may be the right fit for your needs. Please allow 24 hours for a response.
Getting Started
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Bonafide Wellness provides psychiatric care for adolescents and adults, generally ages 16 and older.
We welcome people from all backgrounds and strive to provide care that is respectful of each person's identity, culture, values, experiences, and goals.
While we have a particular understanding of the experiences of AAPI communities, immigrants, first-generation individuals, and those navigating multiple cultural identities, everyone is welcome at Bonafide Wellness.
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We specialize in the evaluation and treatment of a range of psychiatric conditions, including:
Depression and other mood disorders
Anxiety disorders
ADHD
Bipolar spectrum disorders
Other common psychiatric conditions
Our approach is individualized. Treatment may include medication management, supportive and psychotherapy-informed care, lifestyle considerations, and coordination with other healthcare professionals when appropriate.
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No. You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis.
The initial evaluation is an opportunity to understand what you're experiencing, your history, your current circumstances, and your goals for care. We will work together to determine whether a psychiatric diagnosis and treatment are appropriate.
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Your initial appointment is a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. We will take time to understand your current concerns as well as your psychiatric and medical history, medications, lifestyle, relationships, stressors, and other factors that may be affecting your well-being.
Most importantly, we want to understand you, not simply your symptoms or diagnosis.
Together, we will determine whether psychiatric treatment is appropriate and develop a plan based on your individual needs and goals.
Our Approach to Care
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We believe that mental wellness is about more than the absence of symptoms.
Your mental health is influenced by many aspects of your life, including relationships, family, culture, work, physical health, sleep, environment, habits, and personal experiences.
We take a whole-person approach to care, combining clinical expertise with an understanding of the individual behind the diagnosis.
Our goal is not simply to help you survive difficult periods. We want to help you thrive despite life's challenges.
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Yes.
Medication management is an important part of psychiatric care when clinically appropriate. However, we believe medication is only one component of mental wellness. Medication decisions are made thoughtfully and collaboratively, taking into account your symptoms, history, goals, preferences, and overall health.
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No.
Medication is recommended only when it is clinically appropriate.
We will discuss potential benefits, risks, alternatives, and your preferences before making treatment decisions. Sometimes medication is the right approach. Sometimes it isn't. Often, the best treatment involves several components working together.
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Our primary focus is psychiatric evaluation and medication management, rather than ongoing psychotherapy.
We recognize that therapy can be an important part of mental healthcare. When therapy would be beneficial, we can help you identify appropriate therapy resources or coordinate care with your existing therapist.
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Yes. ADHD is one of our areas of clinical focus.
A thorough ADHD evaluation considers symptoms, developmental history, functioning, and other conditions that can cause similar difficulties with attention, organization, motivation, or executive functioning.
Treatment is individualized and may include medication as well as behavioral and non-medication strategies.
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Yes. We provide evaluation and treatment for bipolar spectrum disorders when appropriate.
Because mood symptoms can overlap with other psychiatric conditions, we take care to understand your history, including periods of elevated or irritable mood, changes in sleep and energy, impulsivity, depression, and previous treatment responses.
Treatment decisions are individualized and may include medication and other supportive strategies.
Telehealth and Appointments
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Yes.
Telehealth is currently the primary way we provide care.
Appointments can be conducted from the privacy and convenience of your home or another appropriate location where you can participate confidentially.
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Yes, when clinically appropriate and available.
Bonafide Wellness primarily operates through telehealth, with the ability to offer occasional in-person appointments in the Chicago area.
Availability for in-person appointments may vary depending on provider and scheduling.
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The initial psychiatric evaluation is generally longer than a routine follow-up because we want to take the time necessary to understand your history, current concerns, treatment goals, and overall well-being.
Your first appointment is not simply about checking boxes or writing a prescription. It is an opportunity to establish a thoughtful understanding of your needs and begin building a collaborative treatment plan.
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The frequency of appointments depends on your individual needs and treatment plan.
Some patients may initially benefit from more frequent follow-ups while treatment is being established. Once symptoms and treatment are stable, appointments may become less frequent.
We will work together to determine an appropriate schedule.
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Absolutely.
Psychiatric care and psychotherapy can complement one another. With your permission, we can also coordinate with your therapist or other healthcare providers when doing so would support your care.
Insurance and Payment
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Yes. Bonafide Wellness participates with select insurance plans.
Our participating plans may change as our practice grows. Please contact us or review the current insurance information during scheduling to determine whether your specific plan is accepted.
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You may still be able to receive care as a private-pay patient.
We recognize that patients have different insurance plans, financial circumstances, and preferences for accessing care. We can provide information about our self-pay rates before your first appointment.
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Yes.
Private-pay appointments are available for individuals who prefer to pay directly for their care or whose insurance we do not participate with.
We believe patients should have flexibility in how they access mental healthcare.
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We believe that access to quality mental healthcare matters.
Bonafide Wellness reserves a limited number of appointments for reduced-fee or sliding-scale care, based on availability and individual circumstances.
Because these appointments are limited, availability cannot always be guaranteed.
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We can assist with insurance eligibility and benefits verification when available.
However, verification of benefits is not a guarantee of payment. Your insurance company ultimately determines coverage and your financial responsibility based on your specific plan.
Patients remain responsible for any copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or other amounts determined by their insurance plan.
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Possibly.
Your financial responsibility depends on your individual insurance plan, including your deductible, copay, coinsurance, and whether Bonafide Wellness is considered in-network.
We encourage you to understand your insurance benefits and contact your insurance company with questions about your specific coverage.
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We accept eligible payment methods for healthcare services. Please contact our office if you have questions about using an HSA or FSA for your care.
Medications
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Certain controlled medications may be prescribed when clinically appropriate and consistent with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, and our clinical policies.
Medication decisions are individualized and based on a comprehensive clinical assessment.
A request for a specific medication does not guarantee that the medication will be prescribed.
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Possibly.
If you are transferring care, we will conduct an appropriate psychiatric evaluation and review your current medications, treatment history, diagnoses, and available records. Continuation of a medication is not automatic.
Treatment recommendations—including whether to continue, change, or discontinue a medication—are based on the clinical assessment and your individual circumstances.
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Stimulant medications may be prescribed when clinically appropriate following an appropriate evaluation.
Our approach emphasizes accurate diagnosis, safety, monitoring, and consideration of both medication and non-medication strategies.
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You are always welcome to discuss medications you have heard about, previously taken, or are considering.
We believe treatment decisions should be collaborative. However, prescribing decisions are ultimately based on the clinical evaluation, safety considerations, available evidence, and what we believe is appropriate for your individual situation.
Records and Coordination of Care
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With your authorization, we may request relevant medical and psychiatric records from previous providers.
Having access to previous records can be particularly helpful when you are transferring care or have a complex treatment history.
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Yes.
With your permission and appropriate authorization, we can communicate with other members of your healthcare team when coordination would support your care.
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We take privacy and confidentiality seriously. Your information is handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws and professional standards, including HIPAA.
There are limited circumstances in which healthcare professionals may be legally or ethically required to disclose information, such as certain safety emergencies or situations required by law.
Scheduling and Practical Questions
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You can request an appointment through our online scheduling system or contact our office directly.
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Once you request an appointment, you will receive information about the next steps, including completing required intake forms and providing insurance and demographic information when applicable.
Please complete your paperwork before your appointment so that we can use your appointment time efficiently.
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We understand that circumstances change.
Please provide as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. Our cancellation and missed-appointment policy will be provided during the intake process.
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Missed appointments may be subject to a fee according to our practice policy. Repeated missed appointments or frequent late cancellations may affect our ability to continue providing care.
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Yes, for appropriate non-urgent clinical or administrative questions.
Electronic communication is not intended for emergencies or situations requiring immediate attention. Response times may vary depending on the nature of the message and the provider's schedule.
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Bonafide Wellness is an outpatient psychiatric practice and is not an emergency or crisis service.
We cannot guarantee same-day appointments or immediate responses to urgent clinical concerns.
If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency or believe you may be at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, please seek emergency assistance or go to the nearest emergency department.
Age and Location
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We generally see individuals 16 years of age and older. Age ranges may vary by provider and clinical situation.
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Bonafide Wellness is based in Chicago, Illinois, and primarily provides care through telehealth. Occasional in-person appointments may be available in the Chicago area.
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Our providers are licensed to practice in specific states. Telehealth services are generally provided only when the patient is physically located in a state where the treating provider is authorized to practice at the time of the appointment.
Please contact us if you have questions about availability in your state.
About Bonafide Wellness
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Bonafide means genuine, sincere, and authentic. Bonafide Wellness is built around the belief that meaningful mental healthcare begins with seeing the whole person, not simply a diagnosis.
We believe wellness is not just about getting through difficult periods. It is about developing the stability, confidence, insight, and resilience to live a meaningful life.
Our goal is simple: Not merely to survive, but to thrive.
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Our practice was shaped by our own experiences and backgrounds.
Michael Bonifacio is an immigrant from the Philippines who built his career in healthcare after starting from scratch, spending more than two decades working at the bedside and caring for people from many different backgrounds throughout Chicago.
Ramon Bonifacio was born and raised in Chicago and brings the perspective of a first-generation Filipino American.
Together, these experiences provide insight into the different perspectives that can exist within immigrant and first-generation families—including questions of identity, culture, family expectations, belonging, and navigating between different worlds.
We bring that understanding to our practice while remaining open and welcoming to everyone.
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We believe you are more than a diagnosis. Mental wellness is influenced by far more than symptoms and medications. Your relationships, family, culture, work, physical health, sleep, environment, experiences, and personal goals all matter.
At Bonafide Wellness, we take the time to understand the whole person and develop treatment plans around the individual, not simply the diagnosis. Medication may be an important part of treatment, but it is only one piece of the larger picture.
Our goal is not merely to help you get through the day. It is to help you build a life in which you can thrive.